Best time to take vitamins?

[gymrat]

I generally take mine with breakfast, but I'm wondering if I should split some of them up and take them at different times of the day. I do try to get all necessary vitamins and minerals from my diet but the vitamins provide a little insurance.

At breakfast, I take:

Multi
Glucosamine (for knees)
Calcium
Vit C
Vit E
Apple Pectin
Digestive enzymes
Allergy medicine
Asthma medicine

I'm thinking that this might be too much "stuff" to take at once and perhaps I'm not getting the optimum benefit. Thoughts?

[threenorns]

oo... the allergy and asthma meds give me pause. i don't know how they would affect absorption.

the digestive enzymes are supposed to be taken with every meal - BHCl, yeah?

me, i take the following first thing in the morning and again either right after i work out or right before bed depending on whether or not i forgot them at home:

1 multivitamin/mineral complex
1000mg Vitamin C
1 B-complex stress formula
omega oil complex (omega 3/6/9)

[maverick]

I think all that would be fine in the morning, though I personally would wait til later in the day to take the Vitamin C and E. PWO is a good time since they provide useful antioxidants that can help suppress free radicals due to intense stress on the body due to lifting.

[gymrat]

Originally Posted by threenorns

oo... the allergy and asthma meds give me pause. i don't know how they would affect absorption.

the digestive enzymes are supposed to be taken with every meal - BHCl, yeah?

me, i take the following first thing in the morning and again either right after i work out or right before bed depending on whether or not i forgot them at home:

1 multivitamin/mineral complex
1000mg Vitamin C
1 B-complex stress formula
omega oil complex (omega 3/6/9)

I'm not terribly worried about the asthma/allergy as those seem to work regardless of when I take them.

Yes, I take the digestive enzymes w/every meal.

[CF-OC_gal]

I split mine up over the day. I take one of my iron supplements with the multi and the others just before the other meals (along with other stuff I need).

You might consider breaking down your Vit C. Your multi probably has some to help the absorption of some of the stuff thats in there, but more than that excess is not stored in the body. You might be one of those with expensive pee.

I've read lots of recommendations for 500mg max at a time for Vit C (that recommendation could be up for debate I suppose).
Another recommendation I've heard is to take Vitamins and minerals 1/2 hour before meals if they don't nauseate an empty stomach. I know with iron there are a lot of things in food that inhibit absorption so they are best taken before a meal or with only compatible foods.

[PEPTgirl]

I used to take vitamins at breakfast, but I drink too much damned coffee and that inhibits absorption (calcium, etc) so I take mine with dinner. You might want to consider your caffeine intake, if you walk around for the first half of the day with a java IV-drip like me.