Whether you're taking a daily multivitamin to improve your overall health or you're relying on herbal supplements to fill nutritional gaps, 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 in the body, sometimes worsening them and sometimes improving bioavailability. In addition, some vitamins can interfere with the effectiveness of medications and even exacerbate side effects.
While 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 hand in hand 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, a board-certified family medicine doctor 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 should be taken on an empty stomach, says Dr.
The same is true 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 supplement combinations may actually be more effective when combined. Vitamin D and vitamin K (especially K) complement each other, Dr.
Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is found in dark leafy vegetables, while vitamin K2 (menaquinones) is found in fermented and animal 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 Dr.
Sean Ormond, interventional pain doctor at Atlas Pain Specialists in Phoenix, Arizona, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's liver, fat and muscles, and must be taken with fat from a meal for the body to better absorb and use them. Healthy plant-based foods such as avocados or nuts work well, Dr. When it comes to combining copper with zinc, it's all a matter of balance. Zinc interferes with copper absorption, but taking too much zinc can even cause copper deficiency.
If you are taking zinc, it is recommended that you also take a 2 mg copper supplement to maintain the balance of these two minerals in the body. Taking These Two Supplements Together May Improve Heart Health. Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential fat that may protect against medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Vitamin E is an important nutrient with antioxidant properties that improves 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 red blood cell protein that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to other areas of the body. Iron insufficiency, or anemia, prevents this process, causing fatigue and requiring iron supplementation. If there are no known interactions between vitamins, it's OK to take multiple vitamins at once, Litt says. If you are not sure if there is an interaction, contact your healthcare provider.
The names, logos, brands and other trademarks of pharmacies are the property of their respective owners. Vitamins D, K and E are similar to other essential vitamins and nutrients in that they help promote healthy body functioning. However, this trio of powerful vitamins may not make the perfect team when taken together. However, unlike culinary mishaps, taking the wrong vitamins can cause more than just a bad taste in your mouth.
If your body needs vitamin D to help produce strong bones, you need vitamin K to help your blood clot properly. Some providers suggest combining iron with vitamin C to maximize absorption, but the jury still doesn't know if this is true. That's because high doses of vitamin C can reduce the amount of vitamin B-12 that the body absorbs and metabolizes, he says. Airey says that “it's just not efficient to take them together, as the body's ability to absorb vitamins will be reduced if taken together.”.
Some studies suggest that the body may not be able to absorb vitamin K as efficiently when taken together with vitamins D and E. However, some studies have shown that vitamin C could break down vitamin B12 in the digestive tract, reducing the absorption of B12. Do not take any individual mineral at the same time as a multivitamin supplement or antioxidant vitamin formula, such as one that contains beta-carotene and lycopene. .
