How long can vitamins last?

Answer by  primatefreak (1616)

Vitamins are packaged in brown or opaque containers to retain strength and effectiveness. All vitamins are packaged with label showing an expiration date. Don't use after expiration date. Buy new.

Answer by  Mariana39 (440)

Vitamins that are soluble in water, like vitamin C or the B-complex, only stay in the organism for a few hours. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K, may remain for months. Also, these are not destroyed by cooking.

Answer by  Travis404607 (3916)

Vitamins typically last around one year. After this, they become less effective. Different vitamins last different lengths of time, so be sure to check the package of your vitamins to determine what the expiration date is on them. Some may last longer than one year, depending on what types of ingredients are contained in them.

Answer by  kimber18 (514)

You really should follow the manufacturer's dates on vitamin packages. Different manufacturing procedures, and different ingredients make the shelf life of vitamins vary in shelf life. You should not use if they are more than a few weeks past the expiration or best by dates.

Answer by  bonjovilover (185)

depends on exactly which vitamin you mean, there are two overall categories of vitamins, water soluble and fat soluble, water soluble vitamins are used as needed when you consume them, and any excess amount discarded, fat soluble vitamins can be stored in your fat cells until needed, so if you don't burn that fat cell it can last forever

Answer by  lonelywolf (2117)

Most vitamin pills will have an expiration date on the packaging - and even then, they're likely still okay for a few months after that date. The dates on my pills indicate they should last three to four years. Also, most pills are designed to dissolve in your stomach withing 45 minutes, if that is what you are asking instead.

Answer by  Mrscmrn (1449)

Vitamin half life (the time it stays in the body) varies depending on what type of vitamins are taken. Some stay in the system for minutes and others months.

Answer by  MattK (1713)

Vitamins, like all supplements and medicines are dated to assure that if consumed by the expiration date, that all the active ingredients are still active, usually two years.

Answer by  chitraanilkumar (340)

It is important to note what type of vitamins you have Water-soluble vitamins only stay in the body for a few hours, while fat-soluble vitamins can remain in the body for months. Since vitamin supplements break down when they reach their expiration date, they should be discarded. so think be fore you have vitamins let it be the natural way