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Where do you keep your vitamins?

Pamela Allardice
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
If you answered in the bathroom cabinet or on top of the fridge, then you are probably compromising their nutritional value.

According to a study from Purdue University, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, high humidity (which is certainly a common feature in bathrooms, but can also occur in "hot spots" in the kitchen, such as over the fridge) can cause deliquescence, the process where water-soluble crystalline compounds are broken down by moisture in the atmosphere.

The same process is seen in salt and powdered drinks, which might clump or cake when they are exposed to humidity. However, while this is only an annoyance with salt and so on, it can cause chemical instabilities in dietary supplements which potentially reduce their nutrient content and shorten their shelf life.

Check for warning signs, such as brown spots on tablets. And to be on the safe side, store your supplements in a dry, cool place away from sunlight and heat.

Your say: What do you think of this study? Share with us below.

Related video: Vitamins during pregnancy

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