12 Best Vitamin Brands of 2023
With hundreds of supplement brands out there, how do you know which brand is
the best for you? If you are looking for a guide on how to choose the
best supplement brands, you've come to the right place.
Filling this need, third-party companies evaluate products for effectiveness and safety.
Every year new headlines come out about contaminated supplements. The results of many such tests are dismal.
A study on athletes found that supplement users unintentionally consumed products adulterated with banned substances. This devastated the career of Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy. And Jessica was proactive. Before buying, she had contacted the company for safety and purity information on their products.
One of the larger tests of 138 common dietary supplements found worrisome levels of toxic molds, yeast, and fungi.
Another more recent 2018 study identified unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients in a staggering 776 dietary supplements. What kind of products? Those marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, or muscle building.
In June 2019 the FDA seized 300,000 containers of contaminated products.
Due to widespread product contamination and new untested brands bombarding store shelves, choosing a safe and reliable supplement brand is critical to your health and wellbeing.
– Certifications. We looked for brands offering products with additional certifications, such as NSF Certified Safe for Sport, Non-GMO Verified, or certified gluten-free or vegan.
– Ingredients. We chose brands that prioritize the use of high quality ingredients and easily absorbed forms of vitamins and minerals. We prefer brands that avoid or limit the use of artificial flavors, fillers, and preservatives.
– Dose. Making sure that the supplement is in an amount that has clinically therapeutic. Some supplement offer higher dose that may be dangerous. Best to talk to your doctor if you decide to take a higher dose.
Buyer Beware
Dietary supplements do not fit into the category of drug and therefore, the safety requirements are not as stringent. Manufacturers notoriously cut corners whenever possible for a leg up on their rivals.Filling this need, third-party companies evaluate products for effectiveness and safety.
Every year new headlines come out about contaminated supplements. The results of many such tests are dismal.
A study on athletes found that supplement users unintentionally consumed products adulterated with banned substances. This devastated the career of Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy. And Jessica was proactive. Before buying, she had contacted the company for safety and purity information on their products.
One of the larger tests of 138 common dietary supplements found worrisome levels of toxic molds, yeast, and fungi.
Another more recent 2018 study identified unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients in a staggering 776 dietary supplements. What kind of products? Those marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, or muscle building.
In June 2019 the FDA seized 300,000 containers of contaminated products.
Due to widespread product contamination and new untested brands bombarding store shelves, choosing a safe and reliable supplement brand is critical to your health and wellbeing.
How do you ensure the quality of the supplement?
When researching the best vitamin brands, we considered the following factors:– Third-party testing (for instance, NSF International, Consumer Lab, and the United States Pharmacopeia) (USP). We looked for brands that have been tested by an independent lab to guarantee they were free of contaminants such as heavy metals or microbes.
– Certifications. We looked for brands offering products with additional certifications, such as NSF Certified Safe for Sport, Non-GMO Verified, or certified gluten-free or vegan.
– Ingredients. We chose brands that prioritize the use of high quality ingredients and easily absorbed forms of vitamins and minerals. We prefer brands that avoid or limit the use of artificial flavors, fillers, and preservatives.
– Price. Be aware if the supplement is a lot cheaper than others, there might be a reason behind it. Check for third-party testing or certification.
– Dose. Making sure that the supplement is in an amount that has clinically therapeutic. Some supplement offer higher dose that may be dangerous. Best to talk to your doctor if you decide to take a higher dose.
Best Vitamin Brands in 2022
We’ve identified and curated a list of the best Supplement Brands. Here is
the list.
A quick look at the best vitamin brands
- Thorne Research
- NOW Foods
- Pure Encapsulations
- Garden of Life
- Life Extension
- Nature Made
- Nordic Naturals
- Olly
- Vital Proteins
- Culturelle
1. Thorne Research
At Thorne, being able to rely on the safety and efficacy of their nutritional supplement products is the motivating force behind their clinical trials program. Each product they formulate and manufacture is based on extensive clinical research and medical literature that substantiate the presence of each ingredient in each formula.Trusted by 12 U.S. National teams and many professional sports teams, Thorne research provides safe, effective products free of contamination. If you can’t (or don’t want to) risk accidentally consuming banned substances, Thorne’s got you covered.
