More people than ever before are focusing on their wellness, which comes in many different forms - including nutritional supplements and the best multivitamins to suit a whole host of symptoms and preventions.
Wellness means different things to different people. As part of your journey, you might have started doing yoga, undertaken a new craft or decided to work out more - whatever works for you.
The best multivitamins to help you feel your best
• Best overall multivitamins: Centrum Advance Multivitamins Tablet - View at Boots
• Best multivitamins for quality ingredients: Feel Multivitamin™ - View at Wearefeel
• Best multivitamins for personalisation: Nourished Vitamins - View at Get-nourished
• Best multivitamins for men: Evity Multivitamin and Multimineral - View at Amazon
Along with the rise of wellness and taking care of our minds and bodies more effectively came a surge in demand for supplements. According to food.gov.uk, the UK's food supplements market reached £1 billion in 2021, with many of us heading online to purchase.
With health at the forefront of our minds and 2024 on the horizon, lots of people decided to reach for supplements to give their immune systems a boost - it couldn't hurt, right? The humble multivitamin started appearing more frequently on shopping lists across the UK, but do you really need to be taking multivitamins or brain supplements? Which are the best brands to buy?
Our picks of the best multivitamins
Best overall multivitamins
www.boots.com
Description
These daily multivitamins from Centrum contain 24 key vitamins and minerals, including all 13 essential vitamins, in one easy-to-swallow tablet. These are not suitable for vegetarians as some ingredients are animal-derived. Centrum Advance provides a blend of vitamins like A, C, D and E, along with key minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. These nutrients play crucial roles in maintaining healthy bones, supporting the immune system and promoting overall vitality.
Pros
- Easy-to-swallow tablets
- Very affordable
- Great for individuals with allergies as they are free from gluten, lactose, nuts and wheat
Cons
- Not suitable for vegetarians
Best multivitamins for quality ingredients
wearefeel.com
Description
Feel prides itself on including only the best ingredients in their highest bio-availability and absorption rates. In these multivitamin tablets, you'll find 15 vitamins, 10 minerals and six phytonutrients, plus alpha-lipoic acid. The brand uses 100% sustainable packaging, and they're certified vegan.
Pros
- Contains hair friendly ingredients like Biotin and Zinc
- Methylated B vitamin complex works to reduce fatigue
- Regulation of hormones due to Pantothenic acids, Vitamin B6 and Iodine
Cons
- In order to get the best price, a subscription is needed
Best multivitamins for personalisation
get-nourished.com
Description
Want vitamins personalised to you and 3D printed? No, it's not some futuristic dream, it's really happening thanks to the team at Nourished. All you need to do is complete a quick quiz, choose your flavour preferences, and your personalised gummy stacks are printed and delivered in a handy letterbox-sized box.
Pros
- Eco-friendly plastic-free, and fully compostable packaging
- 100% vegan
- Scientifically-backed ingredients with up to 99.5% efficacy
Cons
- One reviewer found the gummies had a bad aftertaste
Best multivitamins for men
Description
Although Evity has a range of multivitamins for both men and women, this one, in particular, should be brought to your attention. Backed by science, this multivitamin not only provides nutritional and immunity support but also boosts energy and improves cognitive and muscle support.
Pros
- Gentle on the stomach
- Made to support immunity, energy levels and overall health
- Supports cognitive function with Pantothenic acid
Cons
- Unfortunately, this one is for the men only
Best chewy multivitamin
Description
If you dislike taking tablets, these soft and chewy adult multivitamins from Bassetts have been created with a blend of nutrients to support your immune system, release energy from your food and keep your hormones balanced. Unfortunately, its multivitamins aren't suitable for vegetarians.
Pros
- Easy to chew and digest
- No added sugar
- Natural flavours and colours
Cons
- One reviewer found the texture unpleasant
Best tasting multivitamins
Description
Looking for a vegan gummy multivitamin? This option from New Leaf comes highly rated. 13 vitamins and minerals are packed into these chewy bears, suitable for adults only. New Leaf's gummies can help support immune function, maintain healthy bones and bolster your energy levels. What sets these multivitamins apart is their delightful taste, making them a more enjoyable alternative to traditional vitamin tablets.
Pros
- Great taste
- Made from natural fruit juices for colour and flavour
- Third-party lab tested for utmost quality
Cons
- None we can think of
Best multivitamins for kids
Description
Haliborange's Multivitamin Softies are a tasty way for your child to get some of the essential vitamins they need every day. They include vitamin A to help support normal vision, vitamin C to help support the immune system, vitamin D for normal growth and development of bones in children and vitamin B12 for normal red blood cell formation. These are not suitable for vegetarians.
