ISO Multivitamin

[SweetTooth]

I am 50 yrs old and looking for an "all around" multivitamin to take. I take 1200 mg Calcium + vitamin D on a daily basis. I have been taking a multivitamin by "Shackley", and it seems to work ok. How do you know? :o Anyway, it is time for a refill and just wanted to get your thoughts.

I know there have been threads on this, but does anyone have input on which mulitvitamin to buy? Seems like my GP and OBGYN don't have any preferences. :rolleyes: I know that getting your daily requirements are best through food vs tablets, but I don't know that I get all I need through my diet.

TIA

[mst]

Sweettooth-

I don't have a multivitamin suggestion for you, as I am still taking my pre-natals. But, I can tell you that a few years ago, when I was anemic, someone suggested that I take Shackley iron pills as they had never had a problem with stomach issues with it. I took the iron pills and had no problem. But, when I would go in to get my blood drawn, my iron was not getting better. So, I read the fine print, and there was barely any iron in the iron pills! :eek: So, I would take your Shackley bottle and compare it with other multivitamin bottles.

[wallycat]

Consumerlabs.com (a subscription only) site researches lots of vitamins out there.

There are many good ones. I can post which one I like and why, but that does not mean others are NOT equally good.

[SweetTooth]

Wallycat, I saw that in an earlier post but do not have a subscription :o(.

Anybody have a subscription that they would like to share the info with me...or wallycat, I would take your reviews also. ;)

Thx!

[wallycat]

I think I can still get in there.
I would be happy to researc any brand you want.

They basically check to ensure that the vitamin has what it promises.

I use NatureMade multi 50+ (no iron) for DH and I add iron for myself.
I love that they lowered the Vitamin A now (5K should be the upper most limit or too much --beta carotene is fine--can increase bone loss).
I love that they don't have beta carotene in it (I'm a former smoker :o ).
THey offer the vitamin with or without iron (their multi is similar but with iron).
They have a decent amount of calcium so I can just take one more supplement instead of several calciums. (The jury is still out as to whether calcium supp. can ward of osteoporosis, but it does help with other things.)
They have "rewards" programs that offer $7.00 coupons.
Stores are always offering buy one get one free.
Consumer labs says it has what it promises.

[fancyn]

I love that they don't have beta carotene in it (I'm a former smoker ). OK, delurking for a moment...how does beta carotene affect smokers? :confused: :o :eek:

[wallycat]

OK, delurking for a moment...how does beta carotene affect smokers? :confused: :o :eek:

There are several studies that showed an increase in lung cancer in beta-carotene SUPPLEMENT users...not from food.
It was a very odd finding and very unexpected. THere are theories on this, but the thinking now is to get beta-carotene from food and not supplements, at least for current and/or former smokers.

[beckms]

When I started prednisone for autoimmune hepatitis last month, my gastroenterologist told me to take Centrum daily to combat the calcium-wasting effects of the steroids. I buy a generic, but it's the same as Centrum.

[Mary Ann]

The latest Nutrition Action Health Letter rated these as

Best Bites for 50+ (women or men)

AARP Maturity Formula
Eckerd Therapeutic M
Equate 50 Plus One Daily for Mature Adults
Kroger Thera Plus
Nature Made for Her 50+
Nature Made for Him 50+
One a Day 50+
Prevention High-Potency for Men or for Women
Theragran-M
Theragran-M Premier 50 Plus
Walgreens Ultra Choice Mature

Best Bites For Premenopausal Women

Kirkland Premium with Herbs
Rite Aid Whole Source
Shaklee Vita-Lea with Iron
Sundown Complete Daily
Theragran-M Premier
Walgreens Ultra Choice or Ultra Choice Adult

[Gumbeaux]

I am 50 yrs old and looking for an "all around" multivitamin to take.


I take a multivitamin tablet that is also a multimineral.

http://www.centrum.com/products/product_centrum.asp

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/bayoutitan/Second%20Album/Centrum.jpg

[VictoriaL]

This particular formulation seemed best for DH (53) and me (47):

http://www.puritan.com/pages/file.asp?xs=D96F100AE9DF4B25B9A56A087A1F939B&PID=485&CPID=640&np=1&lbl=1#label

[fancyn]

There are several studies that showed an increase in lung cancer in beta-carotene SUPPLEMENT users...not from food.
It was a very odd finding and very unexpected. THere are theories on this, but the thinking now is to get beta-carotene from food and not supplements, at least for current and/or former smokers.
Hmmm..... that is an interesting find. Thanks for sharing...more incentive to quit! :o

[SweetTooth]

thanks everyone for your input...sounds like many good ones to choose from. Lots of info to read too!!
I have not found that one brand makes me feel any different than another, but I am amazed the differences in them.

