Whether you take a daily multivitamin to improve your overall health or rely on herbal supplements to fill nutritional deficiencies, it's important to be aware of potential interactions. Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in small amounts for normal metabolism. Taking certain vitamins together can affect their absorption into the body, sometimes worsening it and sometimes improving bioavailability. In addition, some vitamins can interfere with the effectiveness of the medication and even aggravate side effects.
Although measuring serum levels of several vitamins is widely available, testing for deficiencies is often unnecessary. Here's What You Need to Know About Using Vitamin Supplements Wisely. It's also important to know which vitamins should not be taken together. These are the supplements that don't go together or don't go with food.
Some combinations should be avoided, even if they are not inherently problematic. For example, while it's safe to take vitamin D with vitamin B12, it's not recommended, says Dr. Virgilio Sanchez, board-certified family medicine physician at the Conviva Care Center in Miami, Florida. This is because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is better absorbed with food, while B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that must be taken on an empty stomach, says Dr.
The same goes for vitamin C and vitamin D, which must be taken at different times. In general, water-soluble vitamins can be taken together without food, and fat-soluble vitamins can be taken together with foods that contain healthy fats. The following combinations of supplements may be more effective when combined:. Vitamin D and vitamin K (especially K) complement each other, Dr.
Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is present in dark leafy vegetables, while vitamin K2 (menaquinones) is found in fermented and animal-based foods. Research indicates that the two fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin D and vitamin K) work synergistically to ensure that bones absorb calcium instead of accumulating in the arteries. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, can be taken at the same time. According to Sean Ormond, MD, a pain specialist at Atlas Pain Specialists in Phoenix, Arizona, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver, fat and muscles of the body, and must be taken with fat from meals for the body to better absorb and use them.
Healthy plant-based foods like avocados or nuts work well, Dr. When it comes to combining copper with zinc, it's all about balance. Zinc interferes with copper absorption, but taking too much zinc can even lead to copper deficiency. If you are taking zinc, it is recommended that you also take a 2 mg copper supplement to support the balance of these two minerals in the body.
Taking these two supplements together can improve heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential fat that can protect against medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Vitamin E is an important nutrient with antioxidant properties that improve the immune system. A small study of 60 male patients with coronary artery disease found that a combination of omega-3 and vitamin E had beneficial effects on serum insulin and insulin resistance.
Research has linked the decline in insulin resistance to the development of heart disease. Ask your provider if you would benefit from this combination. Iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the United States. The mineral is vital for the optimal functioning of the human body and is an important component of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to other areas of the body.
Iron deficiency, or anemia, prevents this process, causing fatigue and making it necessary to supplement with iron. If there are no known interactions between vitamins, it's okay to take several vitamins at once, Litt says. If you're not sure if there's an interaction, contact your healthcare provider. The names, logos, brands and other trademarks of pharmacies are the property of their respective owners.
At this point, you might not be surprised to learn that St. St. John's wort may interfere with some anti-HIV medications, such as indinavir or atazanavir (Reyataz). However, it's not the only potentially problematic supplement.
Similarly, echinacea, even when ingested in vitamins that boost the immune system, can affect medications such as indinavir or ritonavir (Norvir). The authors observed that this cocktail, as well as vitamin D supplements alone, led to a lower incidence of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. All of the above natural supplements can further thin your blood, which you don't want if you're already taking an anticoagulant. That means it could make the medication less effective or cause drug interactions that cause unwanted (and potentially dangerous) side effects.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not authorized to review the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. John's wort is an herbal supplement that has been used for hundreds of years to treat mental health problems. In addition, the data showed that people who consumed adequate amounts of magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A and K had a lower risk of death, but only if they got those nutrients from food rather than from supplements. To make sure you're consuming the right proportion, check with your provider for guidance on combining calcium and magnesium mineral supplements.
Ultimately, if you're taking medications, you should check with your doctor before adding vitamins and supplements. The most recent consensus statement from the American Geriatrics Society specifically suggests that people over 65 can help reduce the risk of fractures and falls by supplementing their diet with at least 1000 IU of vitamin D per day, in addition to taking calcium supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin D. Therefore, you should pay attention to what supplements you are taking, when you are taking them, and how much you are taking. In addition to having interactions with other supplements, some recipes interact with supplements.
The problem is that certain supplements and vitamins can also thin the blood, making it contain too few platelets, contributing to bleeding and bruising. They found that people who got their calcium from food had a lower risk of atherosclerosis, while calcium supplements were associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis. However, if you take vitamins or supplements that also lower your glucose levels, you can lean too far in the other direction. .
