33 Best Multivitamin Supplements 2021 (Of The Very Best)

The Nutrient Secret  |  Buyer’s Guide  |  Choosing Guidelines  |   General List  |  Vegetarian Choices  |  Vegan Choices  |  Women Adaptation To Any Supplement  |  Comparison List (Worst & Misrepresented Multivitamins)  |  Final Words  |  

While it may be a bit too early for a list of the best multivitamin supplements in 2021, I expect the scenery not to change much if at all. And then, if it does change, we can always do an update.

Generally speaking, it really goes without saying that there are incredible amounts of different multivitamins out there. Thus, often making it a pretty hard and even overwhelming task when it comes to finding the ones that can contribute to our health in the most meaningful and side-effect-free way.

33 Best Multivitamin Supplements 2021

Therefore, this article is solely focused on listing and helping you identify the best multivitamin supplements.

We’ll also explore the vegetarian and vegan options, the single necessary addition to make any supplement on this list 100% women compatible.

Then, we’ll look into hugely misrepresented supplements that other sources commonly list as the best ones but that are actually none of that.

However, it’s never only about listing them. I want you to have all the tools necessary to make that assessment for yourself. Hence, you would never be lured into buying a supplement you don’t actually need.

Moreover, I’m adding guidelines that will provide ideas about how to effectively choose the most appropriate multivitamin option of the best ones for you, specifically.

Over the course of research for this article, I went over every single multivitamin I could possibly find online. Thus, I’m very confident that it will not only be very insightful but also a huge time-saver.

Here’s A Little Secret That Most People Are 100% Oblivious To

Regardless of your decision to purchase a multivitamin today or not, here’s what you absolutely need to know and fully realize.

Many people intuitively know and understand that they should have a proper multivitamin in their daily regimen, but very few of them truly comprehend why. It’s like a globally well-hidden secret that by far most people don’t know as almost no one talks about it.

Healthy Food Is No Where As Nutritious These Days As It Used To BeSo, here’s that why.

In 2003, there was a study that evaluated how many nutritional contents there are in various vegetables, fruits, and meat. To properly assess that, they looked at the available nutritional data from the year 1940 all the way up to 1991 [R].

So, to paraphrase, they looked at the food that we typically associate with a healthy diet. Namely, what many people typically refer to “good food” or “healthy food” over a stretch of 51 years.

What they discovered was concerning, to say the least.

It turns out that the nutritional contents of vegetables, fruit, and meat have been steadily and consistently declining over the estimated period. Or in other words, broccoli or an avocado people ate in 1940 was much more nutritious than that in 1991. Or to be absolutely precise, on average vegetables, fruits, and meat were 39.7%, 21.6%, and 29.0% less nutritious, respectively.

Thus, so-called healthy food in 1991 on average was 30.1% less nurturing.

But it’s 2020 now. And I believe we can be sure that another 29 years later the overall situation is even worse. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if we had fallen slightly below 50% of the original nutritiousness of vegetables, fruits, and meat as compared to the 1940 or 80 years ago. Moreover, there is another study that approves this trend also over other food categories, like cheese and dairy [R].

In this regard, many know that fast food and processed food are almost devoid of any meaningful amounts of nutrients, but what they don’t realize is that also the healthy food – vegetables, fruit, and meat (cheese, dairy) – are significantly less nurturing.

SIGNIFICANTLY LESS nurturing than they used to be.

But all of these diminishes would be fine if it wouldn’t affect our health. But it does.

A huge number of studies link nutritional deficiencies to chronic diseases (and new studies do so consistently), like Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer, and an amazing variety of other. Not enough vitamin D, here’s your dementia. Not enough Zinc or Copper, have ADHD. Not enough Selenium or Vanadium, here’s to anxiety and depression. Oh, no Magnesium, how about some schizophrenia or bipolar disorder [R, RRR]?

The problem is even more concerning when we consider the so-called long-latency aspect of these diseases. You may think that if you don’t have rickets (deficiency disease typically associated with lack of vitamin D), you’re not short of vitamin D. Or if there are no illnesses like amenia or birth defects for a baby (deficiency diseases typically associated with lack of vitamin B9), there’s no lack of vitamin B9 [R].

But in that, many people couldn’t be more wrong.

Sure, these typical deficiency-associated conditions you’ll likely encounter in a short time if you’re seriously deficient. But what in the case of having just enough nutrients to avoid that but not enough to ensure optimal cellular function for many, many years on end?

I mean, an individual (which may be you) could never experience any symptom associated with the lack of Folic Acid (vitamin B9). And yet over a long stretch of time develop Alzheimer’s disease [R].

many-people-blame-god-for-their-chronic-conditions-but-thatAnd then blame God or whatever else he or she believes in (or just blame other people in general) as to why it happened to him or her. But there’s really no “unfair” there.

It’s just an appropriate, logical, in science predictable outcome based on eating habits, lifestyle habits, and the long unaddressed actual semi-deficiency in one or many nutrients. Cancer or dementia is never “unlucky”; they’re a product of your long-term choices.

In our time, people are eating so much that they become obese, yet malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies are at an all-time high. Now, I’m not saying this is people’s (or your) fault by any means. Food manufacturers have learned to engineer food in a way that preys on and takes advantage of our evolutionary biases for sugar, salt, and fat making the perfect food that we always crave more (even though it’s not nutritious).

There’s no amount of willpower that can resist that. The only real solution is not to expose yourself to those foods.

But let’s be real, that’s pretty damn hard, to say the least, if not almost impossible.

But remember those studies? Even if you are a full-time healthy eater, you might still be deficient in certain nutrients and thus, over a long period of time unknowingly and unintentionally develop a chronic disease, like cancer or whatever else of the widely considered incurable kind.

Hence, forgive me for being so raw, but I don’t believe there’s any better time than now to make that $1-2 (or $30-60 a month) investment for your long-term health. That’s what a high-quality multivitamin supplement costs these days.

Now, if this is ultimately not for you, I get that. It’s your life; it’s your choice. If you just leave this website, that’s fine.

All I wanted was to let you know that maybe for this decade it’s time to make a different choice. And so, get a different outcome. And be confident in the fact that you’re not low on nutrients consistently and years, decades on end. But instead, have all the nutrients you’ll need to give yourself the chance to thrive and become your best self.

Buyer’s Guide – The Qualities Of The Most Superior Multivitamins In 2021

The Paramount Nutrients Must Be Present In Abundance

The first incredibly important aspect of any multivitamin is how much nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial substances) it actually provides.

33 Best Multivitamin Supplements 2021Many will try to tell you that 100% of Daily Value (DV) represents how much you need of certain nutrients daily to be healthy (same applies for other percentage values typically shown on the labels).

However, this is a common misconception of what these values actually stand for.

In essence, these values represent the absolute minimum of how much you must consume daily in order to not get sick. Or in other words, to not develop a short-term deficiency disease.

In that regard, they have nothing to do with making sure your body and mind have all the nutrients they need to run optimally and at their best (and actually meaningfully contribute to avoiding chronic diseases).

So, it only makes sense that for determining the very best of the very best multivitamin supplements we are not guided by such values.

Instead, we opt for what time and time again have been proven to be the better approach for making sure you’re meeting all your nutritional needs.

These are the values that have been developed by one of the leading and most respected doctors in the space of functional medicine. The same values that have assisted critically in curing many kinds of ailments and even disease that traditional medicine deems incurable, like dementia, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and a plethora of others.

The Nutrient Forms Must Be As Beneficial As Possible

Nutrient Forms Matter More Than Most People RealizeI feel many people are completely unaware of the fact that vitamins and minerals are not delivered to our bodies in a pure form. Rather they come in all kinds of various compounds (that I simply refer to as forms).

Why is this exactly important?

Well, not all nutrient forms the human body can absorb well or even good.

Thus, how much value you’re getting out of a supplement is largely dependant on the kind of forms that are used.

For example, there are nutrient forms that are absorbed extremely poorly (like Magnesium Oxide) or ones that are absorbed remarkably well (like Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate).

Then there’s also the kind of forms that are not absorbable at all but are used in multivitamins still (like Cupric Oxide) and even forms that are harmful and are linked to cancer or other negative effects (like Sodium Metavanadate).

Therefore, as I mentioned, it is extremely important to be very aware of what the nutrient forms are and if they can benefit you effectively.

In that regard, it really goes without saying that the best kinds of multivitamins will, of course, have only the most beneficial forms.

When It Comes To Additives, They Must Be Harmless

Many think out of ignorance that it does not matter what kind of additives there are in a supplement and, therefore, they do not pay attention to that.

The Additives Present In The Best Multivitamin Supplements Must Be HarmlessOthers assume that all additives are bad. And thus, try and find a way to supposedly debunk every single one of them.

