Including vitamins in one’s diet is essential in staying healthy and most vitamins can be found in foods if you have a balanced diet. However, some may have vitamin deficiencies and need to take supplements, whether it be due to other health issues or their diet.
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Vitamins can be bought over the counter without a prescription and some may take several vitamin supplements at the same time. Taking multiple vitamins at the same time may be doing more damage than good and more often than not, the vitamins you are taking won’t work as they counteract each other.
A doctor recently revealed which vitamins shouldn’t be taken at the same time and when to take them for maximum effect.
Vitamin D and vitamin K shouldn’t be taken together
As reported by Express, Dr Janine Bowring, a naturopathic doctor, who also runs a YouTube channel, explained that taking vitamin D and vitamin K together can lead to hypercalcaemia, a condition in which the calcium levels in a person’s blood become too high.
The Mayo Clinic explains that having too much calcium in a person’s blood can lead to weakened bones, it can also create kidney stones and interfere with a person’s heart and brain.
Dr Bowning adds that if you take both vitamins, you should take vitamin D in the morning and vitamin K ‘closer to bedtime’ at the same time as your calcium to increase its absorption.
Magnesium and calcium shouldn’t be taken together
Dr Bowring then warns that magnesium and calcium supplements shouldn't be taken at the same time as the two ‘compete for absorption’. Dr Bowring recommends taking the magnesium in the morning.
As per Yahoo!, taking magnesium and calcium can help prevent osteoporosis. Jaydeep Tripathy, a senior resident in the Department of Radiology at Kamakshi Hospital, recommends taking both supplements two hours apart for maximum effect.
Iron and calcium shouldn’t be taken together
Finally, Dr Bowring explains that iron and calcium supplements shouldn’t be taken at the same time as the minerals bind to each other.
Indeed, Dr Sarah Brewer, medical adviser to Nutrigums, has previously told Express that taking too many vitamins together comes with risks. For example, taking too much magnesium can lead to a ‘laxative effect’ and taking too much zinc can cause nausea.
She told Express:
It’s important not to take more than the manufacturer’s advised dosage. Excess of some, such as zinc, can cause nausea, while too much magnesium can have a laxative effect.
Adding that people should make sure to check labels and the ‘guided dosage amounts’ before starting any kind of supplement:
Think about it this way - the supplements you take should supplement something you are missing in your diet… then consider the best variation of supplements that are going to do this, but also look at the label and guided dosage amounts before purchasing.
Read more:
⋙ Never take supplements without checking this key detail, they could be toxic
⋙ Doctor urges people to stop taking these four 'dangerous' supplements
⋙ Popular supplements increase your risk of cancer, according to study
Sources used:
Express: ‘Doctor shares three vitamins you should never take together’
YouTube: ‘10 Vitamins You Should Never Take Together | Dr. Janine’
Mayo Clinic: ‘Hypercalcemia’
Yahoo!: ‘6 Vitamins & Supplements You Should Not Take Together’
