Keeping your vitamins in the fridge or bathroom cupboard could cause them to lose their potency, a study by Purdue University has found. The findings published online by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show high humidity can degrade and change the vitamins chemical structure.
Lisa Mauer, an associate professor of food science, said that crystalline substances including vitamin C, some vitamin B forms and other dietary supplements are prone to a process called deliquescence, in which humidity causes a water-soluble solid to dissolve.
Keeping those supplements away from warm, humid environments can help ensure their effectiveness. "Opening and closing a package will change the atmosphere in it. If you open and close a package in a bathroom, you add a little bit of humidity and moisture each time," Mauer said. "The humidity in your kitchen or bathroom can cycle up quite high, depending on how long of a shower you take, for example, and can get higher than 98 percent."
Storing vitamins and supplements correctly in a dry place will help with the life span and follow storage directions on the label. Always check the dates on your vitamins and throw out once they expire. Reconsider buying in bulk as the vitamins may have lost their effectiveness by the time you open them.
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