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Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review

Best Multivitamins -- Caution with Gummies

Latest Update
Heavy Metals in One A Day?
Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

 
Expanded March 20, 2024
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Products Tested in 2023, 2024 and 2025

Summary

  • What did ConsumerLab find testing multivitamins?

    Eight out of 27 (29.6%) of the multivitamin/multimineral supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com for testing failed to get our approval. These are marked as "Not Approved" in the results table.

  • What problems were found with multivitamins?

    Some had lower levels of nutrients than the label claimed (only 14% of the expected vitamin D in one case), some had higher amounts (particularly gummies, three of which had nearly double the expected folic acid, and a prenatal with 88% more iodine than listed), and one took longer than permitted to disintegrate ("break apart") in solution. All product deficiencies were confirmed in tests in a second independent laboratory (see What CL Found).

  • Avoid toxicity:

    Of particular concern is that several products provided more than or close to the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) of some vitamins and minerals, above which there is increasing risk of toxicity with regular use: A prenatal exceeded the UL for magnesium; nine multis exceeded the UL for niacin; and a men's multi was right at the UL for vitamin B-6.

  • ConsumerLab's Top Picks among multivitamins:

    Among products that were "Approved" in testing, including nine products tested through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program, Top Picks were selected as being best for the following categories based on product quality, appropriateness of dosage, formulation, and value:

  • What to look for in a multivitamin?

    When selecting any multi, as a start, be sure it lists the right amount of each essential vitamin and mineral for you. You can check your own requirements using our RDA table as well as the detailed information for each nutrient in this Review.

  • Is it worth taking a multivitamin?

    There is some evidence that taking a multivitamin can slightly decrease the risk of cataracts, modestly slow cognitive decline in adults with cardiovascular disease, and reduce symptoms of respiratory illness in older people. Prenatal multivitamins may reduce the risk of birth defects. However, there is no clear evidence that multivitamins can reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, or any other causes (see What They Do). Multivitamins may help treat or prevent nutrient deficiencies in people at risk for such deficiencies — although more targeted nutritional approaches may be preferable, such as for deficiencies in iron, B-12, and magnesium.

Make sure you're choosing the best multivitamin/multimineral supplements approved in our tests!

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Alphabetical list of multivitamin supplement brands compared in this review

