While technically we can get the nutrients we need directly from food, it’s not realistic for most of us. We have too much to do and too little time in our busy schedules to follow a perfectly balanced diet.

A subpar diet, combined with our typically less-than-healthy modern lifestyles, can have a significant impact on the way you feel,  holding you back from living life to the fullest and meeting your wellness goals.

So what can be done against nutritional deficiencies and the sluggishness, mental fog, and lack of vitality that can all too often impact our lives?

According to a 2017 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, an estimated 73% of supplement consumers reported taking a multivitamin, making it the most popular supplement in any category. [2]

The right multivitamin can act as a nutritional “safety net” for optimal health, by filling in the gaps where we consistently fall short.

These are the potential benefits of including a multivitamin in your routine:

Potential signs of vitamin deficiency:

Here are some of the most common symptoms of vitamin deficiency to look out for.   

• Brittle, weak hair and nails*
• Fatigue and low motivation*
• Thinning hair*
• Feeling run-down*
• Having brain fog or feeling sluggish*

• Feeling weak*
• Muscle issues*
• Frequent headaches*
• Regularly feeling cold*
• Skin issues like dryness*

Note: These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your personal physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Key 8 Nutrients To Look For In Your Multivitamin 

Next, look for multivitamins with the following ingredients:

Top Multivitamin Benefits

• Supports healthy aging & longevity*
• Supports immune health*
• Supports energy levels*
• Helps prevent nutritional deficiencies*

• Mood & mental clarity*
• Supports healthy hair and skin*
• Enhances overall sense of wellness*
• Supports eye, brain, and heart health*

Note: Individual results may vary. The benefits stated are based on personal experiences and subjective feedback and may vary from person to person.

Research shows that nutrient deficiencies spread widely across the US population despite their essential role in human health and wellbeing.[1]

According to many surveys, some of the essential vitamins and minerals we’re lacking most include magnesium, iron, and vitamins D, E, K, C, and A. [1]

Do you even NEED a multivitamin?

Picking A Multivitamin

Now you know how a multivitamin could be beneficial for your health and wellness, it’s time to choose one!

These 3 simple steps will help you quickly locate a quality multivitamin for your needs.

First, consult this checklist:

The Ultimate Multivitamin Checklist:

Product

Cost

Third-Party Tested

Number of Key Nutrients

$24.66

$35.00

$36.00

$36.00

$36.98

24

22

24

20

9

Ideal Price Range

A good price range is typically $20 to $50. This doesn’t mean that cheaper or more expensive options can’t be a good choice, but cheaper options might skimp on key nutrients or dosages, while pricier ones may include 'premium' ingredients that offer only minor additional benefits, with diminishing returns in comparison to the price increase.

Here's How Primal Multivitamin is disrupting the multivitamin industry.

This $25 multivitamin not only competes with pricier brands but also offers arguably better value. Here are five ways Primal Multivitamin is transforming the way we think about supplementation:

2. Real People, Real Results 

Modern diets are calorie-dense, but fall short on essential nutrients. Primal Multivitamin bridges these nutritional gaps, supporting overall health and vitality. Users report boosted energy, mental clarity and wellness. 

3. Simplifying Your Supplement Routine

Ditch the handful of pills. Primal Multivitamin delivers comprehensive nutrition in one daily capsule. Easy to swallow and designed for convenience, it seamlessly fits into any lifestyle - from busy professionals to active retirees. One pill offers complete support.

4. Wellness Support You Can Feel

Tired of supplements that promise but don't deliver? Primal Multivitamin's potent blend makes a real difference. Fortify your immune defenses and energize your day. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in supporting your body's natural resilience. 

