10 Vitamin Brands to Avoid + 10 Safe Brands to Use

Americans have been taking multivitamin and mineral supplements since the early 1940s. The unfortunate reality is, however, is that many of the mainstream vitamin brands out there are created by popular pharmaceutical companies. These companies have little interest in mind for creating the most bio-available, nutrient-dense product, and instead, create products with poorly absorbed vitamins and minerals. This is why it is important to read labels to know what vitamin brands to avoid. 

Let’s take Centrum vitamins, for example. Centrum vitamins are the number one selling multivitamin in the U.S. and Canada, with new ownership being held by Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Pfizer has been involved in many controversies, fraud, and legal battles since then.

Pfizer was actually sued over false claims about Centrum vitamins in 2012 by the consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest. They were forced to pull their false claims about the multivitamin surrounding breast and colon health, as well as other controversial languages they stuck on their bottles that claimed certain health-promoting benefits (1).

Pfizer’s Centrum brand of vitamins is also touted as being “complete” multivitamins, when in fact, no supplement or multivitamin can provide your body with everything you need in a day. To be fair, our food supply isn’t as rich in nutrients as it once was, so it is important to consume plenty of plant-based foods as well as certain minerals that are depleted in the food supply (such as magnesium).

Centrum Vitamins Debunked

If you’re buying your vitamins from one of the largest pharmaceutical companies around, then I wouldn’t trust it. In fact, the dosages of most of the nutrients in Centrum are negligible, and not even close to therapeutic levels. The nutrients in the vitamin are also cheap, and in forms that are not easily absorbed by the body.

A lot of vitamins on the market (including Centrum) are also made with dangerous fillers, some of which come from chemicals used to make coal, line tin cans, and propel jets. Centrum contains at least three preservatives and several color additives, along with various additives and chemicals that are carcinogenic and toxic to your health (2).

Here are some of the poor absorbing minerals and vitamins found in centrum:

1. Magnesium as Magnesium Oxide: a non-chelated form of magnesium, and incredibly low-quality. It is the least absorbable and cheapest form of magnesium

2. Iron as Ferrous Fumarate: this iron-type can make you incredibly constipated, and can be dangerous to individuals who are already taking in too much iron from a meat-eating diet.

3. B Vitamins: the concentration found in Centrum is so low, that they would have little impact on energy levels (which they claim to promote).

4. Vitamin E as DL-Alpha Tocopherol: synthetic form of vitamin E, which is linked to prostate cancer risk and other diseases (3).

5. Nickelous Sulfate and Tin: humans don’t really need to supplement with nickel or tin – so this is a pointless addition.

6. Calcium as Calcium Carbonate: the least absorbable form of calcium on the market. Only a small percentage is absorbed by our body.

Other fillers and binders found in Centrum:

1. Magnesium Stearate: prevents other ingredients from sticking to the mechanical equipment. It is a formaldehyde-forming agent (4) and inhibits the immune response in cells (5).

2. Corn Starch: a binder, likely made from GMO-corn, which has many negative side effects.

3. BHT: a chemical preservative that has been linked to liver, thyroid, lung, and kidney toxicity, and has been shown to promote tumors and other ailments (6).

4. Gelatin: sourced from bovine and poultry, which makes them unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.

5. Soybean Oil: another GMO product that undergoes hydrogenation – a process that has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and other diseases (7).

6. Sodium Benzoate: deprives cells of oxygen, breaks down the immune system, and causes cancer (8).

7. Sodium Aluminosilicate: keeps dry foods from clumping, and also contributes to kidney failure, and cancer (9).

8. Artificial Colours: contains coloring agents derived from coal tar, as well as colorings like Yellow 6 Lake, which have been banned in other countries.

9. Maltodextrin: suppresses the growth of good bacteria in the gut, which can increase intestinal inflammation.

Synthetic Vitamin Forms

Synthetic vitamins are not natural. They are isolated or synthetic nutrients that simply don’t work as they should. Synthetic forms of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K are particularly dangerous, because they build up in your fatty tissues, and become toxic.

These synthetic vitamin forms should be avoided, when at all possible (10):

• Vitamin A: Retinyl Palmitate
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin
• Pantothenic Acid: Calcium D-Pantothenate
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
• Vitamin B12: Cyanocobalamin
• PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid): Aminobenzoic Acid
• Folic Acid: Pteroylglutamic Acid
• Choline: Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate
• Biotin: d-Biotin
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Ascorbic Acid
• Vitamin D: Irradiated Ergosterol, Calciferol
• Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate

Other Vitamin Brands to Avoid

Centrum isn’t the only vitamin brand you should be avoiding. There are many other companies out there that pack poor quality (and poorly absorbed) vitamins and minerals into their products, along with a host of other additives our bodies do not need. 

