Multivitamins: Overview, Ingredients, and Selection Criteria
Multivitamin products combine several vitamins, minerals and trace elements in one product — available as capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, gummies or powder. The selection below shows current multivitamin products across different formats and dosages, with full ingredient listings for comparison.
What do multivitamin products typically contain?
Water-soluble vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), B12, vitamin C
Fat-soluble vitamins: A (or provitamin beta-carotene), D, E, K
Other common components: minerals (e.g. calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc), trace elements (e.g. copper, manganese, chromium, selenium, molybdenum), carotenoids (e.g. lutein, zeaxanthin), amino acids (e.g. tyrosine, tryptophan, theanine), digestive enzymes (e.g. papain, bromelain)
Vitamins at a glance: metabolic role
| Vitamin | Solubility | Role in metabolism |
|---|---|---|
| B1–B7, B9, B12 | water-soluble | Coenzymes in energy, amino acid and fat metabolism reactions |
| C (ascorbic acid) | water-soluble | Antioxidant function; cofactor in collagen synthesis |
| A (retinol) | fat-soluble | Component of the visual process; role in cell differentiation |
| D | fat-soluble | Regulates calcium absorption in the intestine |
| E (tocopherols/tocotrienols) | fat-soluble | Antioxidant function in cell membranes |
| K1/K2 | fat-soluble | Cofactor in the synthesis of calcium-binding proteins (including bone tissue) |
The human body cannot produce these vitamins itself in sufficient quantities; they must be obtained through food or dietary supplements.
Minerals and trace elements at a glance
| Substance | Presence in multivitamins | Physiological function |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | common | Building block of bone and tooth tissue |
| Potassium | common | Involved in regulating water balance and nerve signal transmission |
| Iron | common | Component of hemoglobin (oxygen transport in blood) |
| Magnesium | common | Cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including muscle and nerve function |
| Zinc | common | Component of numerous enzymes, including in the immune system |
| Copper | trace element | Cofactor for enzymes in connective tissue and iron metabolism |
| Selenium | trace element | Component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase |
| Chromium | trace element | Discussed role in carbohydrate metabolism |
| Manganese | trace element | Cofactor for various metabolic enzymes |
| Molybdenum | trace element | Cofactor for several enzymes |
How much does the body need daily?
As a general guideline, nutrition authorities such as the German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommend five portions of fruit and vegetables per day to help meet vitamin and mineral requirements.
Individual requirements vary depending on:
- age and sex
- pregnancy and breastfeeding
- physical activity level
- dietary pattern (e.g. vegan, vegetarian, restrictive diets)
- existing medical conditions or medication use (consult a doctor or pharmacist in these cases)
Whether requirements are met through diet alone depends on individual eating patterns; blanket statements about a general deficiency are not scientifically universal.
Available formats
- Capsules
- Tablets
- Chewable tablets
- Gummies
- Powder
What to look for when choosing a product
- Dosage per nutrient – compare against reference values such as the EU Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs)
- Additives and allergens – check labeling for carriers, colorants and preservatives
- Raw material source – e.g. natural vs. synthetic vitamin C source (acerola/camu camu vs. ascorbic acid)
- Suitability – vegan/vegetarian, specific age groups, gluten-free, etc.
- Format – depends on personal preference (capsule, chewable tablet, gummy, powder)
Sources
- Ryan-Harshman M, Aldoori W. Health benefits of selected minerals. Can Fam Physician. 2005;51(5):673–675. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15934270/
- Krinsky N, Johnson E. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med. 2005;26(6):459–516. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309738/
- Voutilainen S et al. Carotenoids and cardiovascular health. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83(6):1265–1271. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16762935/
- Derulle F, Baron B. Vitamin C: is supplementation necessary for optimal health? J Altern Comp Med. 2008;14(10):1291–1298. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19032072/
- Stough C et al. The effect of 90-day administration of a high-dose vitamin B-complex on work stress. Hum Psychopharm. 2011;26(7):470–476. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21905094/
- Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(1):CD000980. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23440782/
- Muss C, Mosgoeller W, Endler T. Papaya preparation in digestive disorders. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2013;34(1):38–46. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23524622/
- Maresz K. Proper calcium use: vitamin K2 as a promoter of bone and cardiovascular health. Integr Med. 2015;14(1):34–39. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4566462/
- Kennedy D. B vitamins and the brain: mechanisms, dose and efficacy — a review. Nutrients. 2016;8(2):68. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26828517/
Note: This text describes nutrients and their known metabolic function on a general, scientific basis. It deliberately contains no disease-related claims (prevention, treatment, symptom relief) and no health claims outside those authorized in the applicable jurisdiction. For individual dietary questions, consulting a doctor or nutrition professional is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions About Multivitamin Supplements
A multivitamin combines several vitamins (and often other micronutrients) in a single product; a single-vitamin supplement contains only one nutrient in a higher dosage.
No. Dietary supplements are designed to complement, not replace, a varied diet.
For most vitamins, the chemical structure is identical regardless of the source of production. Exceptions and differences in bioavailability exist for certain compounds (e.g., natural vs. synthetic vitamin E).
These combinations are intended for people who want to supplement their vitamin and mineral intake with additional nutrient groups, such as amino acids or digestive enzymes.