How Long Does It Take for Vitamins To Work?
Starting a new vitamin regimen for your health can be exciting. Vitamins are naturally ingested through the foods we eat daily, but if you are lacking in one or some, your doctor may recommend you take supplements to replenish them in your body.
You may have a few questions about it, such as how long it takes for the vitamins to work. When can you start to see the effects of particular vitamins? Factors contributing to the answers to these questions include the type of vitamin or mineral it is, how absorbable the vitamin is, what your starting vitamin levels are, and how consistent you are with your routine in taking them.
Keep reading to find out how long it may take for your new vitamin to work.
What types of vitamins are there?
Vitamins are already found in our bodies and in many foods we eat, but there are supplements for when you may need a little more to maintain or improve your health. Vitamins and minerals are available in different forms, such as oral, intravenously, or by injection. The most common and most accessible way to supplement vitamins is through oral ingestion via pills or capsules.
Vitamins and minerals can be divided into two categories based on how they get absorbed into our bodies, otherwise known as solubility: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are more easily digested and stored in our body fat on absorption, while water-soluble vitamins are not stored in our bodies and can be “washed out” easily and, therefore, need to be replenished more often.1
Vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamins B12 and B6, and biotin are considered water-soluble, while vitamins such as vitamins D and E are considered to be fat-soluble.
How long does it take for water-soluble vitamins to start working?
As mentioned, water-soluble vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, B12, B6, and biotin need to be replaced more often than their fat-soluble vitamin counterparts. This means that you may need to take these vitamins consistently for a longer time to replenish them in your body.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also sometimes known as ascorbic acid in its supplement form, is naturally found in high amounts in foods such as citrus fruits, like oranges and lemons, as well as green vegetables, such as peppers and Brussels sprouts. Vitamin C is essential in helping your body fight infections, diseases, and wounds and helps with healing through antioxidants.12
Although a deficiency in vitamin C is uncommon, signs of deficiency can appear within one month of little to no vitamin C intake and may lead to a disease known as scurvy. It can appear as fatigue, bruising, joint pain, slow wound healing, easy bleeding, and/or loss of teeth.12
Because a deficiency in vitamin C is not common, most people take a supplement of this vitamin to boost their immune system, especially during cold and flu seasons. In addition, vitamin C, in addition to other vitamins and minerals, may help with the prevention of eye diseases and certain cancers, such as breast, colon, and lung cancers.11
Signs your vitamin C supplements are working
Although research shows vitamin C won’t prevent the common cold, regular intake of vitamin C supplements for at least one to two weeks may reduce the duration of it by boosting your immune system.4 Vitamin C also contributes to supporting skin health, mood regulation, and iron absorption. Therefore, if you notice higher energy levels, brighter or healthier skin, and/or an overall improved mood after a short course of as little as two weeks, your vitamin C supplements are probably working.
