Vitamins are beneficial nutrients for the body, but not everyone is suitable for taking them, and the dosage should be followed according to medical advice and should not be adjusted without authorization. Vitamins are important for maintaining the body's functions, and they are essential trace organic substances for the growth and metabolism of living organisms. When humans and animals lack vitamins, they cannot grow normally and specific diseases called vitamin deficiency diseases occur. Vitamin deficiency can harm the body, affect metabolic reactions, and cause metabolic imbalance. Nowadays, many people take vitamin supplements every day to make up for the vitamin supply that cannot be met by food. Nutrition experts suggest that vitamins should be taken after meals for the best effect.
Nowadays, when doctors inform patients that they need to supplement vitamins, they only mention the need to supplement vitamin types, without specifying whether to take them before or after meals. The instructions for many vitamin drugs also only indicate their usage and dosage without providing detailed instructions, and there is no accurate guidance on whether to take them before or after meals.
Because vitamin drugs need to be absorbed by the small intestine after ingestion, the absorption and utilization rate of vitamins by the small intestine are relatively high when it is active. If taken before meals, there is no food in the gastrointestinal tract, and the drugs will be quickly absorbed into the blood, resulting in an increase in the concentration of vitamins in the blood. A rapid increase will cause the body to react and quickly excrete the vitamins through the kidneys and urinary tract, preventing the vitamins from being fully utilized by the body and greatly reducing the effectiveness of the drugs. Taking vitamins after meals allows them to be fully absorbed.
After meals, the digestive activities of the stomach and intestines become more active, which is conducive to the absorption of vitamins by the body and allows them to play a greater role. Especially for fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E, they achieve the highest absorption rate with the help of fats in the diet. Therefore, these vitamins are best taken after meals. The higher the fat content in the diet, the more helpful it is for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. If the diet is usually light, milk can be added as it is rich in fat and protein, which can better assist in absorption.
Vitamin C is also one of the vitamins that is suitable for taking after meals. Although vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, taking a large amount can still cause diarrhea and other symptoms, which is harmful to the body. It is suitable to take it in the period immediately after a meal when the burden on the stomach and intestines is relatively small, reducing the pressure on the stomach. For people with constipation, taking it before meals can achieve better results.
Water-soluble vitamins should be taken three times a day. Fat-soluble vitamins are not excreted from the body with urine, so the required amount can be taken once a day. However, if they can be taken three times after meals, they can be more effective in the body. Water-soluble vitamins B and C are easily excreted from the body with urine, resulting in the loss of vitamins. Therefore, it is best to take them three times a day, evenly distributed at different times. The intake of vitamins into the body should be kept within a certain amount, and each vitamin has its optimal effective amount in the body. Taking more than this amount will either be excreted through urine or burden the body. Especially for water-soluble vitamins, excessive intake will only be excreted through excretory organs, causing unnecessary waste and increasing the burden on the body. At the same time, when taking different vitamins, the following points should be noted:
⑴Vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin B6: taking them after meals ensures stable absorption and allows them to participate in body activities in large quantities. This is because after eating, the rate of emptying the contents of the stomach slows down, allowing the drugs to be slowly transported to the upper part of the small intestine, avoiding saturation in the absorption mechanism.
⑵Vitamin B12 and vitamin C: they are also suitable for taking after meals, and taking them after meals is more conducive to absorption. However, these two drugs should not be taken at the same time, as taking them together can reduce the bioavailability of vitamin B12 and greatly reduce its effectiveness. To avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, they should be taken 2-3 hours apart.
⑶Vitamin D: as a fat-soluble vitamin, it is best to eat some oily foods (such as fried dough sticks, pork, etc.) before taking it to facilitate its dissolution and absorption, and improve the utilization of nutrients. If used to treat infantile spasms, calcium supplements should be taken first. Vitamin D can also increase the absorption and utilization of calcium, promoting children's growth and development.
⑷Vitamin AD (cod liver oil capsules): it is suitable to take them 15 minutes after a meal and eat oily foods to facilitate absorption.
⑸Vitamin PP (niacin): it can cause discomfort symptoms such as flushing, itching, and burning in the skin. In severe cases, it can even cause palpitations, hives, nausea, vomiting, and other side effects. Taking it after meals can alleviate these side effects.
Although vitamins are beneficial nutrients for the body, not everyone is suitable for taking them, and the dosage should be followed according to medical advice and should not be adjusted without authorization.
