Use technology
The time of taking water-soluble vitamin supplements such as group B complexes is not very important. A person can consume them at any time of the day and there is not much difference in their absorption with food or on an empty stomach. At the same time, multi-mineral supplements, or supplements that have all the vitamins and minerals together, depending on their quality, their absorption coefficient is different. In high quality minerals, each nutrient is accompanied by a carrier. The presence of this substance causes the vitamin or mineral to be released somewhere in the digestive system, which is the best place for its absorption. For example, some nutrients need to be released at the beginning of the small intestine and some at the end. It’s actually a pharmaceutical technology that may or may not be in the multimineral you’re taking. This technology makes it possible to physiologically release the effective substance in the best part of the digestive system by means of a carrier when you consume several nutrients together in one pill or capsule and increase its absorption percentage to the highest form.
Take care of your digestive system
Remember that some types of supplements that experts recommend to be taken on an empty stomach may cause stomach problems and cause heartache or upset stomach. In some cases, these supplements may cause serious digestive problems for some people, so those who cannot tolerate taking them on an empty stomach are advised to take them with food. In this case, digestive discomforts and pains will not bother the person.
Does calcium cause kidney stones?
There are rumors that calcium supplements can cause kidney problems if taken at night. But you need to know that the consumption of supplements does not depend on the hours of the day. If someone is deficient in calcium, it is best to take it with food. A person can take it with breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on his desire. In this case, there is no concern about calcium supplements causing kidney stones. But taking supplements arbitrarily in long periods can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Consumption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A can accumulate in the liver and cause serious damage to this organ in the long term.
Do not eat without a doctor’s prescription
The general principle in nutrition science is that all healthy people should be able to obtain all the nutrients they need through food. In this case, there will be no need for supplements. In fact, the most natural way is to provide all the necessary substances through nutrition. When the supply of substances takes an unnatural form and is done through supplements, it is natural that it has complications. For example, taking certain supplements may reduce the absorption of a series of solutes in the intestine. For this reason, we only recommend supplement pills to people who are sure that they cannot get the necessary substances through food. There are groups of people who are more prone to micronutrient deficiencies than others. For example, pregnant and lactating women need folic acid, iron and calcium supplements, and vitamin A and D drops are usually prescribed for infants.
The doctor determines the dose and duration
If the doctor or relevant specialist determines based on paraclinical tests that the person needs extra calcium and cannot provide it through food, they will give him a supplement with a specific dose based on his condition. The required individual dose may be 250 mg or 500 mg. He may be told to take this dose once or three times a day. One person may need to take the supplement for one month and another for six months. In fact, depending on the severity and weakness of the deficiency, the amount of consumption, the dosage and the period of consumption are different. So remember that you should never take these food supplements on your own without a doctor’s prescription. Like any other medicine, they should be prescribed only in special cases.
Do not take iron and zinc tablets with food
The most common supplements used in Iran are calcium, zinc and iron supplements. Unfortunately, iron deficiency, which is a key nutrient in human health, is common in society. Iron supplements are prescribed to compensate for this deficiency. Whatever form these supplements take, it is best to take them on an empty stomach. That is, it is better not to take them with food, because their absorption rate decreases. But unlike iron, the best time to take calcium supplements is when the stomach is full and the person is eating. In fact, this supplement will be more effective if taken with food. Iron supplement almost like iron supplement, it is better to take it without food and on an empty stomach to have its maximum effect. If the recommended tablets are taken on an empty stomach, with food, their effectiveness may decrease according to a certain ratio. For example, taking an iron supplement with food may reduce its effectiveness by 30% or more, depending on the type of supplement.
Do not take iron tablets for more than 5 months
Supplements, like any other medicine, have their own side effects, that’s why the period of their use should be limited. According to clinical guidelines, even if a person has severe anemia, iron supplements should not be prescribed continuously for more than 5 months because the supplements themselves can be harmful and cause problems for the person’s health. This particular supplement, if consumed excessively and for a long time, can be oxidizing and thus damage the cells of the body. Therefore, they say that if a person is suffering from severe iron deficiency, his treatment plan should be such that, along with the diet plan and the use of supplements, in less than 5 months, he will run out of supplements and his problem will be resolved. If this does not happen, it means that the primary cause of anemia has not been resolved and there is a problem in his treatment plan.
In addition, many women take zinc supplements to have better skin and hair. This is one of the most common supplements, but you need to know that taking zinc supplements has a negative effect on iron absorption, and it is better to ask your doctor about the dosage of zinc to prevent iron deficiency.
