November 16, 2024 Bogdan Popa

What Vitamins Should Not Be Taken Together

Nutritional supplements are popular, but are they safe? And are multiple supplements safe to take together? With so many options on the market, it can be tricky to navigate all the best practices for each supplement.

This article will walk you through popular supplements from Core Med Science and the best ways to take them. We'll also cover what vitamins should not be taken together and special considerations for those taking prescription medications. Keep reading as we discuss:

What you need to know about supplement safety
Best practices for taking specific supplements
What vitamins should not be taken together

What to Understand About Supplements

While we always recommend a nutritious diet as the foundation, dietary supplements can help fill dietary gaps, optimize nutrient status, and promote health and wellness.

"While we always recommend a nutritious diet as the foundation, dietary supplements can help fill dietary gaps, optimize nutrient status, and promote health and wellness."

Dietary supplements can include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, phytonutrients (plant compounds), herbs, and more. It's a huge category, and each nutrient has many forms, preparations, and brands to choose from. It's important to use each supplement safely and correctly.

"It's important to use each supplement safely and correctly."

It's crucial to choose quality supplements from manufacturers like Core Med Science. Supplements aren't tightly regulated and don't require FDA approval. Independent studies often reveal that what's in a supplement doesn't match what the label claims regarding ingredients, dosing, and contamination. (Source 1)

Additionally, it's important to follow dosing instructions or guidance from your healthcare provider. Not all supplements are safe to take at high doses. (Source 2)

How to Take Specific Supplements

Once you have your quality supplement and know what dose to take, you'll want to take it at the optimal time of day and as indicated. Please note that liposomal supplements offer better absorption and bioavailability, and fewer side effects. They are often better tolerated on an empty stomach.

Let's look at these popular supplements and best practices for taking them.

Multivitamin

A multivitamin is a combination supplement including essential vitamins and minerals.

How to take: Take a multivitamin with a meal, as food improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. Take this supplement early in the day, as B vitamins may be stimulating and disrupt sleep if taken late or before bed.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Liposomal B-Complex Multivitamin.

Dosing: Take 3 softgels (1 serving) with breakfast or divide between breakfast and lunch.

Vitamin B12 and Folate

Vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9) work together in the methylation cycle and are crucial for all body systems, including brain health, mood, sleep, heart health, hormone balance, fertility, and more.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Active Methyl B12 Folate

Dosing: Chew 1 tablet early in the day with a meal, as vitamin B12 has better absorption with food. Break the tablet apart for a smaller dose. (Source 3)

Curcumin

Curcumin is the active anti-inflammatory and antioxidant constituent of turmeric.

Recommended products:

Dosing: Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle or provider recommendations. Curcumin may be taken with or without food at any time of day. Liquid options may be mixed with water or juice.

Glutathione

Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant, critical for cellular health and detoxification.

Recommended products:

Dosing: Take 500 mg daily or as recommended by your provider. Take on an empty stomach and wait 30-45 minutes before eating or taking other supplements.

Iron

Iron is an essential mineral that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Liposomal Iron - Capsules

Dosing: Take 1 capsule daily. Separate iron from calcium supplements and high-calcium foods, including dairy products. Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach in the morning. Only take extra iron when indicated. (Source 3)

Melatonin

Melatonin, known as the sleep hormone, is a popular sleep supplement.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Liposomal Sleep Formula

Dosing: Take the lowest effective dose, starting with 1 pump and increasing up to 6 pumps as needed. Take it right before bed.

NAD+

NAD+ is an active form of niacin (vitamin B3) and an essential cofactor in energy production.

Recommended product: Core Med Science NAD+

Dosing: Take 4 ml (a little less than 1 teaspoon) or as directed by your healthcare provider. Take upon rising in the morning. Refrigerate after opening.

Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine is a primary component of cellular membranes and mitochondria. It's also used to make liposomes in liposomal supplement formulas.

Recommended product: Core Med Science PC Complex - Liquid

Dosing: Take 2 teaspoons daily, with or without food, or as your provider recommends. Take any time of day.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a popular supplement for immunity and antioxidant function.

Recommended products:

Dosing: Take up to 1000 mg daily or as directed by your healthcare provider. It may be taken with or without food, at any time of day. Mix liquid vitamin C with water or juice if desired.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid compound with immune-supportive benefits that balance inflammation and histamine.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Liposomal Quercetin - Capsules

Dosing: Take 2 capsules (200 mg) daily or as your provider directs. Quercetin may be taken with or without food at any time of day.

Berberine

Berberine is another plant compound with medicinal benefits, often used for metabolic and gut support.

Recommended product: Core Med Science Liposomal Berberine

Dosing: Take 2 capsules daily after a meal in divided doses or as recommended by your healthcare provider. For example, take 1 capsule after breakfast and the other after dinner.

What Vitamins Should Not Be Taken Together

Most of the supplements here can be taken on the same day. Ensure you are following the dosage instructions and not getting too much of any single nutrient.

Some supplements should be separated for best absorption. For example, separate calcium and iron supplements. Separating calcium from zinc and magnesium is also helpful. It's also recommended to separate vitamin C and vitamin B12 supplements in a day. You can take vitamin B12 early in the day and vitamin C later in the day.

"Some supplements should be separated for best absorption."

Interactions between supplements and prescription medications may be more vital to consider than supplement-supplement interactions. Some supplements may lower the effectiveness of medication. (Source 4)

"Interactions between supplements and prescription medications may be more vital to consider than supplement-supplement interactions. Some supplements may lower the effectiveness of medication."

Always discuss new supplements with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for personalized guidance. You may need to take supplements away from your prescription or avoid certain herbs or extracts altogether. For example, grapefruit may interact with heart medication, and antioxidants may interact with chemotherapy. (Source 1)

Getting Started

It is possible to take and benefit from multiple supplements simultaneously. Most supplements are safe to take on the same day and with each other, but there are some exceptions, especially for those taking medication or with a medical condition. Please follow the guidance of a trusted functional medicine doctor.

When our customers get started, they often begin with our most popular sellers: Core Med Science Liposomal Glutathione - Softgels and Liposomal Vitamin C - Softgels. Take glutathione first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and vitamin C before or with breakfast.

It's important to know what not to take together, but also vital to choose high-quality supplements from a trusted source like Core Med Science!

References:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/
Moses G. (2021). The safety of commonly used vitamins and minerals. Australian prescriber, 44(4), 119-123. Full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8377299/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ss/slideshow-best-ways-to-take-different-vitamins
Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee on the Framework for Evaluating the Safety of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements: A Framework for Evaluating Safety. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2005. 8, Interactions. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK216072/

Filed in: Core Med Science supplements, supplement combinations, supplement safety, supplement timing, vitamin absorption, vitamin compatibility, vitamin interactions

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