The 12 Best Supplements, According to a Dietitian

Best Overall

Thorne Research Basic Nutrients 2/Day

Finding the best multivitamin for you requires taking a closer look at your overall diet, including nutrients that may be lacking. Some people may benefit from a general multivitamin, whereas others may require a multivitamin with more or less of some specific nutrients.

We like Thorne’s Basic Nutrients 2/Day multivitamin because it contains a balance of essential vitamins and minerals and is third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport. It is also suitable for those who need to avoid gluten, soy, or dairy ingredients. Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day meets or exceeds the Daily Value for most of the essential nutrients. We also like this multi has nutrients in their most absorbable form like vitamin D3 and methylated folate, and B12.

Note some medications may interact with nutrients in a multi, so it’s important to always consult a healthcare professional if you are taking medications before adding a multivitamin supplement.

One drawback of Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day is it does not contain iron and is very low in calcium and magnesium. Both iron and calcium are important nutrients for perimenopausal or pregnant people, and those following a vegetarian or vegan diet may not get enough in the diet. A healthcare professional can give individual guidance on what nutrients may be best for your needs when looking at a multivitamin.

Price at time of publication: $36 ($1.20 per serving)

FullWell prenatal was developed by a registered dietitian and is specifically formulated to support women’s health during and after pregnancy. This prenatal is different from many others on the market, as it contains more of some nutrients such as choline and magnesium while eliminating other nutrients like iron and omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in other prenatal vitamins. Additionally, the FullWell prenatal contains the methylated forms of both B12 and folate, which may be better absorbed.23 However, it’s worth noting that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to recommend folic acid versus the methylated form of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects because the methylated form hasn’t been studied in preventing neural tube defects.4

Unlike many other prenatal vitamins, one dose of FullWell includes eight capsules. This may make it challenging for some people to take. However, FullWell offers tips and tricks for getting all capsules in per day, such as opening capsules to mix into foods. FullWell does not contain omega-3 fatty acids or iron, so note these nutrients may need to be added via additional supplementation if recommended by a healthcare professional.

Price at time of publication $49.95 ($1.67 per serving)