可能吗?

Yes and no. Vitamins don’t “expire” in the traditional sense. Instead of becoming unsafe to ingest, they simply become less potent.

这是因为维生素和饮食补充剂中的大多数成分逐渐破裂。这意味着它们会随着时间的流逝而变得降低。

Keep reading to learn more about how long vitamins retain their maximum potency, how to boost their shelf life, and more.

与处方药和非处方药(OTC)药物不同,美国食品药品监督管理局(FDA)不需要维生素和饮食补充剂制造商即可在包装上包括到期日期。

Some companies voluntarily provide a “best before” or “use by” date on the lid or the label.

According to Shilpa Raut, a senior research scientist at Amway, the typical shelf life for vitamins is two years. But this can vary, depending on the type of vitamin and the conditions it’s exposed to.

For example, chewable vitamins and vitamin gummies absorb more moisture than vitamins in tablet form. Because of this, chewables and gummies tend to degrade faster.

When stored correctly, vitamins in tablet form often retain their potency for several years.

服用过期的维生素或补充剂极不可能引起您的伤害。与食物不同,维生素不会变得“不好”,也不会变得有毒或有毒。目前,尚未有任何已过期维生素导致的疾病或死亡病例。

Expiration dates on vitamins and dietary supplements are extremely conservative to ensure consumers receive quality products. For best results, avoid using vitamins that are past their expiration date. These vitamins may not be as potent.

服用过期的维生素并不危险,但是如果失去效力,可能会浪费时间和金钱。

如果所讨论的维生素具有异常的气味或颜色已经改变,则不应接受。立即处理它,然后购买一个新包。

应当处置过期的维生素。切勿将它们扔进垃圾中,因为这会使儿童和动物在家中有可能接触的风险。

还要避免将它们冲入厕所。这可能会导致水污染。

FDA 建议您:

  1. Mix the vitamins with used coffee grounds or cat litter.
  2. 将混合物放入密封的袋子或容器中。
  3. 将整个容器扔到垃圾箱中。

You can also search online to see if your city has a drop-off center for hazardous waste.

维生素应在其原始容器中存储在一个凉爽干燥的地方。

您可能倾向于将维生素存储在浴室或厨房中,以便于访问,但实际上是最糟糕的储藏位置。浴室和厨房通常比其他房间具有更多的热量和湿度。

If you can, opt for a linen closet or bedroom drawer.

您还应该避免将它们暴露在光线下。一些维生素(例如维生素A和D)在长时间暴露后会失去效力。

冷藏还可以帮助延长在室温下稳定的产品的保质期。这包括:

When in doubt

始终检查标签是否有特定的存储说明。一些补品需要制冷或其他类型的特殊存储。

如果您发现一包已到期日期的维生素,则可能应该处置它。尽管过期的维生素不是不安全的,但它们的效果不如以前。

If you have any questions about the safety or effectiveness of a particular vitamin or dietary supplement, don’t hesitate to call your local pharmacist.