shelf life of vitamins?

[RaineyDaye]

Some of the posts on long term storage of food got me to wondering how long vitamins last?

I have an unopened bottle of vitamins that expired in 2007... I was wondering if the vitamins would still be okay. The bottle was opaque plastic so light couldn't destroy them. Being the cheap, ..er.., frugal person that I am, I was thinking they might be okay to use until I can find a good sale.

[2ndGenGranola]

That depends upon what kinds of vitamins are in the pills.

Any of your oils will not be good (A, E, Fish, Omega, lecithin...), a good quality B will not be good and acidophilus only has a maximum life of about 6 months (and that is in the fridge). I'm not sure of some of the others...

[mombottoo]

I personally wouldn't use vitamins that had an expire date that far back. Even unopened they would still start to break down and probably would have little significant value.

[Grainlady]

I'd suggest you call the company - there is probably a 1-800 number on the bottle - or leave a message at the web site. They'll have the anwser you require over and above a good guess given on a message board.

There are just some things that are more time-sensitive than other things, and should be used within a reasonable time of the use-by dates. I suspect supplements are one of those things.

[old_lady_in_the_shoe]

Taking expired vitamins isn't harmful, but expired vitamins aren't likely to do you much good. Once they expire, the vitamins may have already decomposed to the point where they're not very potent. The expiration date guarantees that the vitamins will include the listed ingredients up until the date on the label. Sure, some of the vitamins or other nutrients can be potent afterward, but the company doesn't guarantee that. To be on the safe side, throw them away and by a new bottle.

I would throw them in the compost pile(or garden) , before I actually trashed them.