Pros
- Easy to chew for children
- Contains seven essential vitamins
- Very affordable
Cons
- The vitamin content may fall slightly short of the recommended daily intake
Best multivitamins for debloating
uk.jshealthvitamins.com
Description
Australian company JS Health are renowned for its award-winning and research-backed formulas. The Detox and Debloat vitamins (which include 60 capsules) have been made to combat abdominal bloating and support natural liver detoxification processes. All vitamins are free from harmful fillers, binders, colours and preservatives.
Pros
- Made for individuals who often suffer with bloating
- Supports healthy digestion
- Vegan formula
Cons
- None we can think of
Best high-end multivitamins for women
uk.performancelab.com
Description
Calibrated for women's specific nutritional needs, NutriGenesis® Multi contains over 17 essential daily vitamins and minerals with wholefood cofactors for optimal absorption. They are vegan-friendly.
Pros
- Contains probiotic-cultivated Nutrigenesis and prebiotic-infused Nutricaps for digestive comfort
- Made specifically for women
- Uses' ground-breaking technology' to pack in the most nutritional value into their capsules
Cons
- Four capsules required daily, which, if you're not good at remembering to take tablets, could be an issue
Best high-end multivitamins for men
uk.performancelab.com
Description
Performance Lab has also created a multivitamin specifically for men, again with over 17 essential daily vitamins and minerals with wholefood cofactors for optimal absorption. Vegan-friendly.
Pros
- No synthetic ingredients
- Engineered to boost absorption of tablets and maximise the benefits
- Made specifically for men
Cons
- Again, four capsules are required daily, which can be difficult to fit in your daily routine
What are multivitamins?
Multivitamins are a food supplement containing a plethora of vitamins and minerals. While it's absolutely possible to get all of your recommended vitamins and minerals from a healthy, balanced diet, some people may be looking for a supplement to bridge any gaps in their current lifestyle.
Do we need to take multivitamins?
We spoke to Nutritional Therapist Lauren Craven-Niemczyk to find out more.
"Whilst the foundation of health comes from a balanced diet and lifestyle, multivitamins can provide a helping hand during our fast-paced, stressful modern lives. Due to a number of factors, it can be difficult to consume the optimal levels of nutrients on a daily basis.
"Many foods are lower in nutrients than they used to be, even 80 years ago. People's diets contain far more processed foods nowadays, providing a reduced range of vitamins and minerals than nutrient-dense whole foods.
"It's also important to consider that many people have special diets, such as vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free. These diets may carry an increased risk of deficiencies of nutrients, such as vitamin B12, calcium, iron and omega-3 fatty acids. Other factors, such as not being exposed to enough sunlight to produce vitamin D, may also lead to inadequacy."
Do multivitamins really work?
Lauren told us, "A good-quality multivitamin will provide bio-available nutrients in sufficient quantities for the body, and so can be an effective way of ensuring you're consuming the recommended levels of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis.
Who should take multivitamins?
Lauren continues, "Most adults would benefit from taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.
"During different life stages, our nutrient requirements do vary. For example, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the body's demand for folic acid increases to assist the baby's nervous system development. During childhood, lower levels of vitamins and minerals are required due to smaller body size, and in older age, additional calcium, magnesium and vitamin D are often recommended to support bone health.
"For this reason, different multivitamins exist for each life stage, such as childhood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for ages 50+, in addition to standard adult multivitamin supplements."
"However, not all multivitamins are created equally. The range of nutrients included (for example zinc or magnesium) doses, and forms all affect the bio-availability of the supplement – AKA, what your body is able to absorb and actually use.
"To ensure you are getting the most from your multivitamin, it's important to buy from a reputable company specialising in good-quality supplements."
Is there anyone who should avoid multivitamins?
"Some health conditions can affect whether multivitamins are suitable to take. Equally, some prescription medications can change how your body processes certain herbs and nutrients. During pregnancy, in addition to ensuring you are meeting your daily increased nutrient requirements, it's also important to ensure your vitamin A intake is not excessive, as high levels can affect the development of the baby. A specially designed pregnancy multivitamin will cater to these needs.
"Therefore, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medication or have a health condition, it's always best to check with your healthcare provider before you take a supplement."
How soon do multivitamins start working?
"As soon as your body has digested the multivitamin and the nutrients have been absorbed through the intestines, they begin to do their work. For example, B vitamins such as vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 support energy production and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Zinc supports normal cognitive (brain) function, as well as the maintenance of skin, hair and nails.
"It may take some time – weeks or months - for other nutrients to be built up in the body, especially if you have a prior deficiency. Examples of this include iron and copper, which are stored in the liver and used by the body when required."
About the expert
Lauren Craven-Niemczyk (MRes BSc (Hons) NTDip mBANT rCHNC) has been a Nutritional Therapist since 2018 and is passionate about female hormones, skin and bone health. During her career, she's worked as the Head of Product & Nutrition at Feel, and has now even started her own clinical therapy on Wild and Wise Nutrition. She works to empower individuals with a better understanding of their own body.
Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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