But neither of these approaches can be considered mindful.

I feel in this regard the famous 19th-century philosopher Nietzsche has said it best. He said, “Convictions are greater enemies to truth than lies”.

Sure, for some select few people even the most harmless additives of all will prove harmful due to known or completely random allergies. This possibility can never be ruled out. And it’s nothing extraordinary in any way.

I mean, people experience negative consequences consuming some of the healthiest foods on the Planet. All due to allergies. But are these foods because of those select few people considered harmful?

No. Thus, it only makes sense that we don’t condemn every single additive as bad either.

That said, we shouldn’t also be so naive to believe that every single additive that gets approved by the Food & Drug Administration (or any similar authority) and gets recognized as Generally Recognized As Safe, is good for you.

Quite to the contrary. Many high-profile doctors have spoken and written many books about this, many studies have been done, and many of the additives used in supplements and processed foods have been confirmed to be harmful.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Is One Such Example Of An Extremely Harmful Additive That Is Present In By Far Most Candy And SweetsDespite this, they are not and will not be removed. The reality is that Food Industries’ interests are just too prevalent and, thus, will prevail (yet most of them, especially fast-foods, think only about their own gain and revenue).

Basically, think of it this way. If there is a substance (additive) after the consumption of which a person doesn’t drop dead immediately or the next day, that substance will more than likely get approved as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (same for most other countries as well).

Regardless of the existing epidemics of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and every other possible chronic disease you can think of. They don’t care (whereas just 100-200 years ago we didn’t have this, nor did we have most of those nasty additives).

This is exactly why assessing additives is so incredibly important and should never be left out due to ignorance, negligence, greed, or any combination of the three.

Quality And Manufacturing Practices Have To Be Absolutely Solid

This is again something that I feel not enough people are actually paying their attention to. It is incredibly important how the multivitamin is being manufactured and what practices are used.

This is the stuff that they do not put on the labels, yet again, it’s one of the key factors in determining the best quality supplements.

Low-quality multivitamins can potentially offer quite an unpredictable variety of side effects and therefore be extremely harmful. This is because various incidental substances can be added to the supplement (or created) unintentionally during the manufacturing processes if appropriate care is not taken.

So, it’s a must that they are absolutely solid.

Various Beneficial Substances Will Only Add To The Benefits

Added Beneficial Substances Is One Of The Factors That Must Be Taken Into Account When Buying For The Best Multivitamin Supplements

As already discussed earlier, having the right kinds of vitamins and minerals are paramount to providing our bodies and minds with everything they need to work optimally.

Yet there are all kinds of other substances that have the potential to improve our well-being even further.

It’s not rare that these kinds of substances also get added to multivitamins to, in a sense, magnify their positive impact. And for sure, at the end of the day, they can amount to quite a difference.

So, be that as it may, the added beneficial substances are something that has to be taken into account. However, I feel it’s important to not go crazy with this. Meaning, it is significant, but it’s not our primary focus.

And even more so because no matter how overall useful these additions may be not all human groups need them. For example, for pregnant and lactating women, it’s better to roll without.

The Price Of The Multivitamin Supplement Must Be Reasonable

I mean, even great multivitamin supplements are sometimes overpriced. That said, it’s not common at all.

The Best Multivitamins Must Be Reasonably Priced

It’s way more common for the lower end to be overpriced. And that can go ridiculous lengths. Meaning, it’s so amazingly typical for supplements to be superficially reasonably priced.

Whereas if really looking at the value you’re actually getting, by far most of the time it tends to be way more than just miserable. It’s not rare to encounter supplements that due to their content value should easily cost at least 10-50 times less.

Still, on the surface, it’s barely noticeable and masked by skillful marketing practices.

On that note, truly great multivitamin supplements tend to be about 3-5 times more expensive than mediocre or poor ones. However, you are getting a much higher bang for your buck as these supplements also tend to be about 100-500 times more beneficial.

In that sense, they outclass the poor end of multivitamins in every single aspect by far.

Guidelines For Making The Best Choice

I have been told that the list that’s about to come is quite overwhelming. Mostly, in terms of the options and tweaks, it offers within any given multivitamin.

But that’s really no surprise as despite the market being flooded with terrible, poor, and mediocre supplements, there still are manufacturers that truly care. Manufacturers that put profound emphasis on delivering true value over revenue.

And to be fair many of the supplements throughout the list are only very incrementally better than the next. Hence, here are general guidelines for choosing the best and most appropriate option for whoever you may be.

multivitamin-recommendations-for-general-health-and-well-being-of-men

For Men’s General Health and Well-Being. When it comes to this I believe there are no better options than the obvious No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 on the list, especially since Pure Encapsulations and Douglas Laboratories have been taken out of the picture (at least for the time being).

What I love most about at least two of these three is that they are also very available internationally. Which is something thoroughly thanks to iHerb and their extremely cheap international shipping.

I currently reside in Europe and I haven’t paid the shipping once when ordering the multivitamin. As far as I can tell, it’s very likely you won’t have to either, even if you reside in China, Australia, Southamerica, or Africa. Most places on the planet anyway.

Plus, there’s that additional factor of what I feel is Amazon being a bad source for supplements in general. Be it because they’re plagued by potential fakes or be it due to messing up the quality and integrity of the supplements due to the less than ideal conditions in their warehouses for them. It’s just not a place recommend for getting supplements (learn more).

For Women’s General Health and Well-Being: This one is very much like what we just discussed in the section for men’s well-being. There is a small addition to this, though.

Most supplements on this list do not contain Iron. This is for a couple of reasons. Men (unless vegan or vegetarian) will typically acquire all the necessary Iron from their diet alone. Whereas that’s not exactly possible for women in their reproductive age [R, R].

Apart from that, it’s not rare that Iron-containing multivitamins contain harmful or otherwise suboptimal additives. So, it’s much less struggle to simply add that essential thing through an added singular mineral-containing supplement.

To sum it up, the ideal choice here is a multivitamin (no Iron) with a singular Iron-containing supplement or a multivitamin that does have Iron (some of the supplements on the list have viable Iron-containing alternatives).

For Vegetarian Men: For vegetarians, the supplement options are slightly more limited than what we’ve otherwise seen. On that note, however, there is still plenty to choose from.

The highest vegetarian multivitamin on the general list is No. 3. It’s also something that I’ve done myself for a number of months in the past. Alternatively, you could also shoot for what is my top recommendation for vegans. Other than that, within this article, you will also find a separate list specifically containing the best vegetarian multivitamins.

Depending on your specific diet and lifestyle you might also benefit from regular additional Iron. Hence, if that’s something that might concern you, do look into the list of Iron-only-containing supplements.

Multivitamin Recommendations For General Health And Well Being Of WomenFor Vegetarian Women: What applies to men vegetarians also applies to women. However, the addition of a singular Iron-containing supplement is essentially mandatory.

Moreover, depending on your exact diet and lifestyle you might benefit from a higher daily dosage than that recommended below by the singular Iron-containing supplement list. In this regard, it’s probably best to decide on a starting point and adjust based on once-a-month blood tests. More info in the section on Iron-only supplements.

For Vegan Men: Generally, it’s a pretty impossible task to find a proper multivitamin that is vegan suitable and that doesn’t contain any of the undesirable additives. But it’s doable.

Arguably the best brand for this is through the options that we see as high as No. 4 and No. 5 on the list. One obvious drawback that they have is they don’t offer any vitamin A (just Beta-Carotene is not enough!!). But that’s an easy fix with the vegan option of a separate vitamin A supplement on this list I’ve created.

But as far as multivitamins, there are certainly other options as well which I’ll in time elaborate more on in the section for the vegan supplements.

For vegan men, applies also that what I wrote in the section for vegetarian men and Iron.

For Vegan Women: Essentially this section is very much like the one for vegan men. Primarily, it will be about the No. 4 and No. 5 of the general list. And then, the same applies to additional only-Iron-containing supplements as what we discussed in the section for vegetarian women. Or in other words, more than very likely something very necessary.

For Pregnant Women: I used to have a supplement of this kind on this list. However, from what I can tell, not a lot of pregnant women managed to find it here. And I don’t blame them. It was essentially buried under a plethora of other products that had nothing to do with pregnancy. And so, I imagine it was terribly confusing, to say the least.

multivitamin-recommendations-for-pregnant-and-lactating-women

To fix that, I will be adding a pregnancy-devoted multivitamin best-of list at some point.

But for the time being, there are actually a few unconventional options people can take away from the general list below.

You see, typically, when we speak of a multivitamin during pregnancy, what we ideally want is one without any added extra substances, just the vitamins and minerals. This is basically because there are a lot of extra substances that have not been studied well enough to confidently tell whether or not they can be harmful at this very important time.

