{"id":309848,"date":"2026-01-29T13:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/309848\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T13:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:57:14","slug":"never-take-these-4-vitamins-with-coffee-registered-dietitians-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/309848\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Take These 4 Vitamins With Coffee, Registered Dietitians Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s hard to remember to take a daily pill, making it crucial to find a daily habit that works for you. If you take a supplement<\/a> every day, it makes sense to pair it with something in your morning routine to ensure it\u2019ll actually stick. But dietitians say it\u2019s best to think twice before tossing back certain vitamins and minerals with your morning cup of joe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoffee contains several chemicals that can alter the absorption of nutrients,\u201d explains Sonya Angelone, PhD, RDN,<\/strong><\/a> a nutritionist and registered dietitian based in San Francisco. \u201cAlthough some of these chemicals have antioxidant health benefits, they can also bind to certain vitamins and minerals and decrease their absorption.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coffee can also shift your stomach acidity and gut transit time, further messing with your body\u2019s ability to absorb and use that supplement you just took, saysScott Keatley, RD,<\/a><\/strong>co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy<\/a>. \u201cFor people using supplements to correct a deficiency, those small absorption hits can matter,\u201d he points out. Some supplements also absorb better when they\u2019re paired with food, not coffee<\/a>, so you could be missing out if you\u2019re just taking a sip of your go-to brew with your vitamin and eating later.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, \u201cit’s important to also be mindful of what else you’re doing in the morning along with your caffeine ritual,\u201d says Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN<\/strong><\/a>, CEO of NY Nutrition Group.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you need to choose between taking your daily supplement or having this popular beverage, says Jessica Cording, RD<\/a>, <\/strong>author of The Little Book of Game-Changers. But it does mean you\u2019ll need to be a little more creative with when you have each. With that in mind, these are the biggest supplements dietitians don\u2019t want you to have with coffee\u2014and why.<\/p>\n

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(Catherine Falls Commercial&sol;Getty Images)4 Vitamins and Minerals To Avoid Taking With Coffee, Registered Dietitians<\/strong> Say<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to check in with a healthcare provider before adding a new supplement to your routine. But whether you\u2019ve decided to add a vitamin or mineral to your stack or it\u2019s recommended by your doctor, it\u2019s crucial to know about potential interactions. These are the biggest ones that may interact with coffee.<\/p>\n

1. Iron<\/p>\n

Coffee contains certain compounds and tannins that can bind to iron, preventing it from being fully absorbed in your body, Moskovitz explains. This can \u201csignificantly inhibit\u201d the absorption of non-heme (i.e. plant-based) iron, Keatley says. \u201cThat effect can show up even with modest amounts,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

One 2023 study published in the American Journal of Hematology<\/a> found that women with an iron deficiency who took their iron supplement with coffee absorbed 54% less than when they took their pill with water.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is especially important for those who rely on iron from plant foods like vegetarians and vegans<\/a> or people with low iron stores,\u201d Angelone tells Parade. If you\u2019ve been taking iron to try to treat a deficiency and things aren\u2019t getting better, Keatley recommends taking a closer look at your coffee habit around it. \u201cPairing it with coffee is a common reason levels don\u2019t improve as expected,\u201d he says. (For what it\u2019s worth, Cording points out that this can happen with tea as well.)<\/p>\n

Related: Here\u2019s Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating 3 Hours Before Bed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Vitamin D<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing about coffee that will get in the way of your body\u2019s ability to absorb vitamin D<\/a>, but it\u2019s still lacking what you need to maximize your efforts in taking this supplement. \u201cYou want to take vitamin D<\/a> along with something that contains fat,\u201d Cording says. Otherwise, you could be doing yourself a disservice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf coffee replaces breakfast, absorption may be less reliable,\u201d Keatley says. \u201cVitamin D does best with a meal, not with a fasted coffee.\u201d In fact, Cording calls taking vitamin D with coffee and no food a \u201cmissed opportunity\u201d for your supplement to be useful.<\/p>\n

Something else to consider, per Angelone: While coffee doesn\u2019t block the absorption of vitamin D in the gut, the caffeine in coffee can interfere with the receptors that bind vitamin D in cells that build bone.<\/p>\n

3. Calcium<\/p>\n

There are a few concerns here. \u201cCoffee slightly decreases the amount of calcium <\/a>absorbed from the intestinal tract and increases the excretion of calcium in your urine,\u201d Angelone explains. \u201cIt is probably not a good idea to wash down your calcium with coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re meeting your overall calcium needs, Keatley says the effect will likely be small. \u201cBut if someone is relying on a calcium supplement for bone health, it\u2019s still sensible not to take it with coffee routinely,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Related: The One Breakfast Habit Brain Health Experts Are Begging You To Stop<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. B vitamins<\/p>\n

This is another vitamin that can take an indirect hit from coffee. \u201cCoffee doesn\u2019t meaningfully block B vitamin absorption<\/a> in most cases, but caffeine can have a mild diuretic effect,\u201d Keatley says. \u201cWater-soluble vitamins like B vitamins can get eliminated by your kidneys, then in the urine, so the amount retained will be less,\u201d Angelone adds.<\/p>\n

But tolerance is an issue, too. \u201cB-complex on an empty stomach\u2014especially with coffee\u2014can worsen nausea<\/a> or jitters in sensitive people,\u201d Keatley warns.<\/p>\n

Cording agrees. \u201cVitamin B can be somewhat stimulating,\u201d she says. \u201cSometimes if you combine vitamin B and coffee together, it might feel like an overload.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: This Common Nutrient Deficiency Is Quietly Ruining Women\u2019s Sleep<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How To Work Around This<\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to give up your coffee habit to get all your vitamins and minerals. Instead, dietitians say it\u2019s crucial to be smart about when you have each.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best and safest approach to ensuring adequate nutrient absorption without sacrificing your necessary morning pick-me-up is to space out your supplements,\u201d Moskovitz says. So, if you normally have a cup of coffee around 8 a.m., consider waiting until lunch or later to take your supplements. \u201cIf that’s not realistic, consider adding more vitamin C<\/a> and calcium-rich foods to your diet, which counter any malabsorption issues caused by caffeine,” she explains.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather have them a little closer together, Angelone recommends doing your best to space your supplements and coffee out by at least one to two hours. \u201cTake your supplements with water,\u201d she says. And, of course, if you\u2019re unsure about the best way to take your supplement, talk to your healthcare provider.<\/p>\n

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