Can You Take Vitamin C and D Together? Everything You Need to Know

What Is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is well-known for boosting our immune health. It also helps our body produce collagen and maintains the health of our blood vessels. It has a high antioxidant content, which helps fight free radicals in your blood. It also supports our bodies in combating seasonal sinus and lung issues.

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is found in many foods that we eat, most notably in citrus fruits and vegetables. Eating enough vitamin C as a normal part of your diet is the best way to ingest this vitamin since vitamin C is more easily absorbed into our bodies if it’s a part of our diet. If you need to increase your vitamin C intake, using a supplement derived from natural ingredients, like acerola cherry, will be the most beneficial; acerola cherry-derived vitamin C, like Care/of’s Vitamin C, is high in phytonutrients and flavonoids that help with absorption.

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 75-90 milligrams taken daily. People who are older or have digestive issues may want to increase the amount they take as it may be more challenging for them to absorb an appropriate amount.

Health Benefits From Taking Vitamin C

The main health benefit of vitamin C is the way it helps defend our bodies from seasonal sinus and lung issues. It is a vital element that helps our bodies synthesize collagen and has also been found to be a cofactor in the synthesis of L-Carnitine and catecholamines (dopamine and adrenaline). It may also have an effect on other neurotransmitters, as well.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is produced in the body via the UV B radiation from the sun. It is a vital part of how our bodies store and use energy. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not commonly found in our diets. It can mostly be found in fatty fish, some other meats, and fortified foods like grain and dairy products. Vitamin D also helps support bone and immune health.

Around 70% of people are at least slightly deficient in vitamin D. This fact is due to a number of things. First off, limited sunlight exposure can put us at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Time spent outside is a major factor, but so are sun intensity, pollution, sunscreen use, and skin color. Having more melanin in the skin means less vitamin D gets absorbed into the body. The best way to increase vitamin D intake is to have more time in the sun; for adequate absorption, uncovered skin must be exposed to sunlight for approximately ten minutes per day.

The recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 15 micrograms (mcg) or 600 international units (IU). For supplements, taking them with food is recommended; your body will absorb the most vitamin D if your supplements are taken alongside a meal with healthy fats in it. A supplement of 25-50 mcg (1000-2000 IU) is an adequate dose for support and maintenance. It’s always a good idea to check in with your primary care physician before adjusting vitamins and supplements.

Health Benefits From Taking Vitamin D

While vitamin D is most known for boosting energy levels, it is also vital to our bone and immune health. Vitamin D also helps with the development and growth of muscle. A deficiency may lead to feelings of weakness and muscle loss. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium, which keeps our bones strong and healthy. All in all, vitamin D is necessary for the health and functionality of our bodies. Care/of’s Vitamin D is formulated with prebiotic plant fiber to make it easier to digest. One capsule provides the recommended daily allowance for vitamin D. Care/of also has formulated a vegan option, so people on a plant-based diet can consume this essential nutrient.

Can You Take Vitamin C And D Together?

The short and simple answer is: Yes! Vitamins C and D are commonly found together in multivitamins. They have complementary effects, which means that taking them together can better support your health. They’re particularly beneficial to the immune system. There are no known adverse effects to taking vitamins C and D together, but always check with your physician before changing your vitamin regimen.

Are There Any Vitamins And Supplements That Shouldn’t Be Taken With Vitamin C And D?

Vitamin C and D are commonly found together in multivitamins, alongside other supplements such as vitamin B, folate, biotin, and iron. These supplements can all be taken together, either as individual supplements or as part of a multivitamin. The only thing to be aware of is your dosage; if you’re already taking individual C and D supplements, then you may want to reconsider adding in a multivitamin that will add on to the dosage you’re already taking.

Potential Safety Concerns And Medication Interactions

Increasing your intake of vitamins C and D is great, but overdoing it is also a risk. Both vitamins can potentially reach toxic levels if too much is taken on a regular basis without a doctor’s guidance. For adults, the maximum dosage of vitamin C is 2,000 mg per day. After that, you may increase the risk of potentially experiencing digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach cramps, and headaches. Fortunately, as vitamin C is water-soluble, any excess will be flushed out through our urine. That’s why toxicity is not as common. Large doses of vitamin C should still be used with caution especially with those who have kidney issues.

Vitamin D toxicity is only possible through extremely high doses of vitamin D supplementation without checking your levels through blood work. According to this study, it would need to be an enormous amount – like taking over 60,000 IUs of vitamin D daily for several months can potentially result in toxicity. For some perspective, Care/of’s vitamin D supplement is a daily 25 mcg (1,000 IU). You would need to consume more than 60 pills each day for months to reach this level.

The biggest problem with vitamin D toxicity is that it can lead to a buildup of calcium in the body. This can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. In extreme cases, this can lead to issues with the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. While it is difficult to reach levels of vitamin D toxicity, remember to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes and periodically check in on your vitamin D levels through blood work.