Here is an article I found on the subject...I guess I was wrong and vit. are not the same as drugs in terms of expiration. I would say it also matters if the bottles were open or still sealed. A bottle open for months after expiration might be worse off then a sealed bottle opened after exp. date.
Should I throw out expired vitamins?
By Elizabeth Somer, MA,RD
After fumbling through my kitchen cupboard, I found a bottle of vitamins with an expiration date that had passed. Is it safe to take them anyway?
Nov. 20, 2000 -- You can, but expired vitamins aren't likely to do you much good. Once they (or any other supplement) reaches the expiration date, they may have already decomposed to the point where they're not very potent.
Of course, vitamins don't become useless overnight. The expiration date is really the manufacturer's guarantee that their product will still provide the promised punch up until the date on the label. Sure, some of the vitamins or other nutrients can be potent afterward, but the company doesn't guarantee that. To be on the safe side, purchase products with the latest expiration dates.
Of course, whatever date is on there won't mean much if you allow air, humidity, heat, or sunlight to corrupt your pills, capsules, and chewables. Avoid this by using the original airtight bottles, which are typically made of opaque plastic or tinted glass. Even with these precautions, though, supplements can go bad before they're supposed to. If you notice changes in the smell or color of any product, throw it away, no matter what the expiration date.
To help ensure that supplements last, store them in cool, dry, and dark places. Unfortunately, the bathroom medicine cabinet and the kitchen cupboard over the stove don't fit this description. Try the refrigerator, a hall closet, or a dresser drawer, remembering to place them out of the reach of children.
Supplements can give your body some of the nutrients that might be lacking in your diet. But that doesn't mean they're always good for you; some, in fact, can harm you. Bottom line: Talk over your vitamins and supplements with your doctor.
Elizabeth Somer is a registered dietitian and the author of several books, including Food & Mood and The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. She frequently writes for national health magazines and makes regular appearances on the Today Show and other national TV programs.
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