How Long Do Vitamins Last?

Vitamins don't last indefinitely.

Vitamins don't last indefinitely.

Like foods and beverages, vitamins and supplements have a shelf life, which averages about two years. Expiration dates on vitamins are meant to provide you with the necessary information to ensure you use the products in a timely fashion and are getting the amount of each vitamin listed on the label. Ask your doctor before taking vitamins to be sure they're right for you.

Expiration Dates Explained

Vitamin manufacturers don't need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market their products, but the FDA will intervene if a supplement is deemed dangerous, according to Colorado State University Extension. Vitamin manufacturers therefore aren't required to provide expiration information, but many voluntarily stamp an expiration date on their products.

Less Potent After Expiration Date

Vitamins lose their potency over time as they're exposed to various temperatures, moisture levels and light, notes Gil Stoewsand, a faculty member of the Food Science and Technology lab at Cornell University. That means the closer to the expiration date it is when you purchase a bottle of vitamins, the less potent they're going to be, according to IDEA Health and Fitness Association.

Expired Vitamins and Safety

In most cases, taking an expired vitamin won't cause any side effects, and expired supplements aren't usually dangerous. In other words, expired vitamins aren't toxic. The problem is, if you're relying on a vitamin supplement to ensure you get a certain dose to help address a medical condition or vitamin deficiency, a less potent vitamin might not be providing you with enough. If your vitamins have expired, speak with your doctor about whether you can still use them or should purchase a new bottle.

The Bottom Line

Talk to your doctor before taking vitamins to be sure you're truly going to benefit from them. If you do get doctor approval, follow dosing instructions exactly. For example, don't be tempted to double up on a vitamin after the expiration date passes to be sure you're getting enough. This can cause you to consume more than you think you are, and too much of certain vitamins, such as vitamin A, might be harmful. After the two-year mark or after the expiration date stamped on a bottle of vitamins passes, consider replacing your vitamins. Take expired vitamins to your doctor or to a pharmacy for proper disposal; don't throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Flushing them allows the supplements to potentially leach into the water supply, and throwing them in the trash can lead to accidental poisoning for children and animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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