Can You Take Multivitamins On An Empty Stomach?

For many people, multivitamins are part of a balanced lifestyle. Some of the most popular vitamins taken by citizens in the United States in 2021 were Vitamin D and other immune-boosting supplements, according to Healthline. Multivitamins may not be necessary in the first place if you eat a balanced diet and get plenty of sunshine, but for some who have vitamin deficiencies or are at an older age, it might be a good idea to consider taking daily multivitamins, explains Harvard Health Publishing.

Thankfully, how you take a multivitamin isn't that complicated. They come in many forms including capsule, gummy, and liquid, explains Verywell Fit. Timing during the day is also not an issue for most vitamins, although certain vitamins may be better absorbed in specific conditions, per Healthline.

But can people take multivitamins on an empty stomach? Many people take these vitamins right when they wake up before eating, but should they?

Taking a multivitamin on an empty stomach causes nausea and stomach irritation for some people, but why does this happen?

"Certain nutrients found in multivitamins can upset our stomachs or even make us nauseous," says registered dietitian nutritionist Caitlin Beale, speaking with Vitamin Shoppe. These include heavy doses of vitamin C, zinc, and iron.

Other vitamins are fat-soluble which means that they require fat to be absorbed into the body. These include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Taking these vitamins with food will help promote absorption.

The best vitamins to take on an empty stomach are ones that are water-soluble. As the name suggests, these vitamins require water, instead of fat, to be absorbed into the body (via Insider). Experts recommend taking these vitamins with a glass of water.

However, a multivitamin usually contains both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. For example, the Multivitamin for Him from Nature Made contains 22 different nutrients (per NYMag). For this reason, experts recommend pairing your multivitamin with both food and a glass of water, according to the Cleveland Clinic.