Taking a multivitamin daily can help ward off vitamin deficiencies and bolster your immune system. However, certain foods and beverages can interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals in supplement form. The caffeine found in coffee, tea and chocolate is most known to interfere with calcium and vitamin D absorption.
Multivitamins
Multivitamins contain vitamins and minerals formulated for use by children, adults and seniors. Some multivitamins are formulated for people with special nutritional needs, such as pregnant women and people with vision problems. All of these formulas contain more than one vitamin, and some contain herbs or additional supplements. Multivitamins are taken orally by capsule, pill, gel cap, liquid or powder for easy swallowing and absorption.
Absorption Interference
According to Drugs.com, you should not take a multivitamin with dairy products or it can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Likewise, you should not take a multivitamin supplement when drinking caffeinated beverages. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, drinking just one cup of coffee can reduce your calcium by 2 to 3 mg. Caffeine may also interfere slightly with vitamin D absorption, as reported in November 2006 in the "Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology." Caffeine was found to interrupt calcium absorption if more than 300 mg a day was consumed.
Considerations
Although coffee contains caffeine, other beverages such as tea, cola and chocolate also contain caffeine, which can interfere equally with calcium and vitamin D absorption. If you drink caffeinated beverages regularly, consult with your physician before taking over-the-counter multivitamins or other supplements.
Concerns
A deficiency in calcium or vitamin D can make the bones brittle and weak, leading to osteoporosis. This condition causes the bones to fracture with little impact. Women who are over 50 or postmenopausal have a higher risk of developing this condition than men. If you drink coffee regularly, speak to your dietician or doctor about being tested for calcium or vitamin D deficiency.
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