Please help me find the best multi-vitamin...

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Hello,

I'm trying to find the best multi-vitamin for my needs. I want one that has adequate amounts of all the major vitamins/minerals, carotenoids, tocopherols/tocotrienols, and a number of antioxidants.

A major thing I have found lacking is having an absorbable form of the nutrients. I see that multi's usually contain the cheapest form of a nutrient and not the type shown to be beneficial in research. Also certain nutrients when isolated haven't been show to have the same benefits as those in their natural mixed form. So food based nutrients would be preferable for certain nutrients. An entirely food based multi-vitamin would be good, but I haven't seen one thats at all affordable.

Please let me know if you have any recommendations or suggestions on which product/s most closely meet my criteria. I realize that there is a good chance there is no product around that matches my desires perfectly.

These are some more specific criteria (in additon to what I stated above):

Contains mixed carotenoids from a natural source. Instead of synthetic beta carotene which has been show to be possibly harmful to smokers since it may block other carotenoids which have a synergistic protective effect.

Contains natural mixed tocopherols and mixed tocotrienols. instead of only isolated alpha tocopherol, aka synthetic vitamin E, which may block the other natural portions of vitamin E.

Contains vitamin D in the form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and not D2 which has been show to be less bioavailable and possibly ineffective.

No iron or low iron unless it's from a food source. Not iron in an isolated mineral form which could cause an overdose (especially for a male like myself) and therefore oxidative damage.

Less than 10mg of B2 Riboflavin. Unlike other b vitamins, b-2 is very reactive to light and may increase damage to skin, eyes, etc... when taken in excess. I don't like pissing neon orange either although it's supposedly harmless.

No more than 500mg of vitamin C per serving since more than this can't be absorbed at once and is wasted anyways.

No unneeded super dosing of nutrients. I would like more than the RDA for most nutrients since the RDA is only enough to prevent deficiencies. But not the drug like doses of vitamins that are sometimes features in the "deluxe" formulas.

No icky fillers or additives like talc or hydrogenated oils or the other crap I see in many "name brand" multivitamins.

Doesn't cost $50 for a month supply.

Wishful thinking perhaps, but thought it would be worth asking what others have found.

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maybe you should take your list to a health store and ask them..there are multi vitamins on the market specifically targeted to 'Men' one brand name is 'Kordel's' but Im not sure of the make up of this particular multi vitamin.

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Is there a Trader Joe's near you?

They have a wide variety of supplements/ vitamins at MUCH lower prices than is usual.

The catch is that they don't always have what you want in stock. (As in, if you find exactly what you're looking for at a great price, it might not be there when you go back for more once you run out.)

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Or talk to your pharmacist (not a clerk, but the drugstore's registered pharmacist).

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Please help me find
That's really quite a list of qualifications and limitations! You may wind up with a bunch of individual pills, as it seems unlikely (despite my just-posted previous suggestion) that you'll find one single pill that covers all your specs.

One problem is that some vitamins interact poorly with others - for instance, Vitamin D is very important, but some of the other vitamins in a multi-vitamin capsule reduce its effectiveness.

But I still recommend a chat with a pharmacist.

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responses to suggestions

KiwiChic wrote:

maybe you should take your list to a health store and ask them..there are multi vitamins on the market specifically targeted to 'Men' one brand name is 'Kordel's' but Im not sure of the make up of this particular multi vitamin.

The store I sometimes shop at (vitaminshoppe) has a huge selection, so the employees usually only know about the most mainstream items. But it can't hurt to ask I suppose. Perhaps by inquiring via their online site, so they have time to find the information. Thanks for the suggestion KiwiChic.

sozobe wrote:

Is there a Trader Joe's near you?

They have a wide variety of supplements/ vitamins at MUCH lower prices than is usual.

The catch is that they don't always have what you want in stock. (As in, if you find exactly what you're looking for at a great price, it might not be there when you go back for more once you run out.)

None around here, but thanks for the recommendation. I have found a place to buy online that is similar. They usually have the best prices (with use of coupon codes, and some other tricks), but they are frequently backordered (out of stock). You can check out my in depth review of vitaminshoppe.com at epinions.

Tomkitten wrote:

Or talk to your pharmacist (not a clerk, but the drugstore's registered pharmacist).

Tomkitten wrote:

That's really quite a list of qualifications and limitations! You may wind up with a bunch of individual pills, as it seems unlikely (despite my just-posted previous suggestion) that you'll find one single pill that covers all your specs.

One problem is that some vitamins interact poorly with others - for instance, Vitamin D is very important, but some of the other vitamins in a multi-vitamin capsule reduce its effectiveness.

But I still recommend a chat with a pharmacist.

Yeah, I've been thinking about getting a multivitamin that covers most of my needs, and then supplementing with what it's missing. I was thinking of getting the "Garden of Life Living Multi Men's Formula". Usually too pricy for me ($60+), but I should be able to get it for under 40 bucks shipped at vitaminshoppe.com (with some discount tricks I've figured out). I inquired via their website (GOL) to make sure their vitamin A was naturally derived and their vitamin D was the D3 (passed on both counts). But it's lacking in vitamin D (only 65IU) and vitamin E so I would have to buy those separately.

I wasn't considering how the vitamins interact with each other. So it would seem that I'm better of taking the vitamin D separately anyways? I didn't think pharmacists would know about vitamins. I thought they just knew about pharmacuticals and interactions thereof. Thanks for the ideas.

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Update, found a better multivitamin for my budget.
Well I went with the Garden of Life multis for a few months, but it was too expensive for me. I found another multi that closely matches my criteria and is much cheaper. Only $15 a month. I could actually probably get away with a half dosage of the twice a day formula, thus costing only $7.50 a month or 25 cents daily. Those interested can check it out here -> NSI multivitamins at vitacost.com

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Check out Nutrilite Daily. You can purchase it from an Amway Business Owner/Distributor.

Nutrilite products

Overview of Nutrilite Daily

I have found this supplement very useful.

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whats a good (high quality) good ol general multi vitamin?

And should i think about taking more than that?

whats a good vitamin( / supplement) list?

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Please help me find the best multi-vitamin...

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