To choose the best multivitamin, go with the popular brands. According to Consumer Reports, the best-selling vitamins are usually effective and honest in their claims of providing the listed essential nutrients. Even generic or "store" brands deliver the daily values (DVs) stated in their nutrition facts, as required by federal law. Cut-rate or "dollar store" brands did not consistently live up to those standards.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't strictly regulate dietary supplements like it does pharmaceutical drugs. The law of supply and demand takes over when consumers buy what works well for them. Select your daily supplement based on these best-selling vitamin brands.
Multivitamins
The best multivitamins for all-around health help you get the basics, such as vitamins A, C, D, E and several Bs. Recommended daily amounts of calcium, magnesium and zinc may be light in your diet, and vitamin supplements can help. Consumer Reports rates comparable formulas of mainstream and store brands relatively equal in quality, absorption and DVs. These top vitamin brands include Bayer One A Day, Costco's Kirkland and Walgreen's Finest.
Wyeth claims its Centrum supplement to be the #1 doctor-recommended multivitamin. Additional formulations, such as Performance, for more active people, include extra supplements to help prevent stress related to nutrient deficiency. Centrum Performance contains 33 nutrients, including important phytochemicals in ginseng and gingko.
Women's
Women have special nutrient needs related to menstruation, child-bearing and menopause. According to the American Dietetic Association, top vitamin brands for pregnant women should include 100 percent DVs of folic acid, iron and calcium supplementation. Some top vitamin brands that do are: Kroger Women's One Daily and Nature's Life Prenatal Multiple.
Menopausal women can use a calcium boost ( up to 45 percent DV), as well as the added herbal and soy extracts in the best multivitamins for menopause health. Best-selling vitamins include Rainbow Light Complete Menopause and Menopause Multiple by Source Naturals.
Pediatric
Children's growing bones and susceptibility to contagious diseases are addressed by the top vitamin brands in their pediatric formulas. Kid-friendly administration includes tablet, liquid, "gummy" and chewable forms.
Full daily values of nutrients such as vitamins C, D, several Bs and iron are commonly found in kids' vitamins. Additional calcium varieties are also available. Flintstone's Children's Vitamin Plus Calcium offers more calcium (20 percent DV) than the regular multis, which contain traces, at most. For children with normal calcium intakes, two best-selling vitamin brands are Nature's Plus Animal Parade chewable tablet and Children's Multi-Vitamin Liquid by Schiff. Flintstone's claims to be the best multivitamin recommended by pediatricians.
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