Most multivitamins contain little or no calcium. You should take calcium carbonate with food, as it's easier for your body to absorb it that way. You can take calcium citrate on an empty stomach or with food. When choosing a multivitamin, it's generally best to opt for one that meets the daily needs of each nutrient.
If you need to take a multivitamin, you should take it in a way that maximizes the absorption of its nutrients (i.e., taking the multivitamin with a meal can also reduce stomach discomfort or nausea that can occur with these supplements). Likewise, if you take a separate supplement with vitamin D, A, E, or K, take it at a different time of day than the multivitamin, as it may reduce the absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins in the multivitamin. If you take separate supplements that provide large amounts of vitamins or minerals, keep in mind that these may compete with the generally smaller amounts of similar nutrients that your multivitamin contains. Take your multivitamin and any fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) with foods that contain some fat, keep calcium and iron separate and you'll be fine. For many people, breakfast is the most convenient time to take a multivitamin, but if breakfast doesn't include significant amounts of fat or oils, they won't absorb vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, and K.) Find out the best time to take vitamins to increase your benefits, including the best time to take vitamins D, B12 and C, multivitamins and prenatal vitamins.
Learn more about gummy supplements, including multivitamin supplements, vitamins C and D, calcium, and vitamins B. I recommend taking any calcium supplement at a different meal than any iron supplement or your multivitamin. Learn how to choose the best multivitamin for you and your family, based on diet, price and effectiveness. The opposite is true when you take a multivitamin on an empty stomach and water, your body can't properly absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
If you take a separate vitamin B12 supplement (which 10 to 30% of older adults don't absorb well from food), take it at least 6 hours apart from the multivitamin, since you can only absorb a small amount (approximately 1.5 mcg of B1 at a time). For example, if you take a multivitamin with breakfast, be sure to have some almond butter with your oatmeal or avocado with your eggs and toast. It's also a good idea to take calcium supplements at a different time than taking a multivitamin supplement or an iron-rich meal.