Thanks again!!


Decisions, decisions!!

[lrf965]

I am a regular blood donor and the first time I was told I could not give blood because my iron was low, I decided it was time for a multivitamin. I had taken multivitamins in the past with iron and had to stop because of becoming constipated. :mad: I also found that I could only eat so much iron-enriched food.

A friend of mine suggested GNC Women's Ultra Vitamins with Iron and I have been taking them ever since. They have fruit extract in them that helps with constipation. If anything, I have become more 'regular' taking these vitamins. :D The even better news is that I am back to donating blood.

The recommendation for these vitamins is two a day, but I only take one. I have started my 22 year old daughter on them as well. She takes one a day as well and has warded off any potential colds, etc. that she could pick up while working with small children.

GNC has a sample pack in their stores to try out the vitamins. I highly recommend.

Good luck!

[Diane B.]

I do NOT know if this is true, but my son was told by his (female) PE teacher in high school --while they were doing a weight and aerobic unit-- that she wanted them to take a multi-vitamin, but the only one she recommended against was Centrum.
My son didn't remember why unfortunatley (something about not having the best forms of the vitamins, or quality control or something?).
Since Centrum is available everywhere (even Costco), and often at a good price (sometimes in two-packs), I've often wondered if this were true or not because it's easy to pick find and pick up.

(I see Walgreens brands on a previous listing, so think I'll look into theirs. Thanks for the list!)



Diane B.

[wallycat]

Here is the multi listing...hope it pastes OK in here:

Product Name
For comparisons of the ingredients in the products see separate tables: Compare Vitamins, Compare Minerals, and Compare Other Ingredients


Company
(Dist. =
Distributor
Mfd. =
Manu-
facturer


OVERALL RESULTS:
APPROVED
(Passed)
or
NOT
APPROVED
(Failed) (See How Products Were Evaluated)
Contained Claimed Amount of Nutrients
Did Not Exceed Accept-able Level for Lead


Able to Break Apart Properly (Applies only to tablets and caplets)

General (Adult):
Advanced Formula® Centrum® High Potency Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement*
Dist. by Wyeth Consumer Health
APPROVED


Centrum® Performance® Complete Multivitamin Supplement, Specially Formulated with Ginseng, Ginkgo, and Higher Levels of Five Essential B Vitamins*
Dist. by Wyeth Consumer Health
APPROVED**

Geritol Complete® High Potency Multi-Vitamin Plus Multi-Mineral Dist. by GlaxoSmith-Kline Consumer Healthcare, L.P.
APPROVED

Juice Plus+® Orchard Blend; Juice Plus+® Garden Blend Dist. by NSA
APPROVED

N/A

Nutrilite® Daily, Multivitamin and Multimineral* Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC
APPROVED

Nutrilite® Double X® Multivitamin Multimineral* Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC
APPROVED**

Pharmanex® LifePak® Dietary Supplement, New! Anti-Aging Formula * Dist. by Pharmanex, LLC
APPROVED**
Also Approved for Alpha Lipoic Acid, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E

NA

Polaris™ Your guide to Optimum Health™ CustomPak Supplements, AM Pak Dist. by Custom Nutrition Service
NOT
APPROVED**

Low in folate

Puritan's Pride® Mega Vita Gel*
Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc
APPROVED**


Puritan's Pride® Inspired by Nature™ Mega Vita-Min™ Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement*
Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc
APPROVED**


Puritan's Pride® Ultra Vita-min*
Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc
APPROVED**


Theragran-M® Advanced Formula High Potency Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement Mfd. by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
NOT
APPROVED**

Exceeded limit for lead (3.5 mcg lead in 1 unit dose)


Twinlab® Daily One Caps™ Without Iron, Higher Potency Multi Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
Dist. by Twin Laboratories Inc.
APPROVED**

NA

Vitamin World® Green Source™ Multi-Vitamins & Minerals with Whole Food Concentrates, Vegetarian Formula Dietary Supplement* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.
APPROVED**


Vitamin World® Naturally Inspired™ Mega Vita-Min™ Multivitamin Multimineral Supplement* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.
APPROVED**


Vitamin World® Naturally Inspired™ Time-Release Mega Vita-Min™ Multivitamin Multimineral Supplement* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.
APPROVED**


NA

Women's:
Avon VitAdvance Women's Complete II Balanced Multivitamin/
Multimineral Dist. by Avon Products, Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

