Can you take probiotics with vitamins

Written by Julie M. Medical review by Bindiya Gandhi, M. December 14, In This Article. Will probiotics make your vitamins and other supplements less effective? OK, what about antibiotics and other medications? Anything else I should know about probiotics? If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine.

It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you. She received her Master's degree in women's studies Christina Coughlin. Integrative Health. Lindsay Boyers. With Will Cole, D. Personal Growth. Sarah Regan. Kelly Gonsalves. Mental Health. Daniel Amen, M. Latest Articles Spirituality. The AstroTwins. Eliza Sullivan.

Emma Loewe. Jamie Schneider. Abby Moore. Previous Next. The microflora of the gut can play an important role in maintaining our immune and digestive system health. Natural probiotics have been around for centuries, in the form of bacteria-rich foods such as yoghurt and kimchi, but advances in science now allow us to cultivate specific strains of bacteria to target different health needs.

Our bodies also require other essential minerals, such as calcium, iron and iodine. Like vitamins, these aren't manufactured by the body and must be regularly consumed through the diet. Good sources of calcium include milk and milk products, leafy green vegetables and certain fish, while iron features in lentils and beans, nuts and seeds, and iodine appears in seafood, which are generally rich in this mineral.

Unlike vitamins, minerals are simple, inorganic substances, so they don't degrade through heat or age. Beyond vitamins, probiotics and minerals lie the sprawling fields of traditional medicine. Ancient remedies come in all forms and are not easily categorised.

Chinese traditional medicine, for instance, includes both animal matter and minerals, as well as herbal cures. The present can learn from the past, and modern supplements have begun to incorporate some of these traditional ideas into product development.

For instance, Life-Space Children Immune Support Probiotic contains Elderflower, which has traditionally been used in Western Herbal Medicine to help relieve symptoms of the common cold. We can get all the nutrients we need from eating a balanced diet, but supplements can provide additional support if dietary intake is inadequate. Modern food hygiene and certain medications have reduced the spread of disease in the developed world, but we're now exposed to a smaller variety of bacteria than our ancestors were, meaning our microbiome is exposed to less diverse bacteria.

Processed foods, heightened stress, lack of exercise and antibiotics can all affect the number and types of bacteria in our gut, but we can support it. A healthy, varied diet of fresh foods and regular exercise, for instance, can fuel the bacteria in our microbiome. Bacterial diversity is the hallmark of a healthy microbiome, and probiotics offer an additional way to support microbiome health, helping to restore and increase beneficial bacteria in the intestine, which can, in turn, help support a healthy immune system and maintain digestive system health.

Many probiotics already include selected vitamin and mineral supplements to provide additional health benefits. Likewise, Life-Space Probiotic for Breastfeeding contains the mineral iodine, which supports a baby's healthy brain development whilst breastfeeding. Similarly, while probiotics offer health benefits when taken as recommended, there's no real reason to exceed this amount. The best way to look after yourself is a healthy lifestyle with a fresh, balanced diet.

The bacteria are usually freeze-dried but remain alive ; when you take the supplement, they warm up in your digestive system and become fully active. You can find probiotic supplements in most drugstores and supermarkets.

They come as capsules or tablets to swallow and as loose powder to sprinkle on food. You'll want a product that explicitly states a "sell-by" date. Dosages vary by product, so no general dosing recommendation can be made. However, common dosages for adults range from five billion to 10 billion colony-forming units per day.

Take just one dose of probiotics per day. Some people may experience loose stools in the first few days of taking probiotics, but this goes away. Taking probiotics at the end of a meal may help to reduce the symptoms. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

The latest research shows that probiotic foods may offer benefits against a range of health conditions, including allergies, arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, heart disease, and gastrointestinal GI problems. Probiotics may even help with weight loss! Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.

Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals.