Question: from Steve

It has been reported on a current affair show in Western Australia that drinking tea near the time you take supplements dramatically reduces their effect. Could you please comment?

Answer: from Joanna (Medical Nutritionist for Xtend-Life)

Generally speaking caffeinated drinks of any kind, such as tea, coffee and fizzy drinks, can have a negative affect on the absorption of some minerals. Drinking caffeine with a meal, for example, can hinder the adequate absorption of iron, as well as affecting the absorption of other minerals such as calcium and zinc.

So, when talking about absorbing minerals from food, any drink containing caffeine is best drunk at least one hour before or after a meal to give the minerals time to absorb.

Alcohol is another drink to stay clear of at mealtimes, with the exception of red wine (which can help iron absorption for example). For all other alcohol, leave an hour either side of meals as it destroys vitamin B6 by separating it from its protective binding, and directly intervenes with B12 absorption into the intestines.

Now, where supplements are concerned, with a supplement such as Total Balance this is not as relevant as with food, as Total Balance doesn’t disintegrate until it reaches the small intestine. By this time the tea or coffee that is drunk with it (if this is the case) will have already passed through the stomach and small intestine and will have a lesser effect on this process.

However, it is still advisable to drink something like juice or water with supplements, especially those that are not enteric coated, to ensure their best bio availability, and generally to minimize the intake of caffeinated or tannin drinks regardless due to their negative overall health effects long time if taken too regularly or in excess.