These Are The 10 Best Vitamin And Supplement Brands, According To Nutritionists
The global dietary supplement market is thriving—it’s currently valued at $71.81 billion and expected to reach $128.64 billion by 2028, according to market research firm Fortune Business Insights. That’s a lot of nutrients, and they come in many forms from flavored waters to powders to gummies to tablets. The FDA does not review any dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, much to the ire of health advocates and consumers. This, of course, puts the onus on buyers to do their research and be well-informed when evaluating labels. Knowing which brands to trust is essential—you want the ones that consistently follow best manufacturing processes, have transparent sourcing and supply chains and take extra measures to test and ensure the accuracy and safety of their products.
A complex of B vitamins can help minimize the impact of stress on the body.
Illustration: Forbes; Photos: Retailers
But it should be mentioned: Not everyone needs to take supplements. You can certainly get all your necessary vitamins and nutrients from foods, and in fact, nutritionists would prefer that you do, since whole foods, unlike isolated compounds in a pill, contain constituents that work in harmony to keep your body humming. Nevertheless, if you are deficient in certain essentials or could use a boost, supplements can be effective and beneficial. The key is to run whatever you’re considering by your primary care doctor since supplements can interfere with certain medicines and health conditions. You also want to be sure the brand you’re taking is trustworthy.
With that in mind, we asked nutritionists for the vitamins and supplements they consistently recommend, in terms of quality of ingredients, safety and effectiveness of formulas, transparency in the manufacturing process, validity of scientific data for label claims and accuracy of dosage amounts.
Ahead, you’ll find 10 brands that you can confidently rely on, as well as the best options to take from each, in the opinion of our experts. Again, make sure you check in with your doctor before incorporating these into your routine and don’t mix and match formulas without getting their approval first. (And if you want to boost your healthy habits by eating more nutritious foods, too, here’s what to cook up).
Mục lục
Best Vitamin B Complex
An Essential Blend For Daily Stress
Amazon
Thorne Stress B-Complex
- Brand Credibility: Thorne’s formulas are thoroughly tested in clinical trials, says Dana James, MS, CNS, CDN, and the brand collaborates with independent research organizations, including the Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins University and the National Institute of Health, to scientifically confirm the the efficacy of their vitamins.
“B vitamins are essential for the creation of energy, neurotransmitters and hormones,” says James. “But under stress, we use them up more.” Thorne’s comprehensive formula contains all eight B vitamins that have been methylated (i.e. kept in their active state) to help increase absorption and bioavailability, she says.
Best Specialized Vitamin B
Key Nutrients For Energy And Brain Health
Swanson Vitamins
Jarrow Formulas Methyl B-12 Methylcobalamin Lozenges
- Brand Credibility: California-based Jarrow Formulas started producing vitamins and supplements in the ‘70s, first through health food stores. They developed a reputation for carefully vetted, innovative blends based on scientific data. Their formulas are “well trusted and high quality,” says Stephanie Middleburg, MS, RD, CDN.
“Vitamin B-12 is important to consider if you’re vegetarian or vegan since B12 is found in animal proteins,” says Middleburg, adding that methyl B-12 “is better absorbed and retained” than its manufactured form (cyanocobalamin).
Best Affordable Vitamin C
To Boost Immune Function
Amazon
Nature’s Bounty Vitamin C
- Brand Credibility: Nature’s Bounty is an affordable brand that doesn’t sacrifice safety. Ingredient suppliers meet stringent quality assurance standards, says Lisa R. Young, PhD, RDN, CDN, and final products are tested for purity and potency in a microbiological laboratory as well by the U.S. Pharmacopeia and STR, an independent dietary supplement evaluation firm.
“Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports immune health,” says Young, who recommends healthy adults take 500 milligram daily to boost their defenses and protect cells against free-radical damage that may play a role in many diseases.
Best Fish Oil
Inflammation-Fighting And Allergy Tested
Amazon
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Omega
- Brand Credibility: Pure Encapsulations scientifically tests raw materials for potency, microbial contaminants, heavy metals (including mercury, arsenic, lead) and common allergens, says Lauren Slayton, MS, RD. They also have strict manufacturing protocols to avoid cross contamination and inspect capsules every 15 to 20 minutes.
“Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, which is the culprit behind most diseases from diabetes to heart disease,” says Slayton, who prefers O.N.E Omega. “Omega 3s are also useful for mood and joint health—this is the brand my clients take.”
Best Vegan Omega Fatty Acids
Sustainably Sourced From Microalgae
Nordic Naturals
Nordic Naturals Algae Omega
- Brand Credibility: California-based Nordic Naturals specializes in omega-rich supplements sustainably sourced from the Arctic, near where founder Joar Opheim grew up. The family-run brand has expanded into probiotics, vitamins and marine algae—all non-GMO and third-party tested with certificates of analysis for every product.
Algae Omega is a good vegan option for omega 3, says Young. It’s made from fairly harvested microalgae and each dose contains a hefty 715 milligrams of total omega 3s to support vision, heart and brain health and immunity.
Best Probiotics
Essential For Gut Health
Klaire Labs
Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Complete
- Brand Credibility: Driven to develop potent, hypoallergenic nutraceuticals, scientist Claire Ferr founded Klaire Labs in 1969. The brand focuses on pharmaceutical-grade raw ingredients with high levels of bioavailability, especially probiotics—live microorganisms that help balance the gut microbiome for overall health.
Ther-Biotic is Middleburg’s top choice since it contains multiple strains of probiotics, which deliver the most benefits, and have been validated with 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Capsules are then coasted in an acid-stable, gel-like matrix that protects the probiotic bacteria from stomach acid so it can be released into the body intact.
Best Marine Collagen
Strengthening For Skin And Joints
Hech
Hech Caviar Collagen Ruby Elixier
- Brand Credibility: Founded in Germany in the 1970s, Hech Functional Nutrition set out to translate the health benefits of the country’s agriculture and herb gardens into vitamin and mineral supplements. Today, they’re particularly known for marine amino acid and collagen peptide-based supplements, which are free of bovin or porcine ingredients, and come with unique tracing codes to verify product authenticity.
“The Caviar Collagen Ruby Elixier contains collagen in a delicious black current juice, which not only tastes good but helps the synthesis of collagen in the skin, hair and bones,” says James. Each travel-sized ampoules contains 11 grams of protein, making it “a quick and portable snack,” she says.
Best Prenatal Multivitamin
Nutrients Sourced From Whole Foods
MegaFood
MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Pre-Natal Multi Vitamin
- Brand Credibility: MegaFood formulas are extremely well-vetted, says Middleburg. Every product is certified by multiple third-party organizations and the brand sources over 700,000 pounds of farm-fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains every year for supplements that capture the synergistic nutrients found in whole foods.
Middleburg swears by the Baby & Me 2 Pre-Natal multivitamin, which she took during her own pregnancies. It’s formulated by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., the brand’s chief medical advisor, and contains iron and vitamin B12 paired with real foods (organic oranges and broccoli) as well as methylated folate, the active form of folic acid.
Best Herbal Sleep Supplement
Safe And Calming Before Bed
Douglas Laboratories
Douglas Laboratories Brain Calm
- Brand Credibility: “Douglas is among the brands I recommend most often,” says Slayton. All of the products are non-GMO (PCR testing is done to confirm the absence of genetically modified material), free of the eight major allergens (milk, wheat, fish, shellfish, egg, peanut, tree nut, soy) and rigorously vetted by clinical advisors.
Brain Calm contains gamma amino butyricacid and lycine to calm the nervous system and relaxing passion flower, says Slayton. “Many of my clients have ‘monkey mind’ before bed, when anxiety can rise, and taking this at night can help.”
Best Hair, Skin And Nails Supplement
An Organic Moisturizing Pick
MOST POPULAR
Seabuck Wonders
Seabuck Wonders Omega-7 Complete
- Brand Credibility: “I have an affinity for companies that focus on one main ingredient,” says Slayton. SeabuckWonders specializes in sea buckthorn, a bright orange berry concentrated in omega-7 fatty acid, sourced from their organic farm in Tibet. The family-run company emphasizes fair-trade practices and sustainability.
Slayton recommends Omega-7 Complete year-round for overall health but especially in winter to combat “dry skin, dry hair,” she says, adding that the capsules are kosher and made with a supercritical CO2 extraction method to preserve the potency of the berry’s healing nutrients.
