Individuals may want to store their in a safe place, as a new study suggests that vitamins that are kept in bathrooms and kitchens may be less effective.
According to researchers from Purdue University, high humidity that is typically present in bathrooms and kitchens has the capacity to degrade vitamins and , even if the cap is screwed on tightly.
Researchers liken this process to something that also occurs in regular ingredients that are stored in the kitchen.
The process, known as deliquescence, occurs when humidity causes a water-soluble solid to start to dissolve. Keeping at a normal-to-cool temperature might be able to help their effectiveness last longer.
“You might see salt or sugar start to cake in the summer, start to form clumps, and thats a sign of deliquescence,” said researcher Lisa Mauer, Ph.D. “You can also get chemical instabilities, which are a little more problematic if youre consuming a dietary supplement with vitamin C for that vitamin C content.”