How to Choose a Multivitamin in the UK: A No-Nonsense Buying Guide
Multivitamins are one of the most searched supplements in the UK — and one of the easiest to buy badly. This guide covers the practical points to check before you add one to your basket.
Start with the NRV column
Every legitimate multivitamin sold in the UK lists its ingredients against the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV). As a rule of thumb, look for products that provide close to 100% NRV for the core vitamins (C, D, B-complex) rather than headline-grabbing mega doses. More is not automatically better, and very high doses of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) can accumulate.
Tablets, capsules or gummies?
- Tablets are the cheapest per dose and pack in the most nutrients, but can be large.
- Capsules are easier to swallow and usually gentler on the stomach.
- Gummies win on taste and habit-building, but typically carry fewer nutrients and added sugar — check the label.
Match the formula to the person
Formulas aimed at men, women, over-50s or children are not marketing fluff — iron is the clearest example. Menstruating women often benefit from iron in a multi, while most men and post-menopausal women do not need extra iron at all. Over-50 formulas usually add more vitamin D and B12, which absorb less efficiently with age.
Vitamin D deserves special attention
The NHS advises everyone in the UK to consider a vitamin D supplement between October and March, when sunlight is too weak for the body to make its own. If your multivitamin contains 10µg (400 IU) or more, you are covered for that general advice.
Quick checklist before you buy
- Around 100% NRV for core vitamins, not 1000%+
- A form you will actually take every day
- Iron only if you need it
- Third-party tested brands where possible
- Enough servings per pack to see the real cost per month
Browse our full multivitamins range and the wider vitamins & supplements department — every order ships free across the UK with free 30-day returns.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take medication or are pregnant.
Multivitamins we stock
A few of the multivitamins on our shelves, grouped by who they are made for. Check the NRV column on each label against the advice above, and speak to your GP or pharmacist if you take other supplements or medicines.
- Centrum Silver Women's 50+: 200 tablets, one a day.
- Centrum Silver Men's 50+: 200 tablets with vitamin D3, B vitamins and zinc.
- Nature Made Advanced Women's gummy multivitamin: 90 gummies, 20 nutrients.
- Garden of Life Organics Men 40+ gummies: 120 vegan gummies with 800 IU (20 mcg) vitamin D3.
- Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Multivitamin: 120 once-daily capsules.
See more in our multivitamins. Every order ships free across the UK, with free 30-day returns.