Moreover, numerous Thorne nutritional supplement products are being tested in clinical trials taking place around the world. Their collaborations with independent researchers help them scientifically confirm the efficacy and safety of their products.
– Committed to 100% Clean
At Thorne, clean means supplements that do not contain any harmful or unnecessary ingredients. Their “No” List guides them every day in choosing which ingredients to source and how to formulate new products, so you can feel confident about what you are putting in your body.
– Great quality Ingredients
Every Thorne product is made with quality ingredients that are screened for contaminants.
FAQs
- Are Thorne’s products certified nonGMO?
Thorne has a longstanding policy to not use genetically modified ingredients in our products. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, every Thorne product is GMO-free, even though we don’t label our products as being non-GMO. The reason we don’t label our products as non-GMO is because there are no current tests that can be performed to confirm an ingredient’s non-GMO status. Currently, an ingredient’s non-GMO status can only be affirmed by a supplier affidavit, and Thorne has chosen to wait for the time we can use scientific methods to confirm every ingredient’s non-GMO status. (Source)
- Are Thorne's nutritional supplement products hypoallergenic?
– Thorne Research Supplements | Browse On Amazon
a. Multivitamins
b. Vitamins for Stress
c. Vitamins for Sleep
d. Vitamins for Immune Support
2. Now Foods
Within the health business, NOW Foods is a well-known and trusted brand. The fact that the company has been established for more than 50 years adds to its credibility in the wellness industry. There is no denying that this is a premium-quality brand with a hands-on approach to creating world-class supplements.– Quality | Natural Product
NOW Foods dedication to superior quality has always involved sustainable sourcing, transparency at all levels, and exclusive testing methods that go above and beyond.
– Third party Certifications
Going beyond our in-house house, we earned and invest in third-party certifications, from category specific to company-wide product certifications. Some Now products hold product-specific certificate, so make sure to review every label for the designated certification icon such as vegan, cruelty free, non GMO, gluten free and more.
– High-Quality Clean Ingredients
NOW priority is to provide products that are as close to nature as possible, free of adulterants, minimally processed, and comprehensively tested. We use clean ingredients that are non-GMO and organic, whenever possible, and qualify all ingredient suppliers and conduct independent inspections to make sure raw materials meet NOW’s high-quality standards. (Source)
– Now Foods Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. All Supplements
d. Essential Oils
3. Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations® have spent the last 30 years researching, innovating, and developing our comprehensive line of premium supplements. Every one of our products is formulated using high quality, pure ingredients backed by verifiable science and FREE FROM unnecessary additives and many common allergens.Nestle Health Science, a division of Nestle owns Pure Encapsulations.
– Pure Encapsulations products are FREE FROM:
Wheat, Soy*, Dairy*, Eggs, Tree Nuts & Peanuts, Gluten, Artificial colors, flavors & sweeteners, Coatings & shellacs, GMOs†, Unnecessary binders, fillers & preservatives, Magnesium Stearate, Trans fat & hydrogenated oils.
– Quality Promise
Ensure the integrity of every product with the promise of premium sourced ingredients, backed by verifiable science, and significant testing by certified independent laboratories of their raw materials and final products, to verify its potency and purity. So you can feel confident knowing only the best of the best ever make it into your hands.
– Pure Science
Scientific research raises the bar for everything they do. That’s why they’ve published more than 50 product-specific clinical studies in leading peer-reviewed journals highlighting their commitment to research and their collaboration with top academic institutions, including Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Université Laval, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School.