But the problem with typically not being studied is not because they are necessarily bad. And so, it’s not that we can’t take supplements with certain added substances. It’s just that it’s more on the safe side to not do so. And so, it’s kind of what I consider an unconventional approach for pregnancy.

I am reasonably confident that the No. 1 and No. 2 should work well to that end. Couple it with an additional only-Iron-containing supplement to the mix and you should be all set (that Iron supplement will most likely be the double strength option).

For Lactating Women: Generally, the exact same applies to these people what applies to pregnant women. Conventionally, it’s best to seek out supplements without any additional substances. However, also here I believe the unconventional approach I touched upon in the section for pregnant women can be easily applied.

And so, it would be those same options No. 1 and No. 2. Whereas the need for additional Iron may vary from person to person and from diet/lifestyle to diet/lifestyle. Generally, picking up something from the additional only-Iron-containing supplements is probably a good idea (monitor your ferritin and hemoglobin levels to not overdo it or underdo it, modify accordingly).

Other than that, I will be likely at some point creating a separate list for specifically these ones, too.

For Women After Reproductive Age: For women in this period of life, any men’s multivitamin will work wonders. And definitely make sure that you go without any Iron if a supplement is labeled “women’s.”

The main difference between women after reproductive age and before that is the menstruation part. Which really is the only reason why women otherwise should regularly get some additional Iron through supplements. But as there is no longer that requirement for women after reproductive age (as there never is such requirement for men, generally), there’s no need for it anymore [R, R].

Indeed, supplementing it (unless you’re vegan or vegetarian) can actually lead to negative outcomes. Thus, the best approach I feel is to go with what I suggested in the section for men’s general health and well-being (see above).

multivitamin-recommendations-for-professional-athletes-and-sports-enthusiasts

For Professional Athletes & Sports Enthusiasts: The honest truth is that for professional athletes and sports enthusiasts, it’s either what we went over in all the sections before (depending on the appropriate section for you) or an improved dosage of any of those.

To that end, I believe that, generally, we can’t go wrong with what the No. 1 offers. Alternatively, the No. 2 and No. 3 can work really well as well

But definitely reach beyond the recommended doses when you feel the need to. With that in mind, another worthy alternative might be No. 13. So, have a look at that option as well.

Of course, add any other proper Whey Protein supplement or MCT oil, or whatever else you seem fit or feel the need for. If you need any further guidance or there are any ideas you want to run by me, be sure to ask in the comments.

For Battling Chronic Diseases: I truly believe that having a badass multivitamin (one like in the lists below) is the path to ultimately defeating any chronic disease.

But don’t get me wrong. This is not to say that a proper multivitamin can miraculously heal you on its own. No, my friend, far from that. However, it’s a good place to start.

Be that as it may, different conditions may have different limitations as to what kind of specific minerals or vitamins you should not supplement. So read up on that, and then choose the best fit.

If additional guidance is needed, let me know in the comments.

25 Best Multivitamin Supplements 2021 – Listing The Absolute Best

No. 1 | Thorne Research Advanced Nutrients (Review) – My Supplement Of Choice

Formerly, known as Thorne Research Extra Nutrients, this is something that has been in the upper echelon of multivitamins for quite some time. Now, with Douglas Laboratories and Pure Encapsulations falling prey to Nestle, this is, again, what I believe is the very best multivitamin on the market.

Thorne Research is a supplement manufacturer, which I’ve been really passionate about purely out of their dedication to creating the highest quality supplements out there. And they truly live up to that.

This manufacturer is known for doing insane amounts of testing. Absolutely no compromises made in making the supplements. Everything to make it as high of a quality as it can be with the most up-to-date technology available. All to ultimately, fulfill and exceed many of the quality standards set, like the impossible TGA and the well-known NSF and cGMP. They are also the only supplement company to collaborate with the universally known Mayo Clinic.

In its very essence, Advanced Nutrients is an extremely abundant and comprehensive multivitamin supplement that is augmented by some interesting twists and tweaks people typically very enjoy when it comes to additional beneficial substances.

Thus, characteristically you’ll find within it every single one of the 13 essential vitamins, plus vitamin K2 for a total of 14 vitamins. On top of that, you also get all 11 fundamental minerals, plus the optional Potassium. Hence, providing an incredible value when it comes to the basic nutrients. In that sense, you can definitely forget about any risks of deficiencies.

Thorne Research Extra Nutrients IngredientsIn the supplement, there’s also the addition of decent amounts of Carotenoids, as well as some amounts of Choline.

But as for the drawbacks, it doesn’t offer any the brain performance-boosting substance Inositol. Which, by no means, is the end of the world given the beneficial substances, however, as I said, still a drawback.

Here are some of the likely benefits you may get from those additions.

They’ll help you fight cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, viral infections, joint pain, as well as any other condition that stems from inflammation (thus, essentially, any chronic disease) [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

On top of that, they’ll also protect the brain and liver, promote healthy aging, anti-aging, and healthy vision, improve longevity, cognitive function, skin, and heart health, reduce allergies, support the immune system, as well as help in numerous other ways [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

Whereas the story with its additives is very the same that it was with the Meta-Fem. Not only are they all harmless, but also some of them are actually beneficial.

Lastly, a comprehensive study on all reviews I could find of the Thorne Research Advanced Nutrients revealed, that among people who’ve used it, it’s of solid above 91% success rate.

This is the exact supplement I buy monthly and use daily.

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No. 2 | Klaire Labs Multithera 1 Plus Vitamin K (Review) – Primary Nutrients & Immune System

The Multithera 1 Capsule Formula Plus Vitamin K has always been an incredible piece of addition to one’s well-being. And this is both in regards to when it was under the brand of Prothera and after the rebranding when it became directly of Klaire Labs.

It is this wondrous supplement that goes out of its way to provide all of the primary necessary nutrients. There certainly are also some beneficial substances to the blend, however, the main emphasis really is on the primary nutrients.

Klaire Labs was founded with the idea in mind that “clean, pharmaceutical-grade formulations should be the model for nutritional supplements”. And they have lived up to that for about 50 years now through their consistent emphasis on purity, potency, performance, and cGMP approach to manufacturing.

In the Multithera 1 Capsule Formula Plus Vitamin K you’ll get all of the 13 crucial vitamins without any exceptions. That will be complemented by all of the essential minerals, as well as Choline and Inositol. Which is then rounded off by only harmless and beneficial additives to make it as hypoallergenic of a substance to your health as possible.

Klaire Labs Multithera 1 Capsule Formula Plus Vitamin K IngredientsWhile the supplement does also add some beneficial substances, it’s very reserved in that regard. It has only two, thus, the added benefits will be quite limited.

That said, we’re still looking at potential benefits to skin, hair, blood vessel and heart health, a wide range of antioxidative abilities, thus, also improving your immune system’s function, while also providing brain-protecting capabilities and depressive behavior, as well as memory impairment preventing capacity [RRR, RRRR, R, R].

Still, solid value for the price. Whereas as far as the global success of this still feels too early to tell for sure. However, I personally wasn’t able to find anyone complaining about it. I’ve also done this myself in the past, and I loved it.

This is the exact supplement I would go for regularly if none of the others before it would exist.

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No. 3 | Nature’s Plus Source of Life Gold (Review) – A Whole Food & Extra-Substances-Filled Marvel

Nature’s Plus Source of Life Gold is definitely a supplement, which lives up to its name through its Golden quality. It is the single most abundant supplement on this list in terms of various beneficial substances that it adds to the table.

I would even say that this exceptional supplement is a true pinnacle of how resourceful and diverse a supplement can be.

It’s a resourceful whole food supplement, which while being hypoallergenic, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, also offers rich amounts of the essential nutrients needed for health and the obliteration of deficiencies.

Nature’s Plus is a manufacturer, which goes pretty hard after embracing all of the natural and organic that is in existence. They are NSF and cGMP certified, as well as they have a pretty long history of providing supplements.

But to even further attest to the quality they embody, they also offer the 100% Consumer Satisfaction Guarantee, which basically means that they will refund, credit or replace any product you’re not fully satisfied with. All to guarantee your satisfaction.

Nature’s Plus Source of Life Gold offers 11 of the crucial vitamins directly. Sadly, it leaves out the preformed vitamin A. As for vitamin K1, it does not provide the raw amounts of it. However, you will acquire some through the various diverse blends of the supplement. Additionally, the supplement adds also vitamin K2 [R, R, R].

When it comes to minerals, we see a similar situation. The supplement offers 9 of the crucial and 1 of the optional minerals. Additionally the two of the missing minerals – Vanadium and Molybdenum – will likely be present through the Mineral Complex blend of the Source of Life Gold [R, R, R].

