Vitamin Brands: a Dietitians Picks
While it’s no secret that certain supplements can help improve your health, not all vitamins and minerals are created equal.
In fact, some brands are pumped full of fillers, additives, and unhealthy ingredients that can do more harm than good when it comes to your health.
It’s important to choose a reputable brand that has undergone third-party testing and is sourced from quality ingredients. Doing so can ensure that you’re getting a supplement that’s pure and potent and that your body can use efficiently.
Here are the 13 best vitamin brands to help meet your nutritional needs.
How we chose
We chose the following vitamins based on safety, nutritional value, user ratings, dietitian recommendation, and pricing.
Best collagen vitamins
Care/of Collagen
Price: $$Care/of is a supplement manufacturer that sets strict standards for the quality, transparency, and effectiveness of all their products.They provide personalized recommendations for specific products based on your needs and health goals that are determined using the interactive quiz on their website.After creating your tailored plan, you can sign up for a subscription to have supplements shipped to you automatically for extra convenience.They offer a range of vitamins, minerals, and powdered supplements, including several varieties of collagen.As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen plays a central role in skin, bone, and joint health.It’s particularly popular for its anti-aging benefits, with research showing that collagen supplements could help boost skin hydration and elasticity.You can try mixing two scoops of Care/of Collagen into shakes, smoothies, coffee, or tea for an easy way to ramp up your intake.
Best vitamins for kids
Ritual Essentials for Kids and Teens
Price: $$Ritual is a company that specializes in making high quality multivitamins free of artificial colors, flavors, and fillers.They provide detailed information on the sourcing of each nutrient for full transparency, including the supplier and specific form of each micronutrient.Ritual offers a variety of products for different life stages, including a line of multivitamins specifically for kids and teens.For example, they have multivitamins formulated for teen girls and boys, that include essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.Their Multivitamin for Teen Girls also includes iron, which can help protect against iron-deficiency anemia and support healthy red blood cell production.They also offer Essential for Kids 4+, which is a sugar-free multivitamin gummy that provides 3 grams of fiber per serving, along with an assortment of important vitamins and minerals for children ages 4 to 12 years.Be sure to use products only as directed and talk with your pediatrician before starting supplementation if you have any concerns.
Best personalized vitamins
Persona
Price: $$Persona Nutrition uses a 5-minute nutrition assessment designed by a team of doctors and nutritionists to help create a custom daily supplement regimen just for you.All products are sourced from suppliers that the brand trusts and thoroughly tested for purity and strength to ensure that you’re receiving the highest quality supplements possible.They offer a wide array of products that you can filter based on specific health concerns, including digestion, bone health, weight loss, sleep, and immunity.Each product includes detailed information on the ingredients it contains and the research that supports its health benefits.All subscriptions also provide free, unlimited consultations with their team of nutritionists for personalized health advice.Dosage recommendations can vary depending on the specific products in your plan, so be sure to read the instructions carefully and use only as directed.
Best vitamins for hair growth
Amazon Elements Biotin
Price: $Amazon recently launched Amazon Elements, a line of premium supplements focused on providing consumers with a new level of transparency.One of their most popular products designed to help promote hair growth is the Vegan Biotin supplement, which is free of artificial colors, flavorings, and chemical preservatives.Although research on the effects of biotin on hair growth has turned up conflicting findings, some studies have found that using a biotin supplement can help improve hair growth in women with hair loss.However, it’s important to keep in mind that there is still a lot of research needed to determine whether biotin supplements actually support hair growth for those without existing hair issues.Each Amazon Elements product comes with a Quick Response (QR) code that can be scanned to access detailed information about the purity, quality, and potency of the product.The manufacturer recommends taking one 5,000-mcg capsule daily to support hair health.
Best probiotic vitamins
Klean Athlete Klean Probiotic
Price: $$Klean Athlete is a high quality supplement brand that was founded by athletes for athletes.The company manufactures a range of products, including probiotics designed to help support better digestive health.Probiotics are a type of bacteria found in the gut that has been linked to a long list of health benefits, including improved immune function, enhanced digestion, and lower cholesterol levels.Klean Probiotic, in particular, is formulated with a blend of eight specific strains of probiotics and free of fillers and additives.For best results, take one capsule daily with food or use as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
Best D vitamins
Nature Made Vitamin D3
Price: $Nature Made is a company committed to producing high quality supplements using a science-based approach.It offers vitamin D3 supplements in doses ranging from 400–5,000 IU, depending on your nutritional needs.Supplements are available in gummy, tablet, and liquid softgel form to suit your personal preferences.They’re also verified by United States Pharmacopeia (USP), an independent organization that ensures that supplements meet strict guidelines for safety and quality.In addition to increasing calcium absorption, vitamin D may help improve blood sugar management, immune function, heart health, and more.Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the right dosage for you and take capsules with food to increase absorption in the body.
Best B12 vitamins
Kirkland Signature Vitamin B12
Price: $In addition to producing a variety of widely available and affordable supplements, Kirkland Signature formulates some of the highest quality vitamins and minerals on the market.In fact, their vitamin B12 supplements have been verified by the USP to ensure purity and potency.Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis, energy production, and disease prevention.Because it’s found primarily in animal-based foods, vegans and vegetarians may need to take a vitamin B12 supplement to ensure that they’re meeting their nutritional needs.According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, adults should take one 5,000-mcg tablet daily. Simply place one tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve for 30 seconds before swallowing.
