Can You Take Probiotics with Vitamins and Minerals?

As our understanding of the gut improves, so does our interest in gut health supplements. If you walk down the aisle at your local grocery store, you're bound to see countless different types of gut health supplements. Probiotics are one of the most prominent of these gut health supplements. Put simply, probiotics are "good bacteria" that help to balance the gut microbiome. If you are interested in probiotics, you may have a few questions about what they do and how they might interact with the rest of your supplement routine. For example, can you take probiotics with vitamins and minerals? The quick answer is yes, but it's important to understand what you're taking when you add a new supplement to your routine, so let's get into the nitty-gritty of what exactly a "probiotic" is.^†

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are also known as "good bacteria," which makes sense if you think about what "pro" and "biotic" mean. You can find these good bacteria in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and miso. The gut microbiome is made up of thousands of different strains of bacteria, some beneficial and some harmful. You can promote healthy gut flora by providing your gut with probiotic bacteria sources. For more food sources of probiotics, check out this handy list!

Probiotic Health Benefits

Probiotics support your digestive system in several ways. One way has to do with how our body breaks down what we eat. In our digestive system, saliva and stomach acid help break down food into components our bodies can easily absorb. However, not every compound in our food is so easily broken down! Promoting beneficial bacteria in our gut is essential because some probiotic strains can ferment these complex compounds, turning them into simpler components, which are then broken down and absorbed. Other strains of probiotics have specific benefits, like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, which works in the small intestine to help relieve occasional gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort, and Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, which works in the large intestine to help relieve occasional constipation and irregularity. Another strain, Bifidobacterium lactis BI-04 supports a healthy immune system.^†

Probiotics and Vitamin/Minerals Supplementation: Can They Be Taken Together Safely?

So, now that we know what they are, can you take probiotics with vitamins? It's a valid question; understanding what's in your supplements and how they interact is always smart. The good news is that vitamins and probiotic supplementation can be safely taken together! But what makes them different and why don't they interact? Vitamins and probiotics, while both supplements, are entirely different in what they are and how they function.

Vitamins are essential organic compounds that help your body's cells function; probiotics are live bacteria that benefit the gut microbiome. Vitamins help provide your cells with the materials they need to function, and probiotics reside in the gut to aid digestion. They work in totally different ways, so they have no interaction. That's great! It means adding a probiotic to your Vitamin supplement routine is generally no problem at all! Whether you take Vitamin C, Vitamin D, B Vitamins, or even minerals like Magnesium, Zinc, or Iron, your probiotics won't bother them. As always, it's best to consult your primary care provider or health professional before changing your supplement routine. In general, probiotics and vitamin and mineral supplements can be taken together safely.^†

What Should I Consider When Taking Probiotics and Antibiotics Together?

If you are taking antibiotics on the recommendation of a healthcare professional, check with them before adding a probiotic to your routine. If your primary care provider recommends taking probiotics and antibiotics, never take them simultaneously; always wait at least two hours between taking probiotics and antibiotics.[1] Again, always consult with a medical professional before taking probiotics during an antibiotic regimen.

Expert Tips for Taking Supplements

Nature Made® recommends taking your probiotic supplement once a day with cold or room-temperature water and a meal. It's always best to pick a regular meal to take your supplements with, whether it fits better into your schedule in the morning or night. Taking your supplements with breakfast every day makes it much easier to keep up with your supplement routine, as you are adding it to a pre-established schedule rather than creating something entirely new. It also ensures you take your probiotic supplements with a cold or room-temperature beverage and food, which is the correct way to take them.

Nature Made® offers several probiotic supplements to choose from, so you can pick the one that works best for you! Our Digestive Probiotics Advanced Dual Action Capsules provide comprehensive coverage with two clinically studied strains of probiotics, sourced from high-quality ingredients, that help support the healthy gut flora in your small and large intestines. These capsules include 13 billion live cells of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, which work in the small intestine to help relieve occasional gas, bloating, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort, along with 2 billion live cells of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 to help relieve occasional constipation and irregularity in the large intestine. If you're looking for a tastier delivery method, Nature Made® Digestive Probiotics Ultra Strength^‡ Gummies help support digestive health with delicious Raspberry and Cherry with other natural flavors.^†

You may also be interested in our prebiotic supplements, dietary fibers that feed the good bacteria in your gut. For more information on prebiotics and probiotics, check out our blog Prebiotics Vs. Probiotics: What’s the Difference?

‡2X the CFUs of other Nature Made® Digestive Probiotics Adult Gummies (4 billion CFUs).

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Lactobacillus: MedlinePlus Supplements. medlineplus.gov. Published June 23, 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/790.html