ask: How long does it take for vitamins or supplements to start working?
How long does it take for supplements to take effect? For example, I am taking calcium supplements and am wondering how long I will take them for before I see some results? I'm hoping to see healthier, stronger nails.
I don't depend on supplements for over-all health but am wondering if it takes just a couple of weeks to help, or months?
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I think this really depends upon the individual's ability to absorb the vitamins. Additionally, there are other supplements that help your body absorb calcium, such as Vitamins D and C, and Magnesium.
"Calcium is mostly absorbed in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, which extends from the stomach. Normally, it takes about two hours for calcium absorption to take place. For people with delayed stomach emptying or who have had duodenal bypass surgery, it can take even longer."
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D. Editor in Chief, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
How long does calcium absorption take?
How to increase the absorption of your calcium supplement
December 22, 2008 - 9:19pmThis Comment
There is a strong suggestion that Americans have the most expensive urine....on one hand we are bombarded by clever marketing campgains not only for prescription drugs, but also for nutriceutical products. When selecting the right supplements, consumers must be smart shoppers. Not all supplements are created equal. People looking for "results" may be deceived by the idea that a miracle will happen once a course of supplements is started.
How quickly a supplement is absorved is not guarantee of "results". More important than asking this question is to ensure that there is a deficient on the supplement you are taking. If you are not, the body will just eliminate any excess. Remember, supplements only SUPPLEMENT your nutrition, they are not substitutes. Calcium, magnesium and other essential minerals can be obtained from natural sources like many other vitamins.
But if your nutrition is less than ideal then getting supplements is a smart thing to do. There are also supplement combinations, as Alysiak mentioned that will help with faster absorption. Calcium with vitamin D has a better chance of getting into the blood stream. Vitamin C also helps the absorption of many vitamins and supplements. The dosage of Calcium and magnesium should also be according to a 2:1 ratio to ensure proper benefit of both minerals. For example, 1000mg of Calcium should include 500mg of Magnesium. Taking Calcium alone may not be too healthy and you may develop reverse effects.
I am not sure why you are taking the supplement and what results you are hpoing to see. Maybe you can reply by letting us know why are taking Calcium at this time. Prevention of Osteoporosis is one reason for Calcium supplementation for example.
Most supplements when taken under consultation of a healthcare professional who has done blood tests to get a baseline and has identified defficiencies of certain minerals, vitamins, etc should provide you with appropriate dosage and combination and should also monitor blood tests to ensure the ideal levels are reached.
As a rule of thumb supplements take a week or so to get into the blood stream and the body will utilize what it needs and dispose of what is excess. Certain vitamins can cause overdose effects and could be a problem. Vitamin A is one of them. I suggest taking Calcium in combination with Magnesium to get the benefits and a symptom of overdose will typically be diahrrea which will stop once you lower the dosage or stop taking them.
December 23, 2008 - 12:45amI started taking a supplement of Vit A, C, E, Selenium, and Zinc. And a separate one with CoQ10. I also started eating properly...eliminated all baked, processed foods. I eat mainly raw vegan. I do eat a great variety of fruits and veggies daily, with the ocasional home made burger. Ocasional in my vocab means maybe 2 x monthly. I am taking these vitamins just in case I am missing something with my diet. Also, I am trying to "cure" my mild acne, and improve skin appearance. Accodring to a gruelsome search I have come to the conclusion that what we eat does infact effect the state of our skin..and its been proven by Dr. Loren Cordain and many other research doctors. What I would like to know, continuing to eat this way, and taking the suplements, how long untill I start seeing results. I am also hoping to drop 20 lbs. I am 5 ft 3 and 143 lbs. I have tried many diets in the past for both weightloss and skin condition but become discourages if I see no results within one week. I have no idea what to expect. Please help??!!!
June 11, 2010 - 8:35amAnon - You're absolutely right, what we eat does affect our skin, which is the body's largest organ. The addition of vitamens and supplements and healthy foods to your diet should be helpful not only to your skin but also to your overall health. It's clear you've done some research to come up with this plan and want to do well. Good for you!
