5 Dietary supplements and Drugs To not Combine with Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also referred to as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that performs a significant position in collagen synthesis, wound therapeutic, and immune system well being. Nevertheless, it could possibly additionally work together with sure dietary supplements and drugs, probably affecting the absorption, effectiveness, security, or metabolism of those vitamins.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps metabolize protein and kind pink blood cells. It additionally helps your nervous system, a community of nerves and neurons that enable your mind and spinal twine to ship messages backwards and forwards to completely different components of your physique.

Taking vitamin B12 and excessive doses of vitamin C might degrade sure types of vitamin B12 (equivalent to cyanocobalamin), decreasing the quantity absorbed within the intestine. “In the event you take high-dose vitamin C, separate it from B12 dietary supplements by a number of hours to attenuate this potential interplay,” Heather Rae Paschal, PharmD, a board-certified medical pharmacist and girls’s well being medical liaison at ConsultRx, advised Well being.

One other various is to eat meals wealthy in these nutritional vitamins. Meals wealthy in vitamin B12 embody meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy merchandise. Vitamin C-rich meals embody citrus fruits, berries, cabbage, and broccoli.

Iron is an important mineral that is vital for making hemoglobin, a protein in pink blood cells that transports oxygen all through your blood. It additionally helps muscle metabolism, neurological improvement, and the formation of wholesome connective tissue.

Whereas vitamin C is a protected and efficient approach to improve iron absorption from meals, Paschal says individuals with iron-overload situations (equivalent to hemochromatosis) ought to keep away from high-dose vitamin C dietary supplements, as they might improve the danger of tissue injury or toxicity.

When you’ve got an iron-overload well being situation, converse to your healthcare supplier about dosage and timing suggestions for vitamin C earlier than including it to your complement routine.

Copper is a mineral that is important for power manufacturing and the formation of pink blood cells. It is also very important in your nervous system and immune system. Some individuals have to complement with copper if they are not getting sufficient from their weight loss program or have a well being situation that causes malabsorption, equivalent to celiac illness.

Nevertheless, Vitamin C reduces obtainable copper, resulting in oxidative stress and potential kidney injury.

“It’s best to take every with separate meals of the day at the least two hours aside,” Allison L. Hill, PharmD, RPh, director {of professional} affairs on the American Pharmacists Affiliation, advised Well being. One other various is to devour meals wealthy in these vitamins as an alternative.

Vitamin B3, or niacin, might help handle excessive ldl cholesterol when mixed with a statin. Nevertheless, taking vitamin C with niacin and a statin might cut back the effectiveness of your ldl cholesterol remedy, stopping a rise in HDL (“good”) levels of cholesterol.

Vitamin C might be obtained naturally from meals wealthy in vitamin C. A healthcare supplier may also present recommendation on the advisable dosing and timing of vitamin C dietary supplements if you’re taking any drugs for ldl cholesterol that comprise niacin.

Whereas not a complement, aluminum is a chemical compound present in sure drugs, equivalent to antacids (used to deal with heartburn) and warfarin, a blood thinner that forestalls and treats blood clots.

Warfarin can work together with vitamin C and result in a lower in warfarin’s anticoagulant impact, which prevents blood clots from forming. Whereas this impact is uncommon, interactions are inclined to occur when somebody is taking increased doses of vitamin C alongside warfarin.

In the event you’re taking an antacid or a drugs equivalent to warfarin, converse together with your healthcare supplier first to see if a decrease dose of vitamin C is protected.