5. Free Gifts When You Subscribe

By subscribing to Primal Multivitamin, you’ll get:

• 20% off every order
• Free delivery directly to your doorstep
• FREE bottle of doctor-formulated Immune Defense Capsules
• 90-day money-back guarantee

Primal Multivitamin

by Primal Harvest

• US Made with Globally Sourced Ingredients
• Packed with Vitamins and Minerals
• 1 Easy-to-Swallow Capsule per Day

Based on 3739 Reviews of Primal Harvest

Puori Multi-Vitamins and Minerals

by Puori

Basic Nutrients 2/Day

by Thorne

Multi Vita Min 

by Pure Synergy

Essential Multivitamin 18+ 

by Rituals

Multivitamin costs are all over the place.

You can spend just $25 on a multivitamin or you can splurge hundreds on a ‘high-end’ supplement. But are those ‘premium ingredients’ worth it? 

Maybe you’re convinced that you’ll receive something better for the extra cost.

But multivitamin prices can be deceiving.

In most cases, you don’t need to spend a fortune on supplements. Less expensive options can be just as good – without compromising on quality.

But, you need to choose correctly. Don’t run off to the nearest grocery store to pick up a generic multivitamin just yet! There’s some key information you need to know before choosing a multivitamin so that you don’t waste your time and hard-earned money.

Here’s everything you need to know to pick the perfect multivitamin, as well as if you even need one in the first place.

But first…

• Folic Acid (or Folate):  Especially for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, folic acid has many health benefits, including supporting hair, skin, and nail health.*
• Biotin: An essential B-complex vitamin, this must-have supports healthy hair, skin, and nails, and helps maintain a healthy nervous system, among many other benefits.*
• Vitamin C: The well-known “superhero of immune health,” vitamin C is involved in many important bodily functions and is a powerful antioxidant that supports the body’s production of collagen, absorption of iron, and much more!*
• Bioflavonoid Complex: The antioxidant properties of bioflavonoids have been found to support joint, immune, cognitive, and overall health.*

• Vitamin D3: The recommended form of vitamin D is vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. Vitamin D3 is used to support immune and bone health.*
• Vitamin B12: This vitamin supports nerve health, energy levels, and more. Most multivitamins contain B-12 as methylcobalamin (or methyl-B12), because it is thought to be the most easily absorbed by our bodies.*
• Zinc: Zinc helps maintain a healthy immune system, skin health, and much more. It’s generally found to be lower in elderly adults.*
• Calcium: It’s believed that at least 40% of American adults don’t get enough calcium from diet alone.* [4]

• Pills Per Serving: Most of us want to get the most bang for our buck per bottle and definitely don’t want to be taking six or more capsules per day. Opt for a multivitamin with a reasonable daily serving size of 1-2 vitamins per day, and try to always take it with a meal containing healthy fats for maximum absorption. 
• Clear and Accurate Labeling:  A quality multivitamin should clearly list exactly what’s included in the formula and how much. Avoid multivitamins with no daily value set for certain ingredients.
• Third-Party Lab Tested:  Choose a multivitamin that has been independently third-party lab tested. These unbiased test results will guarantee that the multivitamin is top quality and free from unwanted extras, such as contaminants, traces of heavy metals, or pesticides. 

1. Premium Formula, Unbeatable Value

Primal Multivitamin packs 21 essential vitamins and minerals into one powerful formula. Featuring vitamins D, C, E, B-complex, zinc, and calcium, it rivals top-tier brands at a fraction of the cost.

Now that you understand the importance of correctly, here's what we would recommend to anyone looking for a premium multivitamin:

REFERENCES 

DISCLAIMER: This scientific research is for informational purposes only. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. We provide this information as a service but do not endorse it. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific products.

Addor FAS. Antioxidants in dermatology. An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(3):356-362. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175697. 

European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B12 and red blood cell formation (ID 92, 101), cell division (ID 93), energy-yielding metabolism (ID 99, 190) and function of the immune system (ID 107) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/20061.

