When is the Best Time to Take Your Daily Vitamins?

For most supplements, including the daily multivitamin, it is best to take them with the largest meal of the day. This could be lunch or dinner, and it is ideal if the food contains some fat, such as fatty fish, avocado, eggs, or nuts. This will help with optimal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Taking the multivitamin in the morning with a meal is recommended, but if this causes a stomachache, try taking it before bed.

The most important thing is that it becomes part of your daily routine. When it comes to prenatal vitamins, it is best to start taking them before pregnancy when you plan to conceive. Experts generally agree that morning or noon and with some food is a safe bet. To increase their benefits, it is important to understand when is the best time to take vitamins D, B12 and C, multivitamins and prenatal vitamins.

Water-soluble vitamins can be taken at any time of the day, but B vitamins are recommended in the morning as they help with nutrient metabolism and energy production. Vitamin D should be incorporated into your routine, along with breakfast or a bedtime snack. If you take supplements, knowing what time of day to take them can help you maximize their effectiveness and avoid dangerous interactions with any prescription medications you take. To understand when is the ideal time to take your multivitamin, you must first understand the different types of nutrients your multivitamin contains.

Vitamin B12 should be taken in the morning so it won't affect sleep. The best time to take vitamins and supplements will largely depend on the vitamins you're taking. Fat-soluble vitamins should be taken based on your eating pattern and when they are most easily absorbed. Most vitamin supplements can be taken at any time of the day, but there are some that will be better absorbed depending on when and how you take them.

If you take another vitamin B12 supplement (which 10 to 30% of older adults do not absorb well from food), take it at least 6 hours apart with the multivitamin as only 1.5 mcg of B1 can be absorbed at a time. If you take a different supplement with vitamin D, A, E, or K, take it at a different time of day than the multivitamin as it may reduce absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins in the multivitamin complex.