To augment that, you are also getting amazing amounts of Carotenoids and Inositol, as well as somewhat okay amounts of Choline. Then there are the additional beneficial substances that to me, feels as if are exactly what the supplement is mainly about. It’s completely busted that way.

15 blends, 10 beneficial substances, over 120 different whole foods. Which will do everything from supporting digestive health and immune system’s function to improving brain function and anti-aging to helping in cancer and other chronic disease prevention.

While some may prefer that here the serving size is only 3 tablets, from my own experience I can say that they’re rather large. And so, I experienced it first hand that they don’t always go down painlessly. To that end, personally, I much rather prefer 6-8 capsules over 3 rather large tablets. Still, I wouldn’t consider it a deal-breaker.

This is the exact supplement I would buy if none of the others before it would exist.

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No. 4 | Pure Essence LifeEssence (Review) – Superfoods, Bioflavonoids & Even Digestive Enzymes

At its core, the Pure Essence LifeEssence is yet again a remarkably resourceful supplement, which then is only further amplified by many various beneficial substances. All to make it a very diverse, comprehensive, helpful piece of a multivitamin.

Pure Essence as a manufacturer is all about combining decades of experience in formulating nutritional supplements using the ancient wisdom of holistic health and the philosophy of pure ingredients. And in that, they are not only dedicated to providing awesome supplements, but they have also shown a clear commitment to the longevity of the planet.

Although GMP is the only official standard they adhere to, their philosophy and their purpose are ones to die for. Furthermore, they offer a 60-day unconditional 100% money-back guarantee. Which I feel expresses the amount of confidence they have in their production perfectly.

To that end, it would not be wrong to say that they truly care about the value they deliver. And if for some reason a supplement has not lived up to that promise, they’re willing to essentially buy it back.

Pure Essence LifeEssence offers 11 of the crucial vitamins, lacking the preformed retinol (vitamin A which can be easily made up for through a separate supplement) and vitamin K1. The latter vitamin will, however, be made up for through one of the blends that the supplement employs. Whereas, as for the state of minerals in it – it has them all.

Additionally, the LifeEssence also offers some amounts of Carotenoids, as well as the brain function improving substances of Choline and Inositol are there, too. On top of that, it comes with various blends that will improve digestive health, sexual well-being (for both genders), antioxidant presence in your body, brain health, as well as a bunch of other things (a ton of blends).

This is the exact supplement I would buy if none of the others before it would exist or if I were a vegan.

Click Here And Learn More On iHerb

No. 5 | Pure Essence ProFema (Review) – Superfoods, Co-Nutrients & Bioflavonoids

Here’s essentially a twin sister for the just discussed Pure Essence LifeEssence. On the surface, it’s a supplement for women in and after menopause. But at its essence, it’s so much more.

Although all aspects considered, I do see this as a very slightly less powerful version, some may find it to be the better alternative. I mean, they’re that close apart.

Or to be more precise, Pure Essence ProFema offers much of the same nutrients that its labeled LifeEssence counterpart does. Much of the time the amounts are also the exact same. Only a few minute aspects differ.

For the vitamins, in this one, we see lower amounts for both vitamin E and vitamin B5. Over the LifeEssence version, it has more vitamin K. But there’s also less Beta-Carotene, Selenium, Molybdenum, and Potassium. The only real lackluster for it is our typical minerals what most multivitamins struggle with (in efforts to keep the capsule and tablet amount per serving down). Namely, Calcium and Magnesium. As for the rest, they’re all there.

As for why I feel the Pure Essence LifeEssence is the slightly better variation, it’s because of the added benefits of two additional blends. Or in other words, it has all the same substances but Antioxidant Blend and Fruit Extracts blend.

Other than that, there are a lot of other Pure Essence supplements that are very similar to these. And if I were to be completely honest, another 5-8 multivitamins of the brand should come after them. So, to not make this whole list largely dominated by Pure Essence, I’ve refrained from adding more than two for the time being.

Just know that very many of them are very capable and viable options. Even if you end up not choosing one of the two listed here, but stick with some of the vegan-compatible choices.

Anyways, as for the supplement of this section, this is the exact supplement I would buy if none of the others before would exist.

Click Here And Learn More On iHerb

No. 6 | Super Nutrition Perfect Family Energizing Multi (Review) – Solid Extra Stuff & Nutrients

Super Nutrition Perfect Family Energizing Multi is a very straightforward, hypoallergenic vegetarian supplement that shines in both the raw nutritional side and the beneficial substance side of things.

With all that it offers, it’s pretty extraordinary. It definitely keeps up with the rest of the supplements on this list.

On that same note, however, it is essentially twice less the price. So, it offers incredible overall value for money.

In fact, Super Nutrition is a manufacturer that actually promises that – the unequaled value for what it offers. Their promise is to always be offering comprehensive, antioxidant-rich full potency multivitamins that include formulas to support energy, immunity, strong bones, and a healthy heart.

I absolutely love the fact they have a specific section only dedicated to the Science, which I do find very educational myself. On top of that, they also do offer a full money-back guarantee if after 30 days of using the multivitamin you do not feel a significant improvement in your health and well-being. So, if anything, they’re truly committed to improving their customers’ well-being.

The Perfect Family Energizing Multi offers every single one of the 13 essential vitamins. When it comes to minerals – it’s very abundant as well – only the Vanadium is missing. And every single one of them comes in very solid abundance.

The supplement also provides sufficient amounts of Choline and Inositol, while also offering high amounts of Beta Carotene and some amounts of other Carotenoids. Yet, in terms of additional beneficial substances, it has a lot to offer to digestion, brain health, and anti-inflammatory response.

The only real superficially red flags are the Citrus and Vanilla Flavoring that are added to it as additives. And these can really ruin an otherwise solid supplement if they’re not made through quality manufacturing. Which in the case of Super Nutrition Perfect Family, is I feel nothing to worry about. Hence, much to gain, nothing to lose.

This is the exact supplement I would buy if none of the others before it would exist.

Click Here And Learn More On iHerb

No. 7 | Source Naturals Life Force Multiple No Iron (Review) – Detox, Carotenoids & Bunch Of Other

While the Source Naturals Life Force Multiple No Iron should not be considered vegetarian, in its very essence, it is quite similar to the supplement we just discussed.

Meaning, it is an extremely resourceful multivitamin supplement that also offers quite a couple of additional beneficial substances, as well as incredible value for the price.

Source Naturals adheres to the guiding principle of providing safe and superior quality products in everything that they do. In that, their utmost priority and aspiration are, as far as I can tell, to enhance customers’ health and well-being.

Whereas while their quality control and laboratories seem to go the extra mile to ensure quality, there are, however, no third-party assertions. Which generally simply gives less credibility to what they themselves are implying.

The supplement provides all of the 13 fundamental vitamins, as well as all of the minerals but the Vanadium. There are also considerable amounts of Carotenoids, as well as the strongest of all of them – Astaxanthin. Then there’s also the brain-boosting substances – Choline and Inositol – present.

On top of that, as I already noted, it’s quite augmented by the bunch of additional beneficial substances. These will provide very capable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as aid in anti-aging, detoxification, joint health, brain health, and provide additional support with a number of other things.

So, essentially, a truly useful piece of supplementation.

This is the exact supplement I would buy if none of the others before it would exist.

Click Here And Learn More On iHerb

No. 8 – No. 25 | The Rest Of Awesome Multivitamins

Given that people usually are not that interested in the bottom end of the complete list, for the time being, I have not added the descriptions for the remainder of the list. That said I feel there is at least one highlight that I must mention.

The Rest Of The Best & Most Awesome MultivitaminsThe No. 9 | Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men. This is an absolutely marvelous option for anyone who is strictly on a budget.

In essence, while it costs only one-third of what its higher-ranked competitors do, it’s still a pretty close rival to them. Slightly less balanced but arguably a supplement that offers the most value for the price on the list.

Other than that, if at any time you’d love to have more insights on any of the supplements mentioned in this section, just let me know in the comments. I’ll provide the key info.

Here’s the full No. 8 to No. 25.

No. 8 | Brain MD NeuroVite Plus
No. 9 | Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men
No. 10 | Source Naturals, Men’s Life Force Multiple
No. 11 | Ketolabs Core Basics
No. 12 | Metagenics PhytoMulti Capsules
No. 13 | Thorne Research Multi-Vitamin Elite
No. 14 | Super Nutrition Perfect Family Iron-Free
No. 15 | NutraBio Labs MultiSport Men’s Formula
No. 16 | Controlled Labs Orange Triad
No. 17 | Nature’s Plus Source of Life Men Iron-Free
No. 18 | Source Naturals Elan Vital Multiple
No. 19 | Klaire Labs VitaSpectrum
No. 20 | Metabolic Maintenance The Big One without Iron
No. 21 | Life Extension Mix Tablets
No. 22 | Nutricology OcuDyne II
No. 23 | Enzymatic Therapy Doctor’s Choice Multivitamins
No. 24 | Ortho Alpha Base With Or Without Iron
No. 25 | Life Enhancement Personal Radical Shield

3 Best Multivitamins For Vegetarians 2021

The thing about the best multivitamins for vegetarians in 2021 is that the list can be completely derived from the general list talked over earlier in the article.

