All of the above. I have two issues going on one affecting the upper portion of my digestive tract and the other affects the lower portion.
I called the pharmacist and he said to crush it. He said with my issues that would help me absorb it better and possibly more rapidly before my stomach has a chance to revolt and cause my system to flush (nicest way I can put it). I have been taking it without food in an effort to keep my stomach from becoming unhappy (food and my stomach are not always on "speaking terms") but I still have to battle the fact that I don't absorb things well so crushing it will hopefully do the trick.