– Pure Encapsulations Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Supplements for Immune System
b. Supplements for Energy & Fitness
d. Supplements for GI Tract
e. Supplements for Vision
4. Nature Made
They’re pretty obsessed with quality. That’s why with everything from ingredient sourcing and industry-leading manufacturing practices, to investment in new innovations, they make it their responsibility to be a leader in delivering quality products and a quality consumer experience.– Quality you can trust
If you care this much about what goes in your body then they believe it should be the best quality. They go the extra step to ensure our vitamins and supplements are USP verified when possible. Meaning they’ve been tested for purity and potency by the U.S. Pharmacopeia so you know you’re getting the good stuff.
– #1 Pharmacist Recommended, Pharmacy Times Survey Results – Nature Made® (Read More)
There are lots of vitamin brands out there. For 40 years, Nature Made has been a vitamin and supplement company dedicated to quality. That’s one of the reasons Nature Made was chosen as the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Letter Vitamin and Fish Oil brand in the 2015 Pharmacy Times survey.
– Nature Made Supplements | Browse on Amazon
There are lots of vitamin brands out there. For 40 years, Nature Made has been a vitamin and supplement company dedicated to quality. That’s one of the reasons Nature Made was chosen as the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Letter Vitamin and Fish Oil brand in the 2015 Pharmacy Times survey.
– Nature Made Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. All Supplements
b. Nature Made Vitamins
c. Fish Oil & Omegas
d. Mineral Supplements
5. Garden of Life
Empowering Extraordinary Health® is not just a mission statement to be used on their website or advertisements. The sole purpose of Garden of Life is and always will be to empower you, our consumers, with the tools necessary to achieve extraordinary health. And, at the same time, ensure that they are offering clean, traceable, clinically studied ingredients in the most sustainable way possible.Nestle Health Science, a division of Nestle owns Garden of Life.
Garden of Life has been leading the way for sustainability over the past 20 years and we are excited to announce that we’ve done it again. Because we have spent all these years developing one of the world’s most sustainable supply chains, we were able to achieve certification 6 months ahead of schedule. As of June 2021, Garden of Life is officially certified Carbonfree® on both a brand and product level through third-party certifier Carbonfund.org Foundation.
– Their Sustainability
– Their Certifications:
They use the following third-party (never self-affirmed) certifications to prove they are clean! USDA Organic Certified, Non-GMO Project Certified, Certified Vegan, NSF Gluten-Free Certified, MSC certification, Green-e® Energy Certified and many more.
Garden of Life Supplements | Browse on Amazon
- What does Life Extension do to ensure the quality of its products?
We focus on two specific areas.
Raw Materials: Unlike other supplement companies, the ingredients that go into our supplements are not chosen based on cost. Instead they are chosen based on purity (to ensure contaminants such as microbes and heavy metals comply with regulatory and GMPs requirements), potency, and usage in successful scientific research.
Validation of the Efficacy of Ingredients by Scientific Research: We use ingredients and dosages that accurately replicate the most successful results obtained in scientific studies for maximum efficacy. (Source)
- Does the label accurately list exactly what’s in the bottle?
Yes. All active ingredients from patented, scientifically validated raw materials as well as final, finished products are verified using advanced analytical methods such as HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), MS (mass spectrometry), etc., to ensure each and every product accurately meets label claims in strict compliance with our demanding product specifications. (Source)
- What is Life Extension’s Position on GMO?
In response to customer inquiries regarding GMO, Life Extension launched a major initiative to affirm the non-GMO status of its products. As a result, hundreds of products were carefully evaluated and the vast majority of Life Extension’s 400+ product line are self-affirmed as non-GMO. The detailed investigation includes rigorous documentation analysis for all active ingredients as well as inactive ingredients such as excipients. Expensive GMO testing is also used as part of the investigation. If a product is LE Certified as non-GMO you will see it indicated on the product label and website product description. You are always welcome to contact us if you have a question about a specific product. (Source)
Life Extension Supplements | Browse on Amazon
Garden of Life has been leading the way for sustainability over the past 20 years and we are excited to announce that we’ve done it again. Because we have spent all these years developing one of the world’s most sustainable supply chains, we were able to achieve certification 6 months ahead of schedule. As of June 2021, Garden of Life is officially certified Carbonfree® on both a brand and product level through third-party certifier Carbonfund.org Foundation.