In that sense, the overall guidelines (went over in the section of Buyer’s Guide) for choosing such supplements remain the same. In other words, nothing changes in regards to the nutritional standard, nutrient forms, harmless additives, quality manufacturing, additional substances, and reasonable price.

But as for any other additional things, I feel you might benefit from adding what I already mentioned in the guidelines for choosing your supplement. Meaning, as a vegetarian depending on your diet and lifestyle you might benefit greatly from an additional Iron-containing supplement.

This is a section that will be an absolute equivalent to this one below.

Lastly, as for the list of those best vegetarian multivitamin supplements, click on any of the following to take you to the appropriate section.

No. 1 | Nature’s Plus Source of Life Gold
No. 2 | Pure Essence LifeEssence
No. 3 | Pure Essence ProFema

5 Best Multivitamins For Vegans 2021

While we can find a bunch of options in the general list for vegetarians, that’s not the case at all when looking at the best multivitamins for vegans for 2021.

The main issue, as I’ve come to know it quite well, is the fact that many vegan supplements do struggle profoundly with additives. As it seems, it’s truly a challenge to develop a proper multivitamin supplement that is at the same time vegan compatible.

But it’s not impossible.

While below you’ll see what I believe is the 5 best options currently out there, the No. 1 is arguably the better option by far when compared to all the rest.

And above all, what I mentioned in both the guidelines for choosing and vegetarian supplements, based on your exact diet and lifestyle, you might benefit profoundly from an additional only-Iron-containing supplement. For the section of those, click here or scroll below.

No. 1 | Pure Essence Supplements – LifeEssence, ProFema, One ‘n’ Only, Mother to Be, and Other
No. 2 | Country Life Max For Vegans
No. 3 | Solgar Formula VM-2000
No. 4 | Pure Vegan Advanced Vegan
No. 5 | Now Foods Special Two (Vegetarian Capsules or Tablets)

Woman Adaptation of Any Supplement: Adding Iron

The only real difference, when it comes to comparing the best practices for nutrient amounts between the genders, is the idea that women must also ideally regularly supplement Iron.

As mentioned in the Guidelines for Choosing, this is due to the fact that women need that extra Iron for making up for the blood loss during menstruation. Whereas vegans and vegetarians, based on their exact diet and lifestyle, may simply not accumulate enough Iron. Thus, it may be required for them to pick up some extra, too.

While the general list of the very best of the best multivitamins are those ideally suited for men (where supplements don’t contain Iron), they are also ideal to women apart from the fact that you need to add that extra Iron (because most supplements on the general list do not have that).

So, here are three awesome singular Iron-containing supplements that will do just that. Couple them with a multivitamin of your choice from the general list. Whereas if the supplement already adds Iron, there’s no need for the extra through one of the Iron-containing ones on this list.

For this approach, I feel rather common misconceptions exist that men’s and women’s nutritional needs differ profoundly, thus, one or the other should never use supplements labeled for the other gender.

However, while small, tiny, very minute differences may exist, they are not significant enough to actively pursue. Moreover, the actual, perfect nutritional needs more rely on your exact microbiome and genetics. Both of which can be just as similar between two people of the opposite sex as in two people of the same.

To that end, the most crucial aspect to comprehend is that labeling is mostly just marketing. Men’s multivitamins do not contain vitamins and minerals women’s bodies won’t absorb, and vice-versa. Neither do additional beneficial substances benefit only one specific gender. In all of my research, a haven’t found a single one for which that is the case.

As for why the general list typically does not contain multivitamins with Iron is due to the harmful additives that often accompany such an addition. So it’s generally always easier to find a proper no Iron-containing multi and then add that extra Iron through one of those below.

One additional thing, as singular Iron supplements do not contain low enough mineral amounts to abide by the best practices, unless you’re pregnant or lactating, you generally do not need to take them daily. Take every two or three days to on average adhere to the 8-12 mg per day recommendation.

For example, if the supplement contains 18 mg, take it every other day (as to fit the mold of 9 mg a day). If the supplement contains 27 mg, take one capsule every three days (again, as to fit the average of 9 mg a day).

This may differ for vegetarians and vegans, based on their diet and lifestyle. A single capsule of 18 mg a day might be the perfect approach.

No. 1 | Thorne Research Iron Bisglycinate
No. 2 | Now Foods Iron (18 mg)
No. 3 | Doctor’s Best High Absorption Iron With Ferrochel
Alternative | Now Foods Double Strength Iron (36 mg)

Comparison List: The Absolute Worst & Most Misrepresented

This section is all about uncovering and exposing multivitamin supplements that are claimed to be the best out there by other lists and websites, but, in reality, they are nowhere close to that category.

A bunch of ravings if you ask me. However, this is not to say that I have all the answers. We seek the best truth, and so please be my guest in searching for that, too. And use this information as your guide as I feel there is a lot of misinformation out there.

So be very wise when choosing your supplements.

Misrepresented | *** Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive X – Owner Is The Problem

I used to be a huge fan of the Douglas Laboratories Ultra Preventive X. I used to have this listed as the No. 1 of the very best multivitamins list above. Sadly, no more.

The problem is not with the beneficial ingredients or the added extra substances. The problem is not with even the additives. The problem might not even be with the manufacturing and quality practices in place (maybe). The problem is with the company that has taken over the wheel of Douglas Laboratories.

Nestle. A company truly profit-driven. A company more concerned with its own gain and wealth than anything else. Whereas if we really want to hit the nail on the head, here’s what I believe is the best summary. “Nestle is a company that is a known global bully for their laundry list of crimes against humanity and deception on the quality of their products.” There’s just a ton of terrible and unspeakable about them [RRRRR, R, R].

I don’t want to support such approach to things. And so, because of that I no longer believe this deserves to be named as the No. 1. At least for the time being.

Misrepresented | *** Pure Encapsulations Ultra Nutrient – Owner Is The Problem, Again

Pure Encapsulations is another top-quality brand fallen prey to Nestle. Which is so incredibly heart-breaking, but nothing we can do about it. And then, it’s even more disheartening because there were quite a few entries by this brand on the very best-of list for multivitamins above. It was a true quality brand which I’m not so sure of anymore.

I mean, sure, the Pure Encapsulations devotion to quality might still be on the same level (emphasis on “might”). But that we can’t know, for sure. They sure themselves originally claimed that it will stay the same. But I feel I can’t vouch for that, especially given that another brand acquired by Nestle Garden of Life (which was something I was a huge fan of) has possibly undergone a fall in that aspect [RRRRR, R, R].

More on Nestle in the previous section and in the references.

All in all, while the Pure Encapsulations Ultra Nutrient was previously a confident No. 2 on the very best-of list above, I would steer clear of it for the time being. At least for as long as we need to again be confident in the quality that this brand is displaying.

Other Pure Encapsulations multivitamins previously on the very best multivitamins list but now removed include their Polyphenol Nutrients, Nutrient 950® with Iron, Nutrient 950® without Iron, and Nutrient 950® with Vitamin K.


For the time being, I have refrained from adding any other misrepresented supplements to this particle article as I already have other two that do go into a lot of detail in this regard.

Or to be more exact, the article on the best multivitamins for men based solely on 100% Daily Values covers these highly misrepresented supplements that show up on other lists throughout the internet as the very best ones but in reality are none of that:

Misrepresented | *** Rainbow Light Men’s One Multivitamin
Worst | *** SmartyPants Men’s Complete (Formula)
Misrepresented | *** Nature’s Way Alive! Once Daily Men’s Ultra
Misrepresented | *** GNC Mega Men
Misrepresented | *** NOW ADAM Men’s Multiple Vitamin
Worst | *** Centrum Silver Men
Misrepresented | *** Source Naturals Men’s Life Force
Worst | *** Vitafusion Men’s Multivitamin
Worst | *** One A Day Men’s Health Formula
Misrepresented | *** Universal Nutrition Animal Pak Training Supplement
Misrepresented | *** Controlled Labs Orange Triad
Worst | *** Muscletech Essential Series Platinum Multivitamin

And here’s another shot at the misleadingly, supposedly very best multivitamins that those other lists mention and the exact reasons as to why they are truly not the case (in the article on the best multivitamins for women based solely on 100% Daily Values):

Worst | *** One A Day Women’s VitaCraves
Worst | *** Ritual Essential for Women
Worst | *** Vitafusion Women’s Gummy Vitamins
Worst | *** SugarBearHair Women’s Multi Vegan MultiVitamin
Misrepresented | *** Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women
Misrepresented | *** GNC Women’s Ultra Mega 50+
Misrepresented | *** Rainbow Light Women’s One
Worst | *** SmartyPants Women’s Complete (Formula)
Worst | *** Centrum Women
Misrepresented | *** NOW Foods Eve Softgels
Worst | *** One A Day Women’s Formula

Awesome Health, Well-Being & High Performance

There are many different approaches and opinions out there. But I believe multivitamins are kind crucial for awesome health, well-being, and high performance.

