If you’ve ever wondered how to absorb multivitamins better, look no further. We’ve scoured the internet for the best multivitamin absorption tips, along with recommendations for water-soluble vitamins and multivitamin supplement brands you can take for maximum absorption. We’ll also touch on multivitamins and minerals benefits to you and talk about why we think liquid vitamins are some of the best options available today. 

Let’s start with fat-soluble vitamins. When we talk about fat-soluble vitamins, we mean vitamins A, D, E and K (1). These vitamins should always be taken with food, especially high fat foods, for better absorption. A 2015 study found that men who took vitamin D with a high-fat breakfast had 32% greater absorption than those who had fat-free morning meals (2). Be sure not to get over your tolerable upper intake level (UL), however (3). Fat-soluble vitamins are more likely to cause toxicity due to overdose because of their ability to be stored in the body for longer periods of time (4). 

Some vitamins work better together, such as vitamin D, vitamin K and calcium, since vitamins D and K help the body absorb calcium. Iron and vitamin C are also a good idea to take together, since vitamin C aids in the release of a higher percentage of iron. It also seems to reduce the side effects many iron-deficient patients suffer from when they begin to take iron, including constipation and nausea. Vitamin A and beta-carotene can also help increase iron absorption (5). 

Does Your Body Absorb Vitamins? 

Every nutrient you get needs to come from either your diet or supplements. That is why it’s so important to ensure that you’re getting the vitamins and minerals you need for good health. In spite of that, a staggering 92% of the US population is suffering from at least one mineral or vitamin deficiency (6). If you are concerned that you may suffer from a vitamin deficiency, an at-home micronutrient test like this one can give you a starting point on which vitamins you are most deficient in. 

When you take a pill or capsule, only 10%-20% of those nutrients make their way into your bloodstream. This is due to the use of fillers and binders in pills. Fillers and binders can also cause stomach irritation. For this reason, we recommend liquid supplements to ensure mineral and vitamin supplements absorption (7). If you’d like to know how to absorb vitamins better, sublingual (under the tongue) delivery is an optimal way to take liquid vitamins and minerals (8).

As we explained earlier, some vitamins are better taken together to ensure maximum absorption. Later on in this blog, we’ll talk about which vitamins shouldn’t be taken together. If you wonder “do you need vitamin D to absorb vitamin C?”, the answer is that you don’t. The two can be taken together if you choose, but they don’t need to be and there aren’t specific benefits to taking the two together, the way there are for other vitamins. 

The most important thing to remember when it comes to these vitamins is that vitamin D is fat-soluble while vitamin C is water-soluble. Fat is what helps vitamin D absorption, so be sure to take it with high-fat meals as much as possible. When it comes to vitamin C, though, it’s best to avoid aspirin and NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Not only can those drugs lower levels of vitamin C and cause more of it to be lost in urine, but high doses of vitamin C can cause more of these drugs to stay in the body as well. High doses of vitamin C may also lower the amount of acetaminophen passed in urine, causing drug levels to rise. Oral contraceptives also decrease the effects of vitamin C in the body (9). 

Can You Dissolve Multivitamins in Water?

If we’ve convinced you of the efficacy of liquid vitamins but you still have multivitamin pills lying around, you may ask yourself, “Can you crush multivitamins to dissolve them in water?” The answer is yes. Crushing vitamins for better absorption is a good way to get the most out of your current multivitamins (10). You’ll want to grind them down to a fine powder (using a mortar and pestle or pill crusher) before you dissolve them into the water. Be sure to crush only the recommended daily dose to ensure you are getting the dosage you need while avoiding potential overdose. 

For those who may be curious how to absorb vitamin D better, magnesium can help with vitamin D absorption, and it’s suggested that those with high magnesium intake are less likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency (11). It can also help to eat vitamin-D rich foods as you take your vitamin D supplements. Sources of vitamin D include sunlight, fish oils, mushrooms, vitamin D fortified milk, nuts, bananas, rice and whole wheat bread (12). You can also enhance the effects of vitamin D by taking vitamin K, and taking both may be more beneficial than vitamin D alone (13). Vitamin D is better absorbed as a liquid via liposomes than vitamin D tablets are (14). Designs for Health Liposomal D Supreme is a great choice for those who are looking for a standalone vitamin D supplement. 

