Question:
Vitamins ?? take with food or without

I know I've heard that taking vitamins absorb better with food and some absorb better without food.I would appreciate it is someone could explained this. Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin E. I do take 2 multiply vitamins daily but (without ) iron so I take a mild reacting iron pill. I have been taking extra vitamin C because of a cold that has lingered on for about three weeks.Thank you    — charanewme (posted on January 22, 2004)

January 22, 2004
I was told to take my multi, Iron and Calcium with food so I take one with each meal. Calcium and Iron will cancel each other out if taken together so take them several hours apart.
   — tazfan

January 22, 2004
I drink a protein shake every morning, then take a multivitam. I eat my breakfast then take a B-12 sub-lingual. I eat lunch then take a calcium. Before dinner I take my second calcium, eat, then take my Vit C. I was told that each vit or calcium needs its own time in your tummy. I do not take a Iron supplement, but if I did I would probley take it before lunch, eat lunch, then take my calcium. Hope this helps
   — cindy

January 22, 2004
Well, wait a sec. WHICH calcium? Which iron? Taking iron with C? Personally, I take all my vites with food. Saliva breaks them down faster than water alone. I also was an ulcer sufferer for years, so never put a naked pill on naked stomach lining. Old habits die hard. Fe SUFLATE iron asks for an empty stomach, but then, it is not well absorbed, so why experience discomfort (at both ends) for a questionable product? Other forms of iron absorb better and can be taken with a few bites of food that is not dairy or caffeine. So, don't take it with cheese. Iron is always taken with a Vit C (some use OJ, but I don't touch the sugar), not with any other vites, minerals or meds. OK, then, onto calcium. Has to be citrate with D, and probably magnesium. Don't want to go all into ratios here. Multis can be taken with food and at the same time as calcium. Since the B12 is sublinugal (swallowing them is a waste of $$$) and it doesn't conflict with anything, take it at your convenience. The E has to be dry form--oil gels may or not may not be absorbed well, so again, wasted $$. It's fine with the multi & calc. On the vite C, 2000mg per day is considered safe for normies. You need some with your iron, anyway, but you could take one with each multi/calcium grouping as long as you're keeping track of your total mg. I personally take the 2000mg a day unless working up to or recovering from surgery, then I take more. Amazingly, my husband just had a sore throat/cold. I'm RIGHT HERE and did not get it. ??? I take more Vit C than he does, but I can't say For A Sure Thing that is the answer.
   — vitalady