Answer : In general, theres no need to be concerned about tea blocking the absorption of vitamins or other nutrients, according to Jeffrey B. Blumberg, PhD, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, who has studied tea at length.
The effects of caffeine
Caffeine significantly reduces the absorption rate of Iron in your intestines - believed to be up to 80%. Summary: Black tea and Green tea stop efficient absorption of Iron, Vitamin D and B-Complex vitamins.
Research also demonstrated that the higher the level of caffeine, the more it interfered with vitamin D absorption. The study suggested that caffeine did this by reducing the expression of vitamin D receptors on osteoblasts in the body – the cells responsible for producing bone.
Try to avoid taking your vitamins with coffee or tea
So, wait an hour after your morning brew to take supplements. Caffeine-free herbal tea, on the other hand, contains fewer tannins than regular tea.
Therefore, conditions that affect the gut and digestion, like celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, and cystic fibrosis, can reduce vitamin D absorption.
Vitamin D deficiency is most commonly caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight. Some disorders can also cause the deficiency. The most common cause is lack of exposure to sunlight, usually when the diet is deficient in vitamin D, but certain disorders can also cause the deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency can result from Inadequate exposure to sunlight,[3] malabsorption (people who have undergone resection of the small intestine are at risk for this condition; diseases associated with vitamin D malabsorption include celiac sprue, short bowel syndrome[4] and cystic fibrosis[5]), medications (drugs ...
Caffeine inhibits vitamin D receptors, which limit the amount that will be absorbed. Because vitamin D is important in the absorption and use of calcium in building bone, this could also decrease bone mineral density, resulting in an increased risk for osteoporosis.
No interactions were found between green tea and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Include fish and seafood in your diet to increase vitamin D absorption. Fortified cereals and milk can help boost vitamin D absorption. Try to include all the essential vitamins and minerals in your diet, especially vitamin K, magnesium, and zinc to improve vitamin D absorption.
Caffeine leaches calcium from bones, sapping their strength. "You lose about 6 milligrams of calcium for every 100 milligrams of caffeine ingested," Massey says. That's not as much of a loss as salt, but it's worrisome, nonetheless.
And the chlorogenic acid in coffee is also an important inhibitor of iron absorption. Tea and coffee are considered the strongest inhibitors of iron. A cup of tea reduces iron absorption by about 75%-80%, and a cup of coffee by about 60%.
Vitamin D levels were significantly highest among those consuming 9–12 cups of tea/week in all subjects (p-value 0.009) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity and sun exposure.
Tea interferes with iron absorption and can lead to iron deficiency anemia when consumed in large quantities.
Use vitamin D cautiously if you're taking drugs processed by these enzymes. Digoxin (Lanoxin). Avoid taking high doses of vitamin D with this heart medication. High doses of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, which increases the risk of fatal heart problems with digoxin.
Phenobarbital, phenytoin, and other anticonvulsant medications -- These medications may accelerate the body's use of vitamin D. Mineral oil -- Mineral oil also interferes with absorption. In addition, Vitamin D may enhance the effects of doxorubicin , a medicine used to treat a variety of cancers.
Some beverages, including coffee, contain substances that could interfere with the absorption of some of the nutrients in your vitamin. It's better to drink your coffee about 15 minutes before or a few hours after you take your vitamin.
Growing evidence has demonstrated that vitamin D has a role in sleep regulation [12]. Specifically, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) can increase risk of sleep disorders and is associated with sleep difficulties, shorter sleep duration, and nocturnal awakenings in children and adults [13,14,15].
Tetley Immune Plus and Tetley Sunshine are the first teas available to Canadians that are fortified with vitamin D. In fact, in one cup you'll find 23 per cent of your daily vitamin D intake. This is very important as we see less sunlight through the fall and winter.
"Adequate levels of magnesium in the body are essential for the absorption and metabolism not only of vitamin D but of calcium as well," Dean states. "Magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form so that it can help calcium absorption.
Today, 25(OH)D less than 12 ng/mL is considered evidence of severe vitamin D deficiency.
“Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months time. Vitamin D with a strength of 1000-2000 international units daily is the recommended dose for most adults,” Dr. Ropte says. Most multivitamins contain vitamin D, so extra supplementation isn't always necessary.