More so than any other type of supplement out there.

These supplements generally offer a great variety of nutrients and beneficial substances, ultimately making them a hard nut to crack. This in a sense that, there are just so incredibly huge amounts of different ones. One can easily get lost, and be exploited by effective marketing.

This article was created with the idea in mind to change that. To put you in the place of power knowing what is actually good and what is only marketed that way.

Above all, I hope this article on the best multivitamin supplements for 2021 helped you find the information you were looking for.

This article was last updated on October 31, 2020.

117 thoughts on “33 Best Multivitamin Supplements 2021 (Of The Very Best)”

  1. Hi Matiss,

    Based on your recommendations I am switching from Solgar MM and giving Thorne Advanced Nutrients a try, but I ran into a snag trying to order them.

    I am based in Germany, and Thorne does not sell Advanced Nutrients in the EU, instead their distributor offered Basic Nutrients from Thorne. They said its some regulatory nonsense.

    Now I’m stuck either paying massive shipping and customs fees from the US for Advanced Nutrients (ca. $100 for 1 bottle) or buying the more reasonably priced Basic Nutrients, however the ingredients list is certainly shorter.

    Is there any way to convince you to compare the two and give your expert opinion on which way to go? Or perhaps you can make a separate “best of the best” for your European followers?

    Cheers,

    Ian

    Reply
    • Hey, Ian!

      Yeah, I feel you. I am based in the EU, too.

      Personally, I haven’t found a way around that. It just is what it is. In the EU, the whole supplement industry I believe isn’t as advanced yet as in the US. And hence, many most capable options we have to pay extra for due to all the customs fees non-sense. I don’t like it either. But, yeah, it is what it is. For now.

      I think even the Basic Nutrients option gets seriously over-priced due to all those import fees.

      No, I think it’s 100% Advanced Nutrients over Basic Nutrients, for sure. Unless you’re referring to Basic Nutrients like the Basic Nutrients III, IV, or V which, sadly, they don’t make anymore (some may still have some left from the time they were being made). But, yeah, I would pick Advanced Nutrients every day of the week between the two.

      Other than that, I think you’re right, Ian. I should do a list for EU-based multivitamins only. I think even if it’s not a long one, it would still likely produce some valuable alternatives, especially considering all those import fees.

      I appreciate that thought!
      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  2. Thanks for all the info! Question: what concerns would you have – if any – about a Prop 65 lead warning on a vitamin? I’m looking at Ocudyne II but concerned especially not knowing how much lead is in there. And most vitamins I’ve looked at don’t have the warning. What is up with this?

    Reply
    • Hey, Judith!

      That’s a great question. I think that without really looking into it, it’s hard to say. Because it can be just a matter of an added herb in which a substance of the Prop 65 lead list occurs naturally.
      But I will look more into this this week, and I’ll get back to you (probably by simply updating this comment.

      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  3. Hi there,
    I love reading all your articles. I feel a bit stuck though because as of now I can’t afford multivitamins over $30 a month. I was curious, are there any supplements you recommend that are more affordable, but that contain these high percentages? Or the next best options for quality but affordable? I want the best possible multivitamin for my budget!
    Thank you!
    Delia :)

    Reply
  4. Hi,

    Thank you for the time and energy putting this on.
    Question about Thorne Research, I saw that it recommends take 4 – 8 per day.
    How many do you take?

    If budget is a consideration, would you recommend Opti-Men for daily in take?

    Reply
    • Hey, TFOA!

      I do typically stick with the 8 per day. I have experimented with 4 a day but 8 a day definitely works better for me personally. Other than that, I think it’s what most people will prefer.

      Yeah, I’ve done Opti-Men for quite a while in the past as well. To that end, I do believe it’s a very worthwhile alternative. It does typically come with a few somewhat broken/partly-disintegrated tablets but that’s okay, the way I see it. I mean, it’s still awesome value for money even if 1-3 tablets are basically unusable. As a side note, with Thorne Research, I’ve never once had a broken capsule. But be that as it may, Opti-Men is a great one for budget. Hence, for sure, if that is at this time a necessity for you, absolutely go for the Optimum Nutrition option.

      I hope that helps,
      Matiss

      Reply
      • Thanks for the reply Matiss.

        One more question, would you consider Thorne Research Basic Nutrients good to use for Men’s multivitamin?
        I’m trying to decide between Thorne Research Basic Nutrients vs Naturelo Wholefood Multivitamin for Men.

        Budget wise, Thorne Research Basic Nutrients is winning. But I believe it’s worth it spending money for good multivitamin for men. Appreciate your thoughts on which one you would recommend.

        Thanks,

        TFOA

        Reply
        • Hey, TFOA!

          There will be people who will say otherwise but personally, I would generally prefer the Thorne Research options over Naturelo every time.
          And that is also true here. I think Thorne Research is just the better option. Yes, it doesn’t show up on the best-of list according to 100% Daily Values. But that’s because it doesn’t stick to them. It’s more like the supplement of this list that goes according to the best practices for nutrient amounts. It’s just isn’t as strong as some of other options here due to just the two capsules.

          But to recap, between the two – Thorne Research Basic Nutrients, for sure.

          Cheers,
          Matiss

          Reply
  5. Hi there,
    Thank you for the informative articles and recommendation. I was trying to consume a multivitamin after reading your articles, but how do you consume a multivitamin daily that needs 4 – 8 tablets a day? Do you consume all of them at once or split them into few times each day? For example, Source of life gold recommendation was 3 tablets daily and Klaire Labs Multithera recommends 6 capsules daily.

    Another thing is I have been consuming fish oil, is it safe to take it together?

    Thanks,
    Farhan

    Reply
    • Hey, Farhan!

      Ideally, you would want to split that at least 50:50. Meaning, half of it we do in the morning or first thing after a fast, and the second half we do in the evening or with the last meal which after we’re going to fast again. Alternatively, we can also spread it out over the course of the day. For example, we could do a single tablet with every meal in the case with Source of Life Gold.

      And then, of course, there is the alternative to also just take it all in the morning or just in general with the first meal of the day. I wouldn’t say it’s ideal but it’s probably better that way than just forgetting about the second half in the evening.

      As for Fish Oil, it’s absolutely safe to take them together. In fact, we actually should.

      The only difference would be the exact time we’re taking them. Meaning, personally, I take my Fish Oil right before a meal to prevent any possibility of fishy burps. And then, somewhat mid-meal I take all the other stuff which, of course, we can also just delay after the meal. Whichever one prefers better.

      I hope that helps!
      Matiss

      Reply
  6. Brilliant research and article the best I have read yet!

    I was a bit confused as the best men’s multivitamin for 2020 was garden of life vitamin code for men however in this article you recommend natures plus source of gold as the best natural product – which is the better of the two

    I am a 43-year-old male and generally quite active

    Thanks a lot

    Reply
    • Hey, Steve!

      I feel you, many people kind of ask about that same thing.

      So, the main difference between the article is that they use different reference points for how much nutrients should there be in a multivitamin. The other list is all about 100% or reasonably above the established Daily Values whereas this one is all about what I refer to as the Prime Daily Values.

      Given that nutrient secret I covered in one of the sections of this article, I don’t think it ever makes sense to go for a 100%-Daily-Values-oriented supplement. But many are uncomfortable with doing it any other way. Hence, the two different lists.

      But I believe one thing is absolutely clear. Any supplement on this list is better than the best supplement on the 100%-Daily-Values-oriented multivitamin lists (the best men’s for 2020 and the best women’s for 2020).

      I hope that clears things up.
      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  7. Your explanations and guide are wonderful thank you so much for writing this. Would you please do the same for toddler vitamins? So many kids are having digestive issues and inflammation and allergies and add/ ADHD almost from birth it seems. Not to mention picky eaters or misrepresentation by companies. We need optimum nutrition for early years, so long term side effects can be minimized early. Please, please, please help us!

    Reply
    • Hey, Tammy!

      I’m really thrilled you’re finding value in the website. Thank you for letting me know. It totally made my day! :)

      I’ll take this to heart. Truth is, there are so many articles I’ve been meaning to get to. It has just been really busy. But I absolutely feel you. And you’re right.

