Choosing a Multivitamin

When you go to choose a multivitamin, the selection can be overwhelming. You’ll find dozens of different brands, several different forms (tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, chewables, etc), widely varying ingredients, and a hug range of prices. But don’t despair. The following section provides the basic information you’ll need to select a high-quality multivitamin that suits your needs and fits your budget.

Where to Purchase

Multivitamin are available in health food stores, grocery stores, drug stores and warehouse stores, as well as from Web sites and mail-order retailers. When first selecting a multivitamin, visit a reputable health food store in your area. Most health food stores offer a wide range of products to meet individual needs, are staffed by well-trained and knowledgeable employees, and have good product turnover to ensure that the supplements they sell are fresh. Also, health food stores value their customers and will be willing to work with you if you purchase products that for some reason don’t meet your needs.

If you purchase supplements from drug stores or pharmacies, you will typically find a more limited selection, but many pharmacists are knowledgeable enough about supplements to help steer you in the right direction.

How Much to Spend

Consider various factors when deciding how much to spend on a multivitamin. Do a little research and compare the prices of the products you’re considering. If most supplements cost more than 10 dollars and you find one that sells for only three dollars, you may want to pass on the cheaper one. But remember, more expensive doesn’t always mean better, and cheaper doesn’t always mean less effective.

For those whose primary concern is price, warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club offer multivitamins at substantial discounts, as do various Web Sites. You may want to visit a health food store and talk to the staff to determine the right multivitamin for you, and then buy a starter package of the product. If you can’t afford to continue buying that particular supplement from the health food store, you may be able to find the same product online at a substantial discount.

Determining Quality

Look for multivitamins from manufactures that conduct quality control tests. It’s comforting to know that a manufacturer verifies and tests raw materials. Also look for products that have been tested fro purity and potency. This means that if a label says that a product contains 500 milligrams of vitamin C, the company has actually tested that product batch instead of relying on other calculations. Most manufactures provide their Web address or phone number on their labels, and you may want to contact the company to learn more about the specific quality control test they perform. Try USANA Vitamins manufactured by USANA Health Sciences.

USP Approved

Look for products that bear the USP logo. USP is the abbreviation for United States Pharmacopeia, an official public standard – setting authority for health care products in the United States. Their seal tells nutrient absorption. While many excellent products aren’t tested by the USP, the USP logo is one indicator that your product will dissolve and be absorbed properly.

Labels and Packaging

Examine the packaging of the multivitamin you’re considering. Choose a product with legible labels: the front panel should provide the name and quantity of the product, and the side panels should provide nutritional information and an ingredient list with the exact quantity of each ingredient. Also, look for products that provide the manufacturer’s contact information, a lot number, an expiration date and clear instructions.

Recommendations from Store Staff

If you’re not sure about which product to choose, don’t be afraid to ask! Staff members at reputable health food stores are well trained and knowledgeable about the products they sell. Pay attention to their recommendations, which re often based on positive feedback from other customers.