Low in folate



Futurebiotics Advanced Women's Formula Multi Vitamin Energy Plus® Daily Multinutritional Vitamin & Mineral Mfd. by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
NOT
APPROVED**

Low in vitamin A


GNC Women's, Women's Ultra Mega® without Iron Dietary Supplement, ChloraSeal® coating, timed-release Dist. by General Nutrition Corporation
APPROVED**

NA

Nature Made® Essential Woman Complete Multivitamin/
Mineral Supplement* Dist. by Nature Made Nutritional Products
APPROVED


One a Day® Women's Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement
Dist. by Bayer Corporation
APPROVED

Rainbow Light® Just Once® Naturals Women's One™ Multivitamin*
Dist. by Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
APPROVED


Walgreens, The Brand America Trusts®, Woman's Way® Scientifically Formulated for Active Women, High Potency Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement with Calcium USP Dist. by Walgreen Co.
APPROVED

Women's MultiStart™ Dr. Michael Murray Formulated, VitaMin-A-Day for Women, Natural Factors® Mfd. by Natural Factors
APPROVED**

Prenatal:
New Chapter® Perfect Prenatal™ Whole-Food Probiotic Multi-Vitamin, Mineral, Live Active Culture & Herbal Complex Dist. by New Chapter, Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

High in folate

Did not disintegrate properly

Rainbow Light® Just Once® Naturals Prenatal One™ Multivitamins*
Dist. by Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
APPROVED

Stuart Prenatal® Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement Dist. by Integrity® Pharmaceutical Corporation
APPROVED***

Men's:
Opti-Men, More than a Multi Mfd. by Optimum Nutrition
APPROVED***


Rainbow Light® Just Once® Naturals Men's One Multivitamin* Dist. by 2003 Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
APPROVED

Senior:
AARP Health Care Options® Pharmacy Services Formula 502 Seniors Vitamins and Minerals Supplement Dist. by United HealthCare Products, LLC
APPROVED

Centrum® Silver® Specially Formulated Multivitamin/
Multimineral Supplement for Adults 50+*
Dist. by Wyeth Consumer Health
APPROVED

Drinkables® Liquid Supplements, Liquid Multi Vitamins for Seniors Dist. by Remington Health Products, LLC
NOT
APPROVED

Low in Vitamin A, folate and manganese

NA

Puritan's Pride® ABC Plus® Senior, with Lutein and Lycopene, Multi-Vitamin Multi-Mineral Formula, Iron Free Formula Dietary Supplement*
Mfd. by Puritan's Pride Inc
APPROVED

Rainbow Light® Just Once® Naturals Active One™ Senior Multivitamin*
Dist. by Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems
APPROVED


Unicap Sr.® Dietary Supplement Dist. by Pharmacia & Upjohn Consumer Healthcare
APPROVED

Children's:
Enfamil™ PolyViSol® Multivitamin Supplement Drops, for Infants & Toddlers Dist. by Mead Johnson Nutritionals
APPROVED**

Flintstones® Complete with Calcium, Iron & Minerals, New! Improved Formula Dist. by Bayer Corporation
APPROVED**

L'il Critters™ Gummy Vites® Dietary Supplement1 Dist. by Northwest Natural Products® Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

Low in folate

Exceeded limit for lead (1.25 mcg lead in 1 unit dose, 2.5 mcg lead in 2 unit dose)1

NA

Nutrilite® Kids Chewable Multivitamin/
Multimineral* Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC
APPROVED**

NA

Sundown Kids™ Complete Children's Multiple Vitamin and Mineral Supplement, Super Heroes™* Mfd. by Sundown, Inc.
APPROVED**

NA

Vitamin Waters:
Aquafina® Essentials™ enhanced water beverage, Watermelon Flavor Mfd. by Pepsico Inc
NOT
APPROVED

Low in vitamin C

NA

Fruit2O Plus™ Citrus Energy Boost Dist. by Veryfine Products, Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

Low in vitamin C

NA

Glaceau Vitamin Water™ multi-V Dist. by Energy Brands Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

Low in vitamin A & C

NA

Propel® Fitness Water, Vitamin Enhanced Water Dist. by The Gatorade Company
APPROVED

NA

Pet:
Doctors Foster & Smith Vita-min Tabs For Cats Dist. by Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
NOT
APPROVED

Low in vitamin A


NA

Pet-Tabs® Supplement A Highly Palatable Vitamin-Mineral Supplement Dist. by Virbac AH, Inc.
APPROVED


NA

Vita Chews Daily Multi-Vitamin with Minerals Flavored Pork Liver Tablets For Dogs Dist. by 1-800-PetMeds
APPROVED


NA