can a supplement still be taken past its expiration date?

Question

When it comes to supplements and vitamins, does the expiration date on the bottle mean that the supplement loses potency, or does it mean that the supplement becomes unsafe, or does it mean something else?
For example: My friend has had a bottle of activated charcoal that expired three years ago, and he says it is still okay to use to treat diarrhea. Is he wrong, and if so, why?

Answer 1

In the case of herbs, it is possible they might loose their potency as natural reactions in the leaves continue to progress. In synthetic vitamins, there's probably no danger, but they're useless anyway. For charcoal, there's probably no danger at all. What's it going to change into? It's not exactly an environment for bacterial or fungal growth either.

A recent study examined a collection of pharmaceutical drugs that were 10 years past their expiration date and reported that the drugs were still potent and usable.

Answer 2

The expiration date is usually the sell by date. You can usually take something after the expiration date unless it specifically says "Use by this date." Three years is an awfully long time to take for granted however. It may not be poisen, but it might not be very effective either. Make a simple call to your local health food store and ask.

Answer 3

Yes, for minerals supplements, the expiration date is the date after which the tabvlet will begin to deteriorate (fall apart into a powder) however that powder is STIL as effective as in the tablet form, just make sure that you take the same amount as the tablet. For other products, there WILL be some loss of effectiveness however they will STILL have some beneficial effect. The expiratiojn date, as has been previously mentioned, is NORMALLY the "sell by" date, a marketing ploy by manufacturers to increase sales of their products. Even for perishable products, one past expiration date is safe and effective to use for up to several months, depending on the product (I wouldn't use this guideline for milk and other quickly perishable items though. let your senses be your guide for that (smell, taste, visually check them, etc)

Raji

Answer 4

The breakdown of the delivery fabric is what's expiring.. for instance, you might take a drop of zinc and wrap it in dough and bake it into zinc bread .. the bread is the transportation gadget that allows you to holiday down within the atmosphere.. such is right for the constituents utilized in nutrients.. high-quality to make use of liquid nutrients IMHO

Answer 5

i no nothing of activated charcoal but usually if something is past it's expiration date it probably won't hurt you. it most likely won't help you either as it has lost it's potency.

Answer 6

Rule of thumb is not to use it if the date is expired.

Answer 7

It may be less potent or have no potency.

Try it - it cant hurt.