Best joint health vitamins
Life Extension Glucosamine/Chondroitin
Price: $$Life Extension is a popular brand that offers high quality supplements. The brand claims that each undergoes extensive third-party testing.They produce a range of products, including glucosamine/chondroitin capsules, that are designed specifically to support long-term joint health.Both glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown to help relieve pain, improve physical function, and reduce stiffness in those with osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease.All Life Extension products are manufactured in facilities certified by NSF International and provide a certificate of analysis upon request, which provides detailed information to ensure transparency and quality.According to manufacturer guidelines, you can take one glucosamine/chondroitin capsule up to eight times daily alongside food to help promote joint health and provide relief from symptoms. This recommendation is specific to this product. There may be other products with different capsule sizes for which eight capsules per day would be too high of a dose.
Best prenatal vitamins
SmartyPants Prenatal Formula
Price: $$SmartyPants produces prenatal vitamins that are made using sustainable, non-GMO ingredients that are completely free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and certified by the Clean Label Project.Their premium Prenatal Formula contains several nutrients that are crucial for fetal growth and development, including omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and vitamins B12, D, and K.Folate is particularly important, as it can help reduce the risk of neural tube abnormalities in the fetus during pregnancy.Studies show that taking a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy could also be associated with a lower chance of having several conditions, such as autism and preeclampsia, as well as a lower risk of preterm birth.According to the manufacturer, you should take four gummies per day, which can be divided into smaller doses as needed and taken with or without food.
Best omega-3 vitamins
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
Price: $$Although Nordic Naturals produces a variety of vitamins and minerals, they are perhaps best known for their high quality omega-3 supplements that are tailored to fit a range of nutritional needs.In addition to offering plant-based omega-3 supplements, Nordic Naturals has supplements specifically for athletes, children, teens, pregnant women, and even pets.Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a long list of benefits and can help promote healthy aging.They may also help reduce inflammation, which can be especially beneficial for those with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.While the dosage can vary based on the specific omega-3 supplement you choose, it’s best to take capsules with food to help optimize absorption and prevent side effects.
Best vitamins for bone health
Thorne Basic Bone Nutrients
Price: $$Thorne Research is a supplement company that uses high quality ingredients free of contaminants, fillers, and heavy metals.All products are manufactured in a facility that’s certified by NSF International and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is the regulatory body in Australia responsible for assessing the safety of supplements.Thorne Research produces Basic Bone Nutrients, a supplement that contains several key micronutrients necessary for bone health, including calcium, magnesium, and vitamins D and K.Studies show that increased intake of magnesium and vitamin K may be tied to increased bone mineral density and a reduced risk of fractures.Meanwhile, vitamin D helps increase the absorption of calcium, which is important for maintaining skeletal health.It’s recommended to take one capsule of Basic Bone Nutrients one to four times daily with food to help maximize absorption.
Best multivitamins
Metagenics PhytoMulti
Price: $$$Metagenics is a high quality supplement company that manufactures a variety of vitamins and minerals, including multivitamins.Metagenics prioritizes high quality ingredients and transparency, even allowing you to access a detailed report of quality testing information for your specific supplement based on the lot number.There are a variety of multivitamins available in the form of tablets, capsules, and chews. Tablets are also formulated with or without iron, depending on your personal needs and preferences.According to research, taking a multivitamin can not only help fill any gaps in your diet, but it can also help improve memory, boost bone density, and support healthy vision.Ideally, multivitamins should be taken with food to help optimize absorption in the body.It’s important to note that multivitamins vary widely in their ingredients and dosages, which could influence their effects.
Best fiber vitamins
Standard Process Whole Food Fiber
Price: $$$Standard Process is a family-owned company based in Wisconsin. It’s been producing and manufacturing nutrient-dense supplements for three generations.Unlike other companies, the brand says that the ingredients used in Standard Process supplements are sourced directly from their organic farm to ensure the highest possible quality.Their Whole Food Fiber supplement packs 3.5 grams of fiber in each tablespoon (6 grams) and is made using a blend of oats, beets, rice, carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples.Studies show that increasing your fiber intake can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar management, and support digestive health.Try adding one tablespoon of Whole Food Fiber per day to a smoothie or shake for a quick burst of added fiber.
How to ensure quality
Selecting a high quality supplement is key to maximizing its potential health benefits.
To get started, always purchase supplements that are produced by reputable manufacturers.
Be sure to also check the ingredient label and steer clear of supplements that contain high amounts of fillers, additives, and preservatives.
Certain manufacturers also provide a certificate of analysis, which is a document that details the purity and strength of a supplement and proves that specific quality standards have been met.
Some may also have a certification or seal of approval from organizations like NSF International or Consumer Labs, which are companies that conduct third-party testing on supplements to assess quality.
If you have any underlying health conditions or are taking any other medications, be sure to consult a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement to help avoid negative side effects.
The bottom line
With the myriad of vitamins and minerals on the market, it can be tricky to determine which products are worth their price tags.
Buying from reputable retailers and looking for vitamins made with high quality ingredients can help ensure that you’re getting the best supplement possible.
Checking the ingredient label and looking for products that have undergone third-party testing can also help you get the most bang for your buck.
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