Multivitamins: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentConsumerLab.com is the best source for multivitamin reviews, although its testing details are only available to subscribers. Nearly 50 brands of multivitamins are tested to ensure that they contain the vitamins and minerals they claim, break down properly and don't include any additional substances or impurities. Multivitamins that pass all tests are listed as "Approved." In its latest round of testing, ConsumerLab.com finds that nearly one-third of multivitamins have nutrient amounts that are inconsistent with those listed on the label. Companies may pay testing fees to be included in the results (known as the Voluntary Certification Program), but those multivitamins are clearly marked in the results table.

Our AssessmentBecause of concerns about lead in multivitamins, the FDA tested 324 vitamin supplements designed for women or children to determine their lead content and estimated daily exposure. Although 320 of the tested multivitamins contain small traces of lead, none exceed the provisional total tolerable intake levels (PTTI) for their intended user, but some vitamins -- even those for children under 6 -- contain more lead than others. Unfortunately, the FDA hasn't retested these vitamins since 2008.

Our AssessmentThis article doesn't review any specific multivitamins, but it examines the necessity of taking a daily multi. Researchers took advantage of the huge Women's Health Initiative clinical trials, which tracked over 160,000 women, to see whether multivitamin use had any significant health benefits. The study concluded that multivitamin use "has little or no influence on the risk of common cancers, CVD [cardiovascular disease], or total mortality in postmenopausal women."

Our AssessmentIn this analysis from the Journal of Nutrition (reprinted at PubMed.gov), researchers used a dietary survey to estimate how many Americans take dietary supplements. Nearly half of all Americans reported taking some sort of dietary supplement, while 33 percent said they take a daily multivitamin. White Americans, seniors and college-educated adults were more likely to report taking a dietary supplement.

Our AssessmentSelenium has attracted attention for its potential protection against prostate cancer. In this article, the National Cancer Institute says that a long-term clinical trial ended early because it became clear that selenium and vitamin E do not prevent prostate cancer. In fact, the participants taking selenium show an increase in new diabetes cases, although the NCI says this "does not prove an increased risk" and may be due to chance.

Our AssessmentThis survey of pharmacist recommendations covers many over-the-counter products, with just a short section devoted to adult and children's multivitamins. The percentage of pharmacists who say they recommend certain vitamins is given, but no reasons or ratings are provided. Centrum is the most recommended adult brand (60 percent) and Flintstones is the most recommended children's multivitamin brand (44 percent). However, there is no information shared on why these particular multivitamins are recommended.

Our AssessmentWomen's Health magazine details the pros and cons of multivitamins in this brief article. Several nutrition experts are interviewed, and the article concludes with Women's Health magazine's pick for the best multivitamin -- One-A-Day Women's. "This classic brand's formulation adheres to the updated DRIs more closely than most other multis. It's right on the mark for most nutrients, gives you more of the ones you're missing (calcium, vitamins K and D), and provides less of the one you're likely to overdo (vitamin A)," says Richard Laliberte.

Our AssessmentKiwi magazine, a family and parenting magazine devoted to natural health, discusses children's multivitamins and recommends several top picks. The Kiwi Awards are based on more than 1,000 parent votes for organic and natural vitamins. The winner of the Kiwi Award is Nordic Naturals Nordic Berries, although multivitamin supplements from L'il Critters and Hero Nutritionals also receive a good number of votes. Nature's Way Prenatal Multivitamin also wins an award.

Our AssessmentA Food and Drug Administration study of lead in multivitamins may cause alarm to some consumers, but Stephanie Rogers cautions that there is a reason why 99 percent of the multivitamins tested contained some trace of lead -- lead is found in the soil and water, is transferred to fruits and vegetables and makes its way into vitamins. Although it may be impossible to avoid small traces of lead, Rogers recommends choosing those multis that contain the smallest amount.

Our AssessmentFew multivitamins attract more than a handful of customer reviews on Amazon.com, but the site can be worth checking -- especially for popular vitamins. The vast majority of multivitamins mentioned in this report are listed on Amazon.com, but most haven't attracted any user reviews.

Our AssessmentThis article is a question-and-answer session with the president of ConsumerLab.com, Dr. Tod Cooperman, after his company found traces of lead in numerous brands of multi-vitamins and minerals.