Here are other vitamin brands to avoid:

1. One a Day
2. Jamieson
3. Kirkland
4. Equate
5. Up & Up
6. Spectravite 
7. Nature Made
8. Rexall

Worst Vitamin Brands for Children: What Parents Need to Know

Here are some popular brands to avoid and why they fall short:

1. Flintstones Vitamins: Marketed as a family favorite, Flintstones Vitamins are filled with artificial dyes, sweeteners, and synthetic ingredients like cupric oxide, zinc oxide, sorbitol, ferrous fumarate, and GMO corn starch. They also contain hydrogenated soybean oil and aspartame, which raise health concerns. In the body, aspartame transforms into toxic methanol and formaldehyde. It has been associated with more than 40 severe health effects in biomedical literature and has been connected to carcinogenicity and neurotoxicity. 

2. Centrum Kids: Centrum Kids uses synthetic nutrients that are poorly absorbed and often includes unnecessary fillers and additives like magnesium stearate.

3. One A Day Kids: This brand contains high levels of sugar and artificial flavors, making it more like candy than a health supplement.

4. SmartyPants Kids Vitamins: Although marketed as a healthier option, SmartyPants often includes added sugars and synthetic vitamins that lack bioavailability.

5. L’il Critters Gummy Vitamins: These gummies are high in sugar and contain artificial colors and flavors, overshadowing any potential benefits.

Choosing the right vitamins for your child doesn’t have to be complicated. By avoiding low-quality brands filled with artificial ingredients and opting for natural, bioavailable supplements, you can support their health and growth effectively.

Real Food And Real Vitamins

The best way to get your vitamins is from real, whole food. Although the soil is largely depleted of nutrients we require to maintain a healthy body, plant foods are still the best source to make sure you get adequate nutrition. If you’re consuming only processed foodstuffs and taking a multivitamin, you’ll notice your health slowly dwindle over time.

Vegetables and fruit are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and crucial phytonutrients. They are one of the most abundant sources of vitamins and minerals. Broccoli, dark leafy greens, properly ripened, seasonal fruit, avocados, brussels sprouts, carrots, and beets. The list goes on! Herbs are also loaded with plenty of antioxidants, phytosterols, and essential oils that promote incredible health. Ginger, turmeric, garlic, parsley, cilantro, ginger, basil, and dill are a few of my favorites.

With that being said, there are a few supplements I still recommend people take, due to poor soil quality and the degradation of certain vitamins and minerals from the soil (like magnesium). 

Vitamins and Supplements From Brands I Trust

There is an overwhelming amount of vitamin and supplement brands out there that have little interest in your health in mind. But that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. 

While multivitamins are beneficial (when properly sourced), you can also opt for more targeted nutrients that your body needs. Magnesium, for example, is one mineral that has been stripped from the soil due to poor farming practices. Most people should be supplementing with magnesium. 

Another vitamin, vitamin B12, is poorly absorbed in individuals who have a history of antibiotic use, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. A very low percentage of people can actually absorb B12 from the foods they eat because of this (yes, this includes meat-eaters too!). Taking a high-quality B12 supplement that possesses the proper forms of B12 (methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin) is essential for most. The funny thing is, is that a lot of the B12 in multivitamins is cyanocobalamin, the cheapest, most poorly absorbed form of B12 on the planet. 

With that being said, here are some key supplements that I keep on hand and take almost every day, or every second day. They’re all developed by incredible companies I love and trust. No fillers, and designed with your health in mind to ensure every nutrient is absorbed: 

Cymbiotika Vitamin C

A liposomal version of vitamin C, which provides superior absorption, enabling effective high-level dosing. Liposomal delivery can significantly improve the bioavailability of vitamin C (the rate at which it’s absorbed by the body). Cymbiotika’s Liposomal Vitamin C supplement is derived from a blend of Non-GMO L-Ascorbic Acid and Sodium Ascorbate.

Price at time of publish: $49

Cymbiotika The Omega

One of the highest quality vegan Omega 3 DHA/EPA supplements available. Modern biology has identified that DHA is a critical nutrient for our brain, eyes, and central nervous system. This supplement may hydrate the skin and decrease blood pressure while balancing cholesterol levels.

Price at time of publish: $54

Cymbiotika Zinc Complex

Cymbiotika’s Zinc Complex combines three forms of zinc with clinically backed absorption technology. They also added Copper and Selenium, two essential elements that work synergistically to support multiple functions in the body. Zinc is responsible for many metabolic processes including reproductive function, sexual development, cognitive function, and healthy immune system function.

Price at time of publish: $24

Cymbiotika Vitamin D3 + K2

Cymbiotika’s Liposomal D3 + K2 + CoQ10 dietary supplement contains the highest quality plant-based materials essential for activating over 3,000 genes associated with longevity. This vitamin D supplement may provide health benefits such as supporting immune function, heart health, and increasing bone strength. Vitamin K2 can assist vitamin D in keeping healthy bones. Their Vitamin D3 and K2 liquid formula contain a highly bioactive form of vitamin K2 called menaquinone-7, or MK-7.

