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We're often asked our opinion regarding nutrition and supplement strategies.  We usually answer with this question: 

"Are you interested in convenience or optimal nutrition?"

If you're interested in optimal nutrition, then, a Multi-Dose supplement strategy is still the best way to go.  And, you should take supplements that begin to disintegrate immediately.  

On the other hand, if one is interested in convenience, then time-release, sustained release or enrobing may work for some people.  

Follow the logic

There is a logic behind a multi-dose strategy -- especially among athletes, fitness enthusiasts and those seeking physical results in the most time-efficient manner possible.

• You probably recommend your clients and athletes eat 4-7 meals/snacks per day to maintain blood-sugar levels as well as consistent levels of other various nutrients. 

• You already know that vitamins (especially multi-vitamin formulas) are, in actuality, co-enzymes meant to work with foods.

• Supplementing those meals/snacks at the time of ingestion is the only way to ensure all potential nutritional gaps are filled.

Time Release Looks Good in a Laboratory, but....

We're the first to admit that time-release, sustained release and enrobing all offer "consumer convenience."  And, from a marketing standpoint, they certainly have a modern, high-tech appeal. However, there are several issues that simply don't work out in the "real world."  

• The issue of "transit" (a tablet or capsule traveling through the digestive tract) is not controllable.  The tablet or capsule may travel through one person's digestive system at a different rate of speed than another's.

• The "triggering mechanism" for time release is pH.  This differs from person to person and again, is uncontrollable.

John Logsdon's Thoughts on Time-Release

John Logsdon (1924-1998) is one of the "unsung heroes" in sports nutrition.  His forward-thinking concepts regarding "personalized nutrition" are still years ahead of current nutritional strategies and protocol.  Among other accomplishments, he was solely responsible for bringing "Oxidative Typing" into the sports and fitness environment.

February 24, 1994

“Time Release”
Good or Bad
By John Logsdon

In today’s world of constant change and new ideas, computers, fiber optics, angioplasty and modern drugs, new is not always best.

Time Release tablets and capsules came into the nutrition market about 1960.  These followed products like Contac and other cold remedies.

My first experience with Time Release as a manufacturer came in 1970.  The knowledge of producing Time Release was top secret.  Only two or three people in the world knew how to produce Time Release products.  Luckily I hired one of the three.  I started a company called Vitamer Laboratories and we produced one of the first of the complete Time Released nutritional vitamin/mineral lines.

As a general rule, Time Release for the average person is an acceptable excuse for not being able to remember to take a prescribed dosage at a particular time.

The operation of Time Release is dependent on the pH (acid alkaline balance) of different locations of the alimentary canal.  Whether you use spancels, matrix, wax or whatever, you still must use the pH as the triggering mechanism.  Therefore, time release would occlude the use for the Oxidative person’s usage.

We all know that the stomach is acid and other parts of the gut are alkaline and acid alternately.  By utilizing this knowledge, pharmaceutical manufacturers have been able to control the release of certain nutrients as they pass through the alimentary canal.  When you are dealing with drugs such as an anti-histamine, the object is to control one or two substances which can be picked up at any stage of digestion and enter the blood stream.  This use is quite simple.

This in not always true concerning vitamins, minerals and proteins. 

At the onset of Sportelesis (Nutritionalysis) my first thought was that Time Release would be beneficial.  I thought this because we were dealing with very busy people.  And in order to insure an adequate dosage -- time release would surely be the product of choice.   I was wrong.

It was clear after the first several thousand clients that Time Release just didn’t seem to work as well as I’d hoped.  So, we made smaller tablets and divided the dosage in to 4 and 8 tablets.  This required a split dosage of one or two tablets three or four times a day.  

Today Sportelesis and Nutritionalysis, after assessing hundreds of thousands of clients, over the last five years are positive that split dosage is the way to go.  Not time release.  This is especially true for athletes.