What is known about vitamins that you should not take at the same time, or that you should not combine with certain foods? Are there vitamins that interact with each other? And what about drugs and vitamins, are there interactions between them?
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Suzan Tuinier, nutritionist
Some substances actually improve the effect or absorption of other substances, others inhibit it. The same goes for vitamins and minerals.
Variation important
In daily practice it is difficult to take these influences into account. In the long term, they will not or hardly be detectable. A possible reason for this is a varied diet contains both substances that promote absorption and substances that inhibit it.
The recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals already take into account Dutch eating habits and the effects that nutrients have on each other. An example of this is drinking milk with lunch: calcium from the milk has a negative effect on the absorption of other minerals. By eating more of those other minerals, you compensate for this effect. A varied diet is therefore important.
Medicines
Taking medicines on a daily basis sometimes affects the absorption of vitamins. This also applies the other way around, vitamins sometimes influence the effect of a medicine.
Here you can read more about the most important interactions (interactions) between vitamins and medicines. In general, however, the following always applies: check the package leaflet of the medicine you are using and consult with your doctor.
Overview interactions
The Vitamin Information Bureau made an overview with the interaction between vitamins and minerals:
| Vitamin/mineral | Interaction with | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Vitamin C | Too much vitamin A can lead to a decrease in vitamin C. |
| Vitamin D | Vitamin A is an antagonist of vitamin D. | |
| Vitamin K | A high dose of vitamin A can counteract vitamin K absorption. | |
| Vitamin B2 | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B2 is necessary for the conversion of the active form of vitamin B6. With a low intake of B2 and B6, extra vitamin B2 helps to increase the B6 content. |
| Vitamin C | Vitamin B11 | Vitamin C promotes the absorption of vitamin B11 (folic acid). |
| Iron | Vitamin C improves the absorption of vegetable (non-heme) iron. | |
| Buyer | More than 1.5 grams of vitamin C leads to a reduction in copper absorption. | |
| Seleen | Vitamin C has a positive influence on the absorption of selenium. | |
| Vitamin D | Calcium | Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. |
| Calcium | Phosphorus, iron, magnesium and zinc | Calcium hinders the absorption of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron (both heme and non-heme). |
| Phosphorus | Magnesium | Magnesium can bind to phosphorus and thus hinder the absorption of magnesium. |
| Zinc | Phosphorus affects zinc absorption at more than 2.5 grams of zinc per day. | |
| Iron | Vitamin A | With an iron deficiency, the vitamin A concentration in the body decreases. |
| Zinc | It seems that too high an iron intake increases the need for zinc. | |
| Magnesium | Vitamin D | A lot of magnesium ensures an increased release of a hormone that promotes the production of vitamin D. In this way, a magnesium deficiency can potentially lead to reduced conversion to vitamin D. |
| Seleen | Vitamin E | Selenium lowers the need for vitamin E and can prevent a deficiency of vitamin E. |
| Buyer | Zinc | Zinc has a hindered influence on the absorption of copper, but this also applies the other way around. Zinc and copper are antagonists of each other. |
Do you also have a question? Then ask one of our experts. Always go to your doctor with urgent questions, the experts are not the right person for that. They don’t diagnose either. You can find the other conditions here.
Suzan Tuinier is a nutritionist and coordinator of the Vitamin Information Bureau. She has experience as a nutrition educator and researcher. You can contact Suzan with questions about vitamins and minerals.
