What is the best time to take Vitamin D? Here’s your ultimate guide to supplement consumption certified by health experts

An essential winter routine is soaking up sunlight to get vitamin D, which plays a pivotal role in maintaining optimal health and well-being. Deficiency of Vitamin D is quite common resulting in weak bone health. People often consume supplements to meet the requirements of the vitamins in the body.

While it is important to soak up the vitamin, it is also important to understand when to consume it. Dr Debashish Chanda, Lead Consultant, Department of Orthopedics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, says, “It is absolutely important to understand when you should consume Vitamin D. Vitamin D, being a fat-soluble vitamin, does not get absorbed by the body effectively if it is consumed with heavy meals. We typically recommend consuming it on an empty stomach with a meal containing a good amount of healthy fats for maximum absorption.”

He recommends consuming Vitamin D during breakfast as it is the best time. He says, “One must have it with milk or butter as they are a rich and easily available source of healthy fat. Some fat-rich foods also include nut butter, avocados, flax oil, and olives.”

He suggests that “consuming Vitamin D supplements at nighttime, which is with heavy dinner meals is not recommended as it will not lead to proper absorption.”

Dr Chanda says that many patients come with a continuous lack of Vitamin D even after regularly consuming its supplements. He points out the reason behind this saying, “The major reason behind this is primarily the time at which you consume it and the food you pair it with.”

He highlights the importance of consuming vitamin D supplements at the same time and advises, “Maintaining stable vitamin D levels is the key to maximizing its benefits so you must also ensure that you consume Vitamin D supplement regularly and at the same time.”