Vitamins and Minerals: What You Need to Know Before Taking Supplements

Taking dietary supplements can be beneficial for many people, but there are some vitamins and minerals that should not be taken together. Copper and zinc should not be taken at the same time, and calcium, zinc, and magnesium should be taken with food. Vitamin A and Vitamin K can have negative interactions with blood thinners, so they should be avoided. Vitamin B3 is often recommended for use with cholesterol medications, but it is important to read CDC-based information on vitamin deficiencies before taking any supplements.

Patients taking blood-thinning medications should be especially careful with taking vitamin E, as taking these medications and vitamin E can increase the risk of bleeding.It is usually not a good idea to take individual vitamin or mineral supplements unless specifically directed to do so by a doctor. Water-soluble vitamins, such as complex C and B, can be eliminated from the body when there is an excess, but fat-soluble vitamins D, E, K, and A are stored in the body, so taking large amounts can be dangerous. To ensure that your dietary supplement is not doing more harm than good, it is important to know which vitamins should not be taken together.Calcium and vitamin D are essential for strong bones and teeth. Approximately 40 percent of the population in the United States is deficient in vitamin D, which plays an important role in calcium absorption.

Without an adequate supply of vitamin D, the body cannot properly absorb or use calcium. Calcium and iron are two important minerals that the body needs to function properly. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, while calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth and a healthy heart.People with iron deficiency may experience a condition called iron-deficiency anemia, whose symptoms often include extreme fatigue, weakness, and lethargy. Normally, increasing consumption of iron-rich foods is enough to improve iron levels, but some people may also need to take an iron supplement.

However, people taking calcium supplements should know when to take them. The National Institutes of Health found that the body may not be able to effectively absorb iron when taking an iron supplement in combination with a calcium supplement. To avoid this problem, it is recommended that people taking both supplements take them several hours apart.In general, if you take a regular multivitamin and follow a reasonably healthy diet, you most likely don't have to worry about vitamin interactions. However, some foods are so high in vitamin A that even if you don't take a vitamin A supplement you should only eat them once a week to avoid overeating them.

In fact, vitamin E supplementation of more than 800 IU can interfere with blood clotting and make the blood thinner.Most people get at least part of every vitamin and mineral in their diet, so taking extremely high doses of vitamins and minerals can be dangerous if you also eat a large amount of food. Vitamin B3 is generally considered a safe supplement to take in combination with other vitamins and minerals.Unfortunately, for partly economic reasons and partly because of the lack of a strong regulatory framework, the industry that sells vitamins tends to sell a unique approach that doesn't match the unique realities of how vital nutrients are absorbed and processed by the human body. If you are taking an anticoagulant then it is essential that you make any decision to take any vitamin supplement.Although vitamins are largely considered safe, there are still things that any informed consumer should know before buying them. It is important to read CDC-based information on vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin A, B-6, B-12, C, D and E, folic acid, and iron in the United States.

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