There are several liquid multivitamin options on the market today. Some of the best ones include Nature’s Plus Source of Life Liquid Multivitamin, Nature’s Way Alive Liquid Multi, Century Systems Miracle 2000 Total Body Nutrition, and (for those who prefer organic liquid vitamins) Mary Ruth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin. All of these have plenty of vitamins and minerals in them, and some of these brands (such as Mary Ruth’s) also sell liquid supplements. Some of the vitamins they offer as a supplement are iron, zinc, D3 and B12, and liposomal vitamin C.

Best Time to Take Multivitamins

The best time to take multivitamins really depends on what your daily schedule looks like, what times you take medication and how you plan your meals. Overall, though, you may wonder: is it better to take vitamins in the morning or at night? Some experts feel that mornings are better, since the B vitamins in them can stimulate metabolism and brain function too much in the evenings (and for this reason, the best time to take B12 may be in the morning (15). The best time to take a vitamin B complex is thirty minutes before you eat anything, since they are better absorbed on an empty stomach. They can reduce stress and improve your mood and can be taken two hours after breakfast if you’d like, making it an ideal morning vitamin (16). 

Other experts, however, feel that the time of day doesn’t matter as much as the timing you choose (17). For example, ensure that you eat fat-soluble vitamins with high-fat meals, and be aware of any drugs or vitamins that shouldn’t be taken together. The best time to take multivitamins and fish oil is whenever you will remember to take them, since it’s important to take your vitamins at a consistent time every day. If you find yourself experiencing acid reflux from the fish oil, experts recommend splitting up your fish oil into smaller doses throughout the day to reduce this side effect (18).

The best time to take vitamin D (if you need extra vitamin D) is during the winter months. Unlike many of the other vitamins, vitamin D may only need to be taken seasonally, since your body naturally produces it when sunlight hits your skin (19). Vitamin D is one of many vitamins which women should take daily if they work indoors throughout the year and don’t get much sun. Other recommended daily vitamins and minerals include magnesium, calcium, iron, folate and vitamin B12 (20).

These should be incorporated into your meals via fruits, vegetables, and proteins to ensure that you eat a healthy and balanced diet as well. Wondering how long you should take multivitamin supplements? Again, this is where testing comes in handy. If you know that you are deficient in an area, you can begin taking supplements and working on how to add more of that vitamin into your diet and retest later. If you find that you no longer need a specific supplement because you are getting enough of it in your diet, then you can stop taking the supplement. The best time to take multivitamins, morning or night, depends on a number of factors and can’t be boiled down to a simple answer. You’ll want to do your research to ensure that you’re getting the proper nutrition you need. 

What Vitamins Should Not Be Taken Together 

Wondering which vitamins should not be taken together? Standalone supplements can interfere with the absorption of your multivitamin, so take them at different times of the day. Calcium and magnesium can interfere with the absorption of certain medications (antibiotics, statins, thyroid hormones) as well, so time those differently. Try to choose a multivitamin that provides up to the daily requirement of each nutrient rather than providing much more than you need. 

If you’re curious if you can take zinc and vitamin C together, you can definitely do that. In fact, vitamin C and zinc are considered especially helpful if you have been dealing with the common cold (21). However, zinc supplements should not be taken with copper, iron, or phosphorus supplements. Those supplements should be taken 2 hours apart (22). 

Can you take a multivitamin and vitamin D together? It depends on what’s in the multivitamin and the reasoning behind why you want to take it. Vitamin A can decrease vitamin D uptake, but magnesium improves vitamin D levels. For those reasons, if you are deficient in vitamin D, you may want to take your vitamin D at a different time of day than your multivitamin to ensure it’s absorbed properly (23). 

There are plenty of things you can do if you aren’t sure which vitamins work best together and which ones to avoid. Again, do your research and read labels on medications, vitamins and supplements. If you are ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or local pharmacist which medications and vitamins you should take and when. They are there to help you and won’t mind offering their expert opinion to ensure you get the nutrition you need with no adverse effects. 

References

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