Well, what time is best? Meal time!! Before, during, or following a meal.

Taking vitamins at a meal time will help to avoid digestive upset and nausea that may be experienced if vitamins are taken on an empty stomach (especially if you are taking a potent multi like Animal Pak).

In doing so, an additional benefit is gained: the nutrients in the supplements integrate with those in the food, making for a faster rate of absorption into the bloodstream.

Remember, there are two types of vitamins: Fat and Water Soluble; both have different absorption pathways and rates.

Two Kinds of Vitamins:

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Once absorbed into the circulation these vitamins are carried to the liver where they are stored.

Vitamins A, D, E and K make up the fat soluble vitamins. Vitamins A, D and K are stored in the liver and vitamin E is distributed throughout the body’s fatty tissues.

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin C and the B vitamins are stored in the body for only a brief period of time and are then excreted by the kidneys. The one exception to this is vitamin B12, which is stored in the liver. Water-soluble vitamins need to be taken daily.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the B complex group make up the nine water soluble vitamins. The B complex group comprises of vitamins:

• B6 (pyridoxine)
• B1 (thiamine)
• B2 (riboflavin)
• B12 (niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid and cobalamin)

When choosing your multi vitamin it is beneficial to get time released tablets. Point being that, “since the body has little capacity to store water soluble vitamins, only the amount needed is absorbed by the body; the remainder is excreted in the urine within a few hours”.

Vitamins like Universals Animal Pak are time released so there is a longer constant absorption period offered to the body. Animal Pak also comes with enzymes that aide digestion of the vitamins.

Columbu, Dr. Franco. The BodyBuilder’s Nutrition Book. Chicago, Illinois: Contemporary Books, 1985.