      I’ll do my best to get to that over the next weekend.

      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  8. 4-8 capsules a day of the Thorne Advanced Nutrients seems crazy! What’s the dosage of that? A couple at times throughout the day? All at once in the AM?

    Reply
    • Hey, Jamie!

      But that’s exactly the thing. It isn’t. I mean, when did it become the “normal” to be having one or two capsules for all your bodily needs? For health, not for the avoidance of disease. Maybe in the sixties or seventies that would have been perfectly enough given the slow deterioration of the nutrients in the healthy food and lack of factors like pollution. But that’s definitely not the case today. Hence, I think we all absolutely have to let go of that illusion.

      Ideally, you would want to do 4 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. However, say, if you fast typically 18-20 hours a day, then I would just do 4 as soon as you have your first meal of the day and then, when you no longer plan to have one afterward. Alternatively, you can, of course, reduce that to once a day everything. My point being, adapt to it given what your actual lifestyle is. Either way, you’ll certainly be better with it than without.

      I mean, depends on your health goals and your actual level of play. Say, I have a very mentally and cognitively taxing day job and I can immediately feel the difference on the days that for whatever reason I don’t have my multi. I imagine if I were to drive around people or load boxes all day, the difference wouldn’t be that noticeable. But then, I’d say it’s really just a superficial, fleeting, even delusive feeling because a ton is likely happening under the surface.

      Other than that, if the count is what for whatever reason scares you, pick something like the Nature’s Plus option which has only three a day. But they’re big ones. I’ve never had issues with getting those down but I imagine some might.

      I hope that helps, cheers.
      Matiss

      Reply
  9. Hi Matiss,

    Thank you for this great article about supplements. Really helping all of us with how to choose and analyze the good brands.

    But, What would be the best supplement for helping with neck and shoulder pain? Do you think there might be some effect with pain and the lack of the blood flow? Sometimes i feel a bit dizzy when standing up after sleeping so i thought i might have low blood pressure and feet also got cold .

    I am not sure if supplement can fix the issue of pain. But right now im testing the amway double x (eventhough i read the review its not that good) but previously i havent eaten any multivitamins so i will test for one month if it works.

    Reply
  10. Hi,
    Thank you for all the research you do on supplements. It is so helpful when one is trying to wade through the bagillion multivitamins out there in the market. I was wondering if you have done any research on good supplements for teens.

    Thanks for all the useful info. Helps a whole lot in helping with choices I make for my family’s supplement needs!
    Jess

    Reply
    • Hey, Jess!

      It took me a while to get back to you. Sorry about that. I hope you’re doing great! :)

      To tell the truth, I haven’t really gotten to that yet. Generally, anything on this list can work (just cut back on the capsule or tablet count per day). However, I would recommend making sure it has as few of the added other substances as possible and/or make sure the ones it does are fine for teens. Or you could also just pick something from the other best-of lists on multivitamins and roll with those (for the full recommended dose; it will be more than fine). The list for men & the list for women.

      At some point, I will, for sure, do a list on teens multis as well. It’s just not something on my priority list right now.

      I hope this helps even if just a little bit, Jess!

      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  11. Hi Matiss! I hope you are healthy and doing great! I owe you this research for the immune supplements we were talking about (AHCC, medicinal mushrooms,etc,..). I think I will send you an email the next weeks.

    I saw yesterday this company about its multivitamins and not only. Have you done any research on them? They seem that they use quite pure and good quality ingredients. The bad thing is that they do not have any third party testing available online.

    https://emeraldlabs.store/

    Cheers from Greece!
    George

    Reply
  12. Hey Matiss,

    I can’t thank you enough for providing us with the information you do, otherwise we would all be lost!

    My question, I live in the UK and am looking for multivitamin for my parents. One is vegan and the other is vegetarian, but their diet is not full of fresh fruit and veg.

    I have looked at the kind list you provided above but I am finding it difficult to find the top choices here in the UK. I wondered if you are able to provide an opinion on Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi? This seems to be popular here in the UK but would really appreciate your thoughts before buying. Other recommendations are also welcome :)

    Have a good day,

    Lawrence

    Reply
    • Hey, Lawrence!

      Sorry for getting back to you so late. I hope you’re doing great!

      And I feel you. The Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi is something that I have come across recently. And it’s solid. Both the men’s and the women’s options are great. They feel to be the best-worthy material. It’s not, however, something that I would put on this list since this one is about multivitamins according to the best practices for nutrient amounts. But they will be something I’ll to each of the respective men’s and women’s best-of lists when I’ll update those for 2021.

      Again, just so that it’s clear. This list is multis according to the best practices for nutrients amounts. The other two are multis according to percentage DV/NRV. In other words, different nutrient standards call for a different set of multvitamins.

      If you’re interested in something according to the best practices, Optimum Nutrition options immediately spring to mind. Namely, their Opti-Men and Opti-Women both are decent supplements, and they price great.

      I hope that helps, Lawrence!
      Again, I’m sorry for the delay!
      Matiss

      Reply
      • Hi Matiss,

        It’s now my turn to apologise for the late reply, haha.

        Thank you so much for coming back and providing your advice. You will be pleased to know that I managed to get my hands on some Source Of Life Gold, here in the UK. Not only did I buy it for my parents, but me and my partner take it daily now too.

        Thanks once again for kindness in sharing such a valuable website.

        Take care and best regards,

        Lawrence

        Reply
        • Hey, Lawrence!

          Haha, no worries. :)

          That’s great to hear. I hope it serves you all really well. <3
          And in time, if you happen to get a chance, let me know how it goes. I'll be happy to hear from you!

          Other than that, I'm glad to hear that the website has been of help. That's some really great music to my ears, haha.

          Take Care, Lawrence!
          Matiss

          Reply
  13. Really glad I found this site and so much information with ongoing debate about multivitamins. However I was wondering if you could clear up why the “best multivitamin on the market” (your recommendation Thornes) is different from the “best multivitamin for men” ( Garden of Life Vitamin Code). I am narrowing down my search based on quality and price. Currently I can get Garden of life Vitamin Code for $42 for a 2 month supply vs Thorne research advanced Nutrient for $60 for a 1 month supply.

    Could you help me narrow down between these three
    Vitamin Code Men
    Thorne Research Advanced nutrient
    Performance Lab NutriGenesis

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Hey, Frank!

      I’m sorry it took so long to get back to you. I hope you’re doing well.

      The difference is because there are different standards out there according to which multivitamins can be compared. For example, one ancient standard says you need 1.7 milligrams of B6 vitamin whereas another more progressive one suggests 25 milligrams instead. And similarly with just about every nutrient. Hence, the entirely different list.

      Vitamin Code is something I no longer recommend. I just haven’t gotten to updating that other list. As for why, you can read all about it in my review for its Women’s alternative (it’s basically the same supplement but with Iron).

      Generally speaking, the Performance Lab NutriGenesis looks like a really decent supplement. But out of these three, the Thorne Research option is a clear favorite by a long shot. It uses the more advanced nutrient standard and hence, it’s like comparing the dueling power of a lion to a hamster.

      Other than that, I genuinely appreciate the comment. I mean, the Performance Lab NutriGenesis I wasn’t aware of and it feels great enough to be added among the best by the standard that the other list uses.

      Cheers,
      Matiss

      Reply
  14. I intermittent fast (one meal a day). Can I take Thorne’s Advanced Nutrients with or without food? The label doesn’t say one way, or the other. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hey, Scott!

      Personally, I’ve taken the thing without food as well. And I think that’s absolutely fine as long as you take it with a drop of olive oil or any healthy oil for the fat-soluble nutrients. But that said, I typically would just take the full dose with that meal. It’s what I prefer to do.

      To give context, I too fast. Granted, my recent encounters with Covid took me off that for a while. But I typically do 1-1.5 meals a day, about 20 or 20+ hours fasting. And then, I either take it all in one go or I split it in half with those few hours apart. It works great for me.

      I hope this helps. And if you get the chance, let me know how it goes for you.

      Cheers, and have a Great One, Scott!
      Matiss

      Reply
  15. Hi Matiss,

    Great update and I have good experiences as well with Thorne.

    I would love to hear your opinion about Thorne Advance Nutrients VS. Thorne – Multi-Vitamin Elite ( A.M. and P.M. Formula).

    Thanks and have a great week ahead!

    Best regards,
    Maarten

    Reply
    • Hey, Maarten!

      My utmost apology for not managing to get back to you sooner. I hope you’re doing great.