The next step is to set up some realistic expectations. No type of diet or vitamin is going to show you results in one week, so you will be a lot less frustrated if you can focus on finding ways to stick to your goals and to find ways to stay on the path you're on. There are hundreds of advertisements for various products that "promise" results in a short time and give the impression that this is what one should expect. The products don't work, and that's one reason why there are so many of them. The skills you learn now, if you stick with them, will not only help you in the short term but they will also help you become more healthy for the rest of your life, which will affect how you feel and look for decades. The good nutrition you're adding will start impacting your body within a week on the inside; it will take several weeks for the impact to show on the outside; the overall impact of what you do will show in the diseases and conditions that you have when you're older.
In terms of your acne, if you have tried over the counter products without results you may want to consider seeing a dermatologist who can evaluate your situation. In some cases the over the counter products aren't strong enough and a prescription product is needed.
Good luck, Pat
June 11, 2010 - 4:22pmPABA is a great vitamin for acne.
March 23, 2011 - 2:04pmHi, I hope you are still available for some advice. I was told yesterday that my vitamin D is slightly low at 18.5 and the doctor's said it should be 20. Although not that low, I have been experiencing lots of symptoms like painful joints and muscles. I am supprised that the doctors did not pick up on my symptoms and test me sooner. They just thought I had anxiety. I also was told 3 weeks ago that my serium iron stores are low at 10 and should be 14-15. My concern is that I have read that it increases your risk of getting cancer with low vitamin D. I have had inflamasion markers blood tests done and they come back normal but i know that these don't detect early cancers so was wondering if there's anything I can do to make sure the low vitamin D hasn't already caused damage?
November 9, 2010 - 9:54amHaving low Vitamin D does not mean you are destined to have a medical condition, or for it to cause damage.
What has your doctor recommended in order to increase your levels back to normal ranges?
November 9, 2010 - 2:50pmI have been prescribed Calcichew-D3 500MG/400IU Caplets. 1 twice a day. I also was told I have low Iron stores 3 weeks ago, they are at 10 and the doctors said they want them to be 14-15. So I have been taking Spatone and have to for 6 months. Also in May I was told I had low B12 but now have injections every 3 months for this. I have been having some really bad chest pains. They went away when I started my iron but have came back now. My doctors don't really do anything about it, they just listen and then recommend nothing.
I am not sure what to do as I feel I have gone to my doctors too much but now feel stuck. And I noticed for the past few weeks I have a spot on the back side of my tongue, I can see these on the opposite side but seems like the 1 on my left is raised. My doctor thinks it could be a cyst but my dentist says it's a tate bud so the difference of opponion worries me. It hurts sometimes and then not others. I am not sure if all of it is related. I am hoping it is to be honest.
November 10, 2010 - 1:41amI would suggest finding yourself a chiropractor who specializes in chinese medicine. Mine is all about natural remedies and listens to all my symptoms and treats accordingly. I was about to have surgery for rotator cuff tendonitis and the supplements he gave me has relieved that pain tremendously. I no longer need surgery. I saw 2 dermatologists for a rash that I had for over a year with no remedy from them. That rash disappeared within a month of taking the natural supplements. I feel better in general. Find a doctor/chiropractor who cares. They are out there.
January 24, 2011 - 8:06pmDimplelise - Painful joints and muscles sometimes come along as part of the aging process. Do you engage in regular physical activity or have an exercise program? Are you taking steps to stay in good health?
In terms of the chest pains, are you saying your doctor does not take you seriously and is ignoring your needs? If so you may want to assertively ask for answers or consider going to another doctor depending on how bad the pains are and if you feel you could have a serious medical condition that should be checked.
If you are truly worried about the spot on your tongue then you can ask your doctor to remove it and do a biopsy, or you can go to another doctor for a second opinion.
Our intuition is often a good guide when it comes to our health. I hope you will be successful in getting the answers and reassurance that you need.
Take care,
November 10, 2010 - 5:30pmPat