Below are some tips that may assist you when taking or considering supplements.

1. You should take nutritional supplements at approximately the same time every day - make them a part of your daily routine.

2. Calcium interferes with the absorption of iron and zinc, therefore, if you take calcium supplements they should be taken separately from other supplements you take.

3. Timed release or sustained release prepared supplements were found (by a National Academy of Sciences expert panel) to be of no benefit.

4. Can you stomach it? Calcium and iron are best absorbed into your body when you have an empty stomach, but some people chose to take them with food because it irritates their stomach if empty. Other supplements, like fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, are better absorbed with food, especially meals containing fat.