Price at time of publish: $50

Cymbiotika Topical Magnesium Oil

Cymbiotika’s Topical Magnesium Oil spray is scientifically formulated to absorb into the bloodstream within minutes, keeping your skin free of oil residue. Magnesium is an essential trace mineral responsible for more than 300 enzymatic systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, blood pressure regulation, and healthy brain development.

Price at time of publish: $26

Cymbiotika Shilajit

Cymbiotika Shilajit Black Gold Live Resin® (15g net content) is a complex mineral nutrient sourced from high elevations in pristine parts of the world. Containing 84+ minerals, Cymbiotika’s pure Shilajit Resin is rich with fulvic acid, humic acid, vitamins, enzymes, tocopherols, bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and metabolites that combat free radicals in your body. Pure Shilajit extract has a positive effect that counters cellular damage and increases muscle strength, making it an excellent dietary supplement.  This is the most powerful adaptogen on the market and contains the highest gold content in the world.

Price at time of publish: $50

Cymbiotika Magnesium L-Threonate

Cymbiotika’s Liposomal Magnesium L-Threonate dietary supplement was developed by a team of scientists at MIT which has been shown to increase brain magnesium levels much higher than any other form of magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral that is required for 80% of the body’s metabolic functions. This magnesium supplement can help address one of the most common health conditions. In the United States, approximately 65% of all adults are magnesium deficient. To support brain function and a healthy memory, we need to ensure we are receiving the necessary daily value of magnesium in our diets.

Price at time of publish: $51

Global Healing Vitamin B12

Unlock your body’s full potential with this premium Vitamin B12 supplement. Sustainably sourced and organically grown, this vegan-friendly formula delivers a perfect balance of B12 forms for maximum efficacy and vitality. With a mighty 5,000 mcg per serving, this supplement supports normal energy levels, cardiovascular health, and optimal nervous system function. This cutting-edge formula is specially designed for rapid absorption, ensuring that every dose contributes to your total well-being, increased oxygen intake, and mental clarity.

Price at time of publish: $25

Should I take multivitamins or single vitamins?

I will always advocate for taking single vitamins based on your specific needs. Get tested, see what vitamins and minerals you might need, and cater to that.

If you’d rather just take one vitamin a day and add in specific other supplements that might not be included in your multivitamin, that’s okay too.

If you do choose to take a multivitamin (or any supplement for that matter), make sure to follow these general rules:

– DO BUY: 100% organic, and 100% whole-food-based, raw, or low-temperature heated. Make sure minerals are included to ensure vitamin absorption.
– DON’T BUY: anything with soy, gluten, corn, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, GMOs, colorings (or dyes), or binders like magnesium stearate. USP-verified vitamins also contain synthetics (11).

Multivitamin brands I trust include:

Global Healing Multivitamin

With over 30 vital vitamins and minerals, complemented by a potent antioxidant blend, Global Healing’s meticulously formulated multivitamin empowers you to achieve your wellness goals without unnecessary additives that offer no benefit. Certified organic and crafted with plant-based ingredients, their formula prioritizes purity by omitting coatings, fillers, and synthetic preservatives. Experience the power of pure and straightforward nutrition, filling in the gaps, enhancing well-being, and elevating your overall health.

Price at time of publish: $69.95

AOR Multivitamin

Multi Basics 3® provides optimal doses and balanced ratios of all the recognized essential vitamins and minerals in high-quality forms supported by research, all in just three capsules a day. While some nutrients like vitamins A and E are better absorbed and more effective in their natural forms, others are better absorbed in synthetic supplement forms, such as folate and other B vitamins. Some nutrients like zinc and copper must be delivered in balanced ratios so as not to disrupt certain bodily functions. Multi Basics 3® takes all of these factors into consideration, creating a carefully formulated, balanced, and effective multivitamin that delivers many more benefits than a typical one-a-day multivitamin.

Price at time of publish: $59.28

The Bottom Line

When we talk about regular multivitamins, especially ones like Centrum, some big concerns should be paid attention to. Legal problems, like a 2012 lawsuit about false health claims, show we need more honesty in the supplement business. Pfizer’s ownership and potential conflicts of interest prompt us to reconsider the motives behind some pharmaceutical giants.

Specific concerns about magnesium, iron, B vitamins, and vitamin E urge us to be discerning when choosing our supplements. The caution against synthetic vitamin forms and the compilation of other mainstream brands to avoid, such as One a Day, Jamieson, and Nature Made, are valuable considerations for those committed to their health.

As we navigate the landscape of nutritional choices, the call to embrace real, whole foods for our daily nutrients remains paramount. Acknowledging the depleted state of our soil, it may be wise to incorporate supplements from trustworthy brands to address potential deficiencies.

By staying informed and making intentional choices, we empower ourselves to prioritize a healthier, more nourished lifestyle. Let this exploration be a guide toward wiser decisions on the journey to optimal well-being.