Tips for Taking Vitamins and Maintaining Good Digestion

Always take vitamins with food. Digestive enzymes, which aid in nutrient absorption, are stimulated when you eat.
Limit fluids with meals to improve digestion. Be especially careful to avoid cold or iced drinks while eating.
If possible, use liquid and/or sublingual vitamins because they are the most easily assimilated by the body. Capsules are the next best choice.
If vitamin capsules cannot be swallowed, open up the capsule and mix the contents with juice or yogurt.
If you are taking a daily multivitamin and you want to start taking specific vitamins for your eyes, continue to take the daily multiple as well as specific eye vitamins.
A small amount of apple cider vinegar, taken just prior to a meal, will stimulate the production of digestive juices.
If you taking antibiotics, take acidophilus supplements between dosages. Probiotics will help build up the good bacteria in the digestive tract destroyed by the antibiotics. It is especially important for elderly patients to take acidophilus on a regular basis.
Vitamin A and lutein compete for absorption, so be sure to take them separately.

However, certain nutrients are best taken on any empty stomach as follows:

Enzymes to support healthy digestion should typically be taken with food (and this can also help reduce chronic inflammation). Targeted enzymes such as Serrapeptase and Nattonkinase are typically taken on an empty stomach as they help break down debris in tissue and blood that can contribute inflammatory (including autoimmune) conditions.

If these same enzymes are taken with food, then they will act more as digestive enzymes rather that enzymes targeted toward breaking down debris in tissue and blood.
Many herbs (including most Chinese herbal formulas) and homeopathy formulas are often taken away from food as they are more effective this way.