Which Vitamins Should Be Taken With Other Vitamins?

Taking vitamins can be an easy way to ensure you don't develop a deficiency, but are you getting the most out of your vitamin supplements? Some vitamins work synergistically with other vitamins to maintain a balance. This can mean a deficiency or overabundance of one vitamin if you don't take it together with it's synergistic counterpart. In some cases, taking one vitamin without it's synergistic mate can impair the absorption of the vitamin you're trying to supplement. Check with your doctor before using any vitamin supplements.

Calcium and Magnesium

The combination of calcium and magnesium are a good example of the way vitamins work together and why it's important to take certain ones in combination. Both calcium and magnesium are minerals that are essential for functions in your body like the building and repair of bones and the function of your metabolism, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Magnesium also helps to maintain your body's balance of calcium, and a deficiency of one can lead to an imbalance that can lead to impaired function. Calcium-magnesium supplements are often available in a 2:1 ratio of calcium and magnesium, respectively; however, check with your doctor for the proportion that is right for you.

B-Complex Vitamins

The B-complex family of vitamins, which includes thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3) and pantothenic acid (B5), are involved in many different processes in your body, according to the American Cancer Society. These vitamins can be taken separately, but they can be more efficient when taken together. This is particularly true of vitamin B9, also known as folic acid. Folic acid requires adequate amounts of vitamin B12 in order to facilitate the action of iron in your blood and the production of red blood cells, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Taking a B-complex supplement can provide your body with these vitamins together, maximizing their effectiveness.

Vitamins C and E

Vitamins C and E are both powerful antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of some types of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Additionally, these vitamins appear to work synergistically, and at least one research study found evidence to support this combined effort. A study published in the July 2010 issue of "The Lancet" was performed to ascertain whether the combination of vitamins C and E would decrease the incidence of pre-eclampsia. The findings did not support the researchers' theory; however, they did suggest that the administration of vitamins C and E together may help to increase antioxidant levels in women with deficiencies of antioxidants in the blood.

Selenium and Vitamin E

Selenium and vitamin E are also a powerful combination of antioxidant substances that may provide protection from some types of cancer. A study published in the 2008 issue of "The Journal of the National Cancer Institute" was based on findings from previous studies that suggest this protective effect. The results of this particular study found a slight, but significant, statistical difference in the expression of genes that are indicative of a lack of cancer cells in men with active prostate cancer. The researchers suggest further studies; however, they also recommend the combination of selenium and vitamin E as protection against some types of cancer.