What is the correct way to take vitamins?

Orally, I would think.

You also need to consider if you are on any other medications. If you are on Thyroid meds, you don’t take vitamins, at the same time. You really need to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about vitamins.

Yes, you should drink a lot of water with your vitamins, but I don’t know the full impact on your kidney OR liver.

@AstroChuck You beat me to it.

Put them in your mouth and swallow.

But really, this is a question for your physician.

Seriously, there is no detrimental effect on your internal organs by taking vitamins via whatever method and timing you choose. Certain vitamins/minerals can diminish the effectiveness of other medicines, but, if you choose to take them (I am not pro-vitamin), feel free to take them however you feel.

@shilolo: Not even a daily multivitamin?

I love the amazon recommendations on this thread.—->

@asmonet. No. Waste of time, and money. Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet containing calcium and iron, exercise, and you should be fine.

Feel free to search for other vitamin threads I have contributed to. You’ll find a lot more information from me regarding the lack of evidence for, and utility of, vitamins for the average American (not to say that vitamins are not necessary, for they are, but rather, that we don’t need to overdo it with excessive doses).

:/ I eat…on the lower end of decently. Personally, I notice a difference in energy and sleep quality when I do take them, which is something considering I’m not one of those people who has ever popped a pill and felt ‘instantly better!’ yay! I don’t believe in anything until I feel it working. I’ll definitely look up some of the older threads, it probably has a lot to do with my diet. Thanks.

One word….placebo.

Oops, sorry. I just ruined it for you. My bad.

Haha, I actually had someone test me on that as a high school experiment. I can tell the difference. :)

Don’t take fiber with minerals or else the fiber will sponge up the minerals. I would take oils separate from capsules/tabs because the oils may coat the bowels & hold vites suspended, though I’ve never read this, many laxatives are soaps or oils. Take vites with food if possible when digestion is already stimulated for max absorption. Vites needed by your body will make you feel better in some way, so pay attention to how your body feels about the vite. I recommend the Life Extension company. Join for a member’s discount. All their vites are pharmaceutical grade.

Multivitamins should be taken with a bit of fat. Some vitamins are fat soluble and need the fat to be absorbed into the body from the gut.

Thanks for the answers about how to take them. I know how much better I feel when I take them and no one can tell me otherwise. I don’t believe in coNventional medicine or western medicine. I’ve done to much research on this and have seen so many miracles. If anyone has any more advice on mixing vitamins feel free to answer. Thank you

There are studies that question the helpfulness of daily vitamins. Some of the minerals in daily multivitamins can have an effect on heart rhythms (potassium) and blood clotting (vitamin K). I take a Centrum multivitamin but I don’t take it daily. Just often enough to fend off scurvy. See your doctor.

@asmonet. You mean, an experiment with one study subject? I’d love to see the statistical analysis on that….

Read the directions on the bottle. Multi-vitamins are the best because they offer the correct balance between vitamins. Some vitamins need to be taken in certain ratios. Most important is remember vitamins are suopplements to your diet not replacements for food. Your body is more efficent at matabalizing vitamins from food.

@shilolo: It was a group of us, for extra credit of a mutual friend, I don’t remember the specifics. And obviously it wasn’t a ‘real’ experiment. But we took pills (with adults overseeing us, obviously) and recorded the results. She failed because the teacher flipped out about it.

One overlooked fact is that you need both Vitamin D & K to absorb Calcium. The blood thinner Coumadin neutralizes Vitamin K, so you’ll never absorb Calcium taking Coumadin.

@psyla. You have misspoken. The effect of warfarin (coumadin) is to inhibit the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase. So, it prevents the recycling of vitamin K, and some blood coagulation cofactors depend on vitamin K. That said, there is still some vitamin K around in the body, and thus, calcium absorption can continue. There have been some preliminary studies linking warfarin use with osteoporosis, but the mechanism is not clear at the moment, and is unlikely to be due to calcium absorption issues (I am unaware of any mechanistic connection between vitamin K and GI absorption of calcium).

Shi, are you saying this << is unnecessary? (I don’t even know what half of those are…my SO makes me eat ‘em. Everyday.)

Um, I’m no magician. I can only identify one of those. The shiny one looks like a fish oil capsule (i.e. omega 3 fatty acids). Could be beneficial, but there are no good studies on the subject (except that people eating a so-called Mediterranean diet rich in fish have lower rates of heart disease). As for the rest, well…........

I’m…being…poisoned… Ha. I asked her last night- the big pink one is a multi (for men, whatever), the big white one is a calcium supplement, the smaller round white one is vitamin c (which explains the sour taste), and the tiny white ones are vitamin d tabs. You called it on the fish oil.

It makes her happy, so I take ‘em. I drink a lot of water, though, because neon-green urine weirds me out.

I thought I also saw an oblong blue one… but, I could be wrong. :-)

shilolo, research the effect of vitamin K on calcium absorption, but, yes, there is usually enough K going around to moot the point of supplemental K.

What? Neon green urine? It should be brilliant yellow from the C. If you don’t have black lights in your bathroom, go to the ER.

@psyla Feel free to provide me with the research data showing a connection between vitamin K and calcium absorption in the GI tract. I would be glad to read and review the paper(s).

I have read several papers on the subject, FYI. This review (and several others), make the point that vitamin K may be involved in bone metabolism, but none of the papers argue for a direct (or indirect) role in calcium absorption.

Shi, already took that one…does it show? :^)

I take one every day too, but, strangely, all I end up with is a crazy conehead…

shilolo, go to lef.org & search “calcium vitamin k”. Oh, the conehead is from too much HGH.

@psyla Thanks for the link, but perhaps a reference that isn’t in the business of selling vitamins would be more appropriate. You know, conflict of interest, and all.

Taking vitamins is a good idea,but if you take it in the wrong way, it may be in vain. Taking vitamins with the wrong type of food could render it insoluble in your body. Taking vitamins at the right time, with the right foods and in the right doses could lead to better health and a more effective multivitamin.