European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B6 and contribution to normal homocysteine metabolism (ID 73, 76, 199), maintenance of normal bone (ID 74), maintenance of normal teeth (ID 74), maintenance of normal hair (ID 74), maintenance of normal skin (ID 74), maintenance of normal nails (ID 74), contribution to normal energy-yielding metabolism (ID 75, 214), contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 77), reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 78), and contribution to normal cysteine synthesis (ID 4283) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion on substantiation of health claims related to thiamine and energy-yielding metabolism (ID 21, 24, 28), cardiac function (ID 20), function of the nervous system (ID 22, 27), maintenance of bone (ID 25), maintenance of teeth (ID 25), maintenance of hair (ID 25), maintenance of nails (ID 25), maintenance of skin (ID 25) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Harris E, Kirk J, Rowsell R, et al. The effect of multivitamin supplementation on mood and stress in healthy older men. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2011;26(8):560-567. doi:10.1002/hup.1245.

Health Canada, Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Monograph, September 25, 2018.

Kennedy, B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy – A Review, Nutrients 2016 Feb; 8(2): 68.

Kennedy DO, Stevenson EJ, Jackson PA, et al. Multivitamins and minerals modulate whole-body energy metabolism and cerebral blood-flow during cognitive task performance: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016;13:11. Published 2016 Feb 11. doi:10.1186/s12986-016-0071-4. 

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Biotin.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Calcium.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Chromium.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Copper.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Folate.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Iodine.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Manganese.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Molybdenum.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin A.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin B12

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin B6.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin C.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin D.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Thiamin.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Selenium.

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Zinc.

Medline Plus, Biotin.

Medline Plus, Thiamin.

MedlinePlus, Vitamins.

MedlinePlus, Vitamin A.

MedlinePlus, Vitamin B12.

Medline Plus, Vitamin B6.

MedlinePlus, Vitamin C.

NIH Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Vitamin D.

Mora JR, Iwata M, von Andrian UH. Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008;8(9):685-698. doi:10.1038/nri2378. 

NIH Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Vitamin D.

NIH Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Zinc.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to biotin and energy-yielding metabolism (ID 114, 117), macronutrient metabolism (ID 113, 114, 117), maintenance of skin and mucous membranes (ID 115), maintenance of hair (ID 118, 2876) and function of the nervous system (ID 116) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to folate and contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 81, 85, 86, 88), maintenance of normal vision (ID 83, 87), reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 84), cell division (ID 195, 2881) and contribution to normal amino acid synthesis (ID 195, 2881) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to iodine and contribution to normal cognitive and neurological function (ID 273), contribution to normal energy-yielding metabolism (ID 402), and contribution to normal [REDACTED] function and production of [REDACTED] hormones (ID 1237) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to thiamin and reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 23) and contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 205) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin A and cell differentiation (ID 14), function of the immune system (ID 14), maintenance of skin and mucous membranes (ID 15, 17), maintenance of vision (ID 16), maintenance of bone (ID 13, 17), maintenance of teeth (ID 13, 17), maintenance of hair (ID 17), maintenance of nails (ID 17), metabolism of iron (ID 206), and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 209) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin C and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 129, 138, 143, 148), antioxidant function of lutein (ID 146), maintenance of vision (ID 141, 142), collagen formation (ID 130, 131, 136, 137, 149), function of the nervous system (ID 133), function of the immune system (ID 134), function of the immune system during and after extreme physical exercise (ID 144), non-haem iron absorption (ID 132, 147), energy-yielding metabolism (ID 135), and relief in case of irritation in the upper respiratory tract (ID 1714, 1715) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin D and normal function of the immune system and inflammatory response (ID 154, 159), maintenance of normal muscle function (ID 155) and maintenance of normal cardiovascular function (ID 159) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to zinc and normal function of the immune system pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. 

Sim M, Hong S, Jung S, et al. Vitamin C supplementation promotes mental vitality in healthy young adults: results from a cross-sectional analysis and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2022;61(1):447-459. doi:10.1007/s00394-021-02656-3

Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):228. Published 2020 Jan 16. doi:10.3390/nu12010228.

Vitamins and Minerals. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/vitamins-and-minerals. Updated February 2018. Accessed June 1 2021.

For a full list of references please click here.