View Larger Image 8211_large_21stCentury-Sentry-Adults-Multivitamins-2023.png

21st Century Sentry

View Larger Image AlphaSperm_Mens_Prenatal_plus-Multis-2024-small.png

AlphaSperm Men's Prenatal +

View Larger Image 8361_large_Altipure-CompleteMultivitamin-Multivitamin-2023.png

Altipure Complete Multivitamin

View Larger Image 8245_large_Flintstone-Multivitamins-2023.png

Bayer Flintstones Complete

View Larger Image Bayer_One_A_Day_Prenatal_Advanced-Multis-2024-small.png

Bayer One A Day Prenatal Advanced

View Larger Image 8229_large_OneADay-Womens-50Plus-Multivitamins-2023.png

Bayer One A Day Women 50+

View Larger Image 8223_large_OneADay-Womens—Multivitamins-2023.png

Bayer One A Day Women's

View Larger Image 8231_large_Centrum-Womens-50Plus-Multivitamins-2023.png

Centrum Silver Women 50+

View Larger Image 8242_large_CVS-Multivitamins-2023.png

CVS Health Spectravite Men 50+

View Larger Image 8212_large_Deva-Vegan-Multivitamins-2023.png

DEVA Vegan Multivitamin & Mineral Supplement

View Larger Image 8221_large_Equate-Adults-50Plus-Multivitamins-2023.png

Equate Complete Multivitamin Adults 50+

View Larger Image 8238_large_GNC-Men-Multivitamins-2023.png

GNC Mega Men

View Larger Image 8226_large_GNC-Womens-Multivitamins-2023.png

GNC Women's Multivitamin Ultra Mega

View Larger Image 8247_large_HealthyPromise-Multivitamins-2023.png

Healthy Promise Multi-Vitamin - Savory Chicken Flavor - Cat

View Larger Image 8213_large_Kirkland-Daily-Multivitamin-2023.png

Kirkland Signature Daily Multi

View Larger Image 8222_large_Kirkland-Adult-Multivitamin-2023.png

Kirkland Signature Mature Multi

View Larger Image 8214_large_LifeExtension-TwoPerDay-Multivitamins-2023.png

Life Extension Two-Per-Day Multivitamin

View Larger Image 8234_large_MegaFood-Prenatal-Multivitamins-2023.png

MegaFood Baby & Me 2

View Larger Image MegaFood_Baby_and_Me_2-Multis-2024-small.png

MegaFood Baby & Me 2

View Larger Image 8232_large_NatureMade-Womens-50Plus-Multivitamins-2023.png

Nature Made Multi For Her 50+

View Larger Image 8233_large_Naturelo-Multivitamins-2023.png

Naturelo One Daily Multivitamin For Women 50+

View Larger Image 8243_large_Alive-Mens-50Plus-Multivitamins-2023.png

Nature's Way Alive! Men's 50+ Ultra Potency

View Larger Image Natures_Way_Alive_Zero_Sugar_Womens_Gummy_Multivitamin-Strawberry_Flavored-small.png

Nature's Way Alive! Zero Sugar Women's Gummy Multivitamin - Strawberry Flavored

View Larger Image 8244_large_NaturesWay-AlphaBetic-Multivitamins-2023.png

Nature's Way Alpha Betic

View Larger Image 8227_large_NewChapter-Womens-Multivitamins-2023.png

New Chapter Women's Multivitamin Gummy

View Larger Image 8246_large_Olly-Kids-Multivitamins-203.png

Olly Kids Multi - Gummy Worms

View Larger Image 8248_large_NaturalIngredients-Pet-Multivitamins-2023.png

Pet Honesty 10-For-1 Multivitamin - Flavor: Chicken - Dog

View Larger Image 8249_large_PetTabs-Multivitamins-2023.png

Pet-Tabs - Dog

View Larger Image 8215_large_PureEncapsulations-Multivitamins-2023.png

Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Multivitamin

View Larger Image 8216_large_PurutansPride-Multivitamins-2023.png

Puritan's Pride ABC Plus Multi

View Larger Image 8235_large_Rainbowlight-Prenatal-Multivitamins-2023.png

Rainbow Light Prenatal One

View Larger Image 8228_large_RainbowLight-Womens-Multivitamins-2023.png

Rainbow Light Women's One

View Larger Image 8236_large_SmartyPants-Prenatal-Multivitamins-2023.png

Smarty Pants Prenatal Formula

View Larger Image 8237_large_Solgar-Prenatal-Multivitamins-2023.png

Solgar Prenatal Nutrients

View Larger Image 8239_large_SourceNaturals-Mens-Multivitamins-2023.png

Source Naturals Men's Life Force Multiple

View Larger Image 8240_large_Swanson-Multivitamins-2023.png

Swanson Real Food Multi - Men's Daily

View Larger Image 8217_large_Thorne-Multivitamins-2023.png

Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day

View Larger Image 8218_large_Usana-CoreMinerals-Multivitamins-2023.png

USANA Core Minerals

View Larger Image 8219_large_Usana-VitalAntioxidant-Multivitamin-2023.png

USANA Vita Antioxidant

View Larger Image 8241_large_Vitafusion-Multivitamins-2023.png

VitaFusion Men's Multi

You must be a member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com's recommendations and quality ratings for 39 multivitamin/multimineral supplements for women, men, children and pets. These include 29 supplements selected by ConsumerLab.com and 10 others that passed testing in its voluntary Quality Certification Program. In this comprehensive review, you'll get quality ratings, cost comparisons, product reviews, and you'll discover:
  • Which multivitamins passed or failed our tests and why
  • ConsumerLab.com's Top Picks
  • Which multivitamins provide what you need and don't exceed safe limits
  • Why many multivitamin labels list the wrong Daily Values(DV) information and how to make sure you get the right amounts
  • Multivitamins confirmed by tests to be gluten-free
  • Concerns, cautions and potential side effects with multivitamins

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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.