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Search for the most complete multivitamin.
Vanessa E Furlong1, A Stewart Truswell
1Human Nutrition Unit, Biochemistry Building, G.08, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia 2006.
Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|August 28, 2004
Summary
Most multivitamins lack all 13 essential vitamins. Centrum Complete and Centrum Select 50+ are recommended for containing nearly all vitamins at appropriate levels, ensuring nutritional requirements are met.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- The term "multivitamin" does not ensure inclusion or adequate levels of all 13 essential vitamins.
- Many commercially available multivitamin products fail to meet complete vitamin requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the composition of registered multivitamin products in Australia.
- To identify multivitamin supplements that provide all 13 essential vitamins at levels close to Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs).
Main Methods:
- Reviewed stated compositions of vitamin products registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.
- Excluded products with fewer than five vitamins, non-culinary herbs, amino acids, or specific formulations (children, pregnancy, powder, injections).
- Scored 163 eligible multivitamins based on the presence and quantity of 13 vitamins relative to RDIs.
Main Results:
- Only two products, Centrum Complete and Centrum Select 50+, contained all 13 vitamins near RDIs.
- Five products contained 12 vitamins, with Avon Women's Complete scoring highest.
- Many multivitamins contained fewer than 13 vitamins or scored below 10.
Conclusions:
- Consumers seeking comprehensive vitamin supplementation should choose products containing all or nearly all 13 essential vitamins.
- Centrum and Pluravit are recommended for their completeness and availability.
- Suggests improved listing and dispensing of complete multivitamins in healthcare settings.