      To not make it too long, here’s the core as to why I haven’t put it higher on the list. I don’t really like that the Vitamin Elite divides/groups the nutrients. Meaning, there are certain ones that the A.M. version provides of which most P.M. version doesn’t, and vice-versa. However, I just don’t think it’s the most optimal way how to go about it since it is known that all kinds of vitamins and minerals work together to ensure various functions of the body.

      Hence, the rating. Still, it’s a great supplement nonetheless.

      Cheers, Maarten!
      Matiss

      Reply
      • Hi Matiss, I’m glad your encounter with covid has ended well.
        I haven’t checked the label of the Thorne AM-PM multi, but I have to disagree with you with the notion that all vitamins and minerals should be taken together. It is not so. Some are synergic and thus gives a greater benefit when taken in the same meal (i see vitamins as food, even synthetic ones), such as A,C, all B or cal-mag and microelements (provided you dont exceed 500mg of calcium) but the fat-soluble vitamins compete with each other for absorption, therefore unless you are taking very small doses, it is an issue.
        Among E family there is inbred competition to the point I also take tocotrienols 3h apart from the multi or food rich in tocopherol. The same applies for D3 and K2 which I have to take at clinical doses for my bones – the less the multi has the better.
        Bad mineral forms are much higher in my negative list since non-natural calcium sources push my serum Ca too high.
        Lastly, another benefit of a split serving would be to follow the half life of water-soluble vitamins, in particular C and Bs, the former should be taken 0,5-1g thrice a day (unless sustained release such as ester-c) and the latter split between breakfast and lunch, as some B can keep you too much alert.

        My 2 cents.

        Reply
        • Hey, Telstar!

          I absolutely loved your two cents, thank you, my man! I genuinely appreciate it!

          I have to admit, I was not aware of this notion that fat-soluble compete for absorption. While I feel it changes nothing for the Thorne AM-PM multi (and its current rating), I’ll do my best to really start exploring those vitamin and mineral relationships more. I’ve been planning for standalone vitamin/ mineral articles for a while now. Just have to get to them.

          Again, Telstar, I appreciate it,
          We live and we learn,
          Matiss

          Reply
  16. Please review the Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi for Men. There are a handful of people online who are saying it is the best of the best when it comes to Multi-Vitamins including David Tomen from nootropicsexpert(dot)com.

    Reply
    • Hey, again, John!

      A lot of different people out there are saying a lot of different things. My biggest concern is that you or anyone else can 100% understand why one specific supplement is better than another, instead, of just giving some vague salesman-type of information just to sell (which often is the case, not necessarily for that website, but just in general).

      If we look at that supplement, you’ll notice that its vitamin and mineral amounts don’t fit either of the standards I’m using be it for this list or for the best for men list. And so, I wouldn’t put it on either.

      However, this is not to say that the Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi for Men is a bad supplement. I like the beneficial ingredients, I like the additives, I like the philosophy, I love the quality aspects they subscribe to. Overall, it’s a really great multivitamin supplement. But I would just not pick it over any of the 43 best ones you can find here.

      Cheers, and have a Great One!
      Matiss

      Reply
  17. I am confused on your lists in regards to Controlled Labs Orange Triad.
    In your “31 Best Multivitamins For Men 2020” list you have them as one of the “13 Worst & Misrepresented (Bull*hit) Multivitamins For Men” but then you list them as #21 on here. Yet on this very same page you go on to list them under “Comparison List: The Absolute Worst & Most Misrepresented” as Misrepresented.
    I’m not trying to be a jerk it just seems to be contradictory in the way you are reviewing them.
    I have been taking them for years starting when I did heavy manual labor work and I like the joint complex included. I can say my experience has been good and it may be a placebo type of effect but I think the joint complex worked well for me(knee issues).

    The real reason I am commenting though is because I am getting tired of taking so many pills a day(6 is they’re serving size total) and 2 times a day.
    Because of this I looked at “NATURELO One Daily Multivitamin for Men”.
    Do you think it would be a good option for a 30 year old who is just moderately active to take?
    I would prefer to go with their whole food version but again I want to switch things up and only take a 1 a day and on top of that the price is considerably more.

    Appreciate the help and glad to have found your site.

    Reply
    • Hey, dude!

      Yes, that’s exactly right. It’s listed as the misrepresented one because it frequently gets placed on the top 3 of other multivitamin best-of lists. Which it is not. I mean, it’s a good supplement, yet it just isn’t that top 3 worthy. Hence, I put it in the Misrepresented category. I hope that makes more sense now. And feels less like a contradiction as you saw it. :)

      Personally, I’m not very fond of the idea of taking multivitamins that promote this idea of “we need 100% DV.” And to that end, I think out of the two the Controlled Labs Orange Triad is just the better supplement. However, if you feel you need a change, by all means, my friend, go for it.

      And to that end, Naturelo is definitely a great option to try that with. Furthermore, you can always just go back if you later decide to.

      If you get a chance, let me know how it goes. I’ll love to hear from you. :)

      Cheers, and have a Great Weekend!
      Matiss

      Reply
    • The 100% DV philosophy is that those amounts will prevent any deficiencies (provided they give you ALL the essential nutrients, which usually do not).
      With any 1 pill a day multi you WILL need to supplement with other supplements depending on your body needs and eating habits, preferably under supervision of a functional MD or a nutritionist. It won’t be cheaper than a decent multi with higher dosages and therefore 3-6 pills a day.
      Cheers

      Reply
  18. Hi Matiss,

    Fantastic info you’ve provided here! Thank you so much.

    I’ve been seeing Naturelo Whole Food Multivitamin being rated #1 on a few sites. Is Naturelo a good product in your opinion?

    Cheers
    Mike

    Reply
    • Hey, Mike!

      I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying the content. And thank you for letting me know! I appreciate it. <3

      I believe Naturelo is a really decent one. I recently discovered that they also do third-party testing on all of their products which only further adds to that notion. And hence, I have listed the respective men and women ones on two of my best lists for multivitamins.

      However, those two lists follow a different nutrient standard – the 100% Daily Values. Which I strongly believe (and many health professionals and doctors would agree) is the outdated standard for how much nutrients we need in supplements. And so, according to that standard, Naturelo is one of the best options out there, no question.

      That being said, I feel in terms of the actual benefit and the complement to overall wellness, it can't really keep up with any of the multivitamin supplements on this particular list. A list that is based on a much more comprehensive, more aware, more thoughtful standard for nutrient amounts. And so, of all multivitamins, I would never rate Naturelo as truly #1. There are just far too many significantly better options the way I see it (and this article to approve that).

      I hope that makes sense, Mike.

      Cheers, and have a Great One!
      Matiss

      Reply
  19. Thank you, Matiss, for your research. Can you please advise what vitamin would be good for me? I’m a male 38, 6.3″ trying to live a healthy life. Recently, I bought Amway double x and after that, I saw your research. It opened my eyes. Very knowledgeable, thank you for your work.

    Reply
    • Hey, Juri!

      Sorry, for not managing to get back to sooner. I had to take a break from the website. I hope you’re doing really well.

      I appreciate the kind words, thank you for letting me know. Glad it has been insightful.

      I believe that either of the ones here on this list can work great for you. See what feels most right to you and what you have easily/affordably accessible. And then, go from there.

      Other than that, I feel I must add just to kind of reassure that and to just be certain you know. Being healthy is a number of things. No supplement can truly offset bad eating habits, lack of sleep or mindfulness, and the necessity for regular exercise. So, ideally, it’s about the lifestyle plus supplements to be truly healthy (not that you don’t know this but just to be completely straight and honest with you or anyone who might at some point be reading this).

      Cheers, Juri, and have a Great One!
      Matiss

      Reply
  20. Čau Matiss. Thank you for your time researching and making these articles. I’m looking for Thorne Research Basic Nutrients IV as per your recommendation, but can not find it in stock anywhere. Could you please suggest any other prenatal? Naturelo would be good substitution?

    Reply
    • Čau, Christine!

      I’m terribly sorry for not managing to get back to you sooner. I hope you’re doing amazing.

      Yeah, the article will have to be redone as stuff like Thorne Research Basic Nutrients IV have been taken off production, and as far as I can tell, will no longer be made. Personally, I see that as a huge bummer as it was the go-to for my wife. But what can you do?

      On that note, I have come to realize that I have been somewhat too one-dimensional with the prenatal/postnatal supplements. The truth is that stuff like Thorne Research Extra Nutrients (now called Advanced Nutrients) and Klaire Labs Multithera 1 Capsule Formula Plus Vitamin K could potentially be really great options as well.

      But still, to be truly on the safe side, many will find it best to avoid any added substances altogether. To that end, yes, Naturelo I believe can work great. If you’re, however, interested in something a bit more according-to-the-best-practices-like, I’ve really no idea at this time. I’m yet to find one I truly like.

      Cheers, and have a Great One!
      Matiss

      Reply

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