Regardless of the quality or type you may take, vitamins can and do lose their effectiveness with time and when exposed to certain conditions. Your storage practices can either extend or diminish the shelf life of your vitamins.
Store your vitamins properly for maximum results.
Keep Them Cool and Dry
Unless the label indicates otherwise, vitamins should be stored in a cool, dry place because heat and moisture cause them to break down and lose potency. This is an especially important consideration if you live in a hot, humid climate. Some nutrients, such as flaxseed pills, should be stored in the refrigerator. But unless the label specifically says to do so, don't store your vitamins in the fridge. Because cool and dry conditions are optimal, bathrooms and kitchens aren't the best options either.
Away From Light
Direct sunlight also diminishes the effectiveness of vitamins. Keep your vitamins in a place out of direct sunlight, and keep them out of the reach of children. Some vitamins and minerals can be fatal to children when taken in the wrong quantities.
Store in Original Packaging
Keep your vitamins in the airtight containers they arrive in to maintain their strength and potency.
These factors---heat and moisture, sunlight, and extended exposure to air---will all cause your vitamins to lose effectiveness. This is especially important to note if you purchase large quantities of vitamins or accumulate lots of bottles over time, as with mail-order vitamins. By knowing store your vitamins, you can help extend their effectiveness.
How Long Is Too Long?
Unlike prescription drugs, vitamins and supplements aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Manufacturers aren't required to print an expiration date on their packaging, but it's advisable to purchase products with an expiration date. In proper conditions, vitamins can be kept for quite a while. Glen Shue of the FDA believes vitamins are usually stable for up to five years.
Expiration dates are important because if manufacturers set expiration dates, they test the vitamins to see how much they deteriorate over time, and when that deterioration begins.
Is Taking Expired Vitamins Dangerous?
Consuming old vitamins isn't dangerous. But if the point of taking the vitamins is to add those nutrients into your body, taking expired vitamins isn't doing any good--old vitamins won't nourish your body as intended. Experts recommend throwing out expired vitamins.
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