– Their Sustainability
– Their Certifications:
They use the following third-party (never self-affirmed) certifications to prove they are clean! USDA Organic Certified, Non-GMO Project Certified, Certified Vegan, NSF Gluten-Free Certified, MSC certification, Green-e® Energy Certified and many more.
Garden of Life Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Probiotic Supplements
b. Protein Supplements
c. Dr. Formulated Supplements
d. Prenatal Supplements
6. Life Extension
Our commitment to quality and safety have earned us GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) registration from NSF International, an organization that independently registers manufacturers as meeting GMP requirements. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are guidelines that provide a system of processes, procedures and documentation to assure a product has the identity, strength, composition, quality and purity that appear on its label. (Source)- What does Life Extension do to ensure the quality of its products?
We focus on two specific areas.
Raw Materials: Unlike other supplement companies, the ingredients that go into our supplements are not chosen based on cost. Instead they are chosen based on purity (to ensure contaminants such as microbes and heavy metals comply with regulatory and GMPs requirements), potency, and usage in successful scientific research.
Validation of the Efficacy of Ingredients by Scientific Research: We use ingredients and dosages that accurately replicate the most successful results obtained in scientific studies for maximum efficacy. (Source)
- Does the label accurately list exactly what’s in the bottle?
Yes. All active ingredients from patented, scientifically validated raw materials as well as final, finished products are verified using advanced analytical methods such as HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), MS (mass spectrometry), etc., to ensure each and every product accurately meets label claims in strict compliance with our demanding product specifications. (Source)
- What is Life Extension’s Position on GMO?
In response to customer inquiries regarding GMO, Life Extension launched a major initiative to affirm the non-GMO status of its products. As a result, hundreds of products were carefully evaluated and the vast majority of Life Extension’s 400+ product line are self-affirmed as non-GMO. The detailed investigation includes rigorous documentation analysis for all active ingredients as well as inactive ingredients such as excipients. Expensive GMO testing is also used as part of the investigation. If a product is LE Certified as non-GMO you will see it indicated on the product label and website product description. You are always welcome to contact us if you have a question about a specific product. (Source)
Life Extension Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Vitamin and Minerals Supplements
b. Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplements
c. Supplements for Glucose Management
d. Supplements for Immune Support
7. Nordic Naturals
Nordic Naturals set out to develop a manufacturing process that would make good on this ethos, beginning with fresh, pure fish oil products with high omega-3 value. These products began to change the way Americans perceived fish oil, and they eventually brought the wide-ranging benefits of omega-3s to a larger audience, including children, seniors, athletes, and even pets.– Transparency and Purity
They obsessively test every lot to ensure our products are free from environmental toxins and contaminants. Every batch of Nordic Naturals fish oils is tested by a third-party certified lab for environmental toxins, including heavy metals. All fish oils are in the triglyceride form and surpass the strictest international standards for purity and freshness. Certificates of Analysis available upon request.
– Commited to health
At Nordic Naturals, we’re committed to delivering the world’s safest, most effective nutrients essential to health. It’s what motivates us to ensure that all our products are research supported, expertly formulated, rigorously tested, proven effective, and best of all, great tasting.
– Non-GMO
Since our founding, we’ve been committed to using only non-GMO ingredients in everything we make. We work with Eurofins, a globally recognized leader in GMO testing, to rigorously test and venfy all the ingredients we use across our entire product line for the absence of GMOs
– Nordic Naturals Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Ultimate Omega
b. Nordic Beauty
8. OLLY
All products start with a personal need, we believe dietary supplements with natural ingredients that have functional benefits can have powerful impact on our health and overall wellness.– Ensure the quality and safety
Our team of scientists, quality, and regulatory experts ensure OLLY is compliant with all applicable regulations for foods and supplements. We only partner with suppliers and manufacturers who can meet our stringent requirements for transparency, traceability, and documentation. We partner manufacturers who are certified to be fully compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and are free from contaminants.
– Driven by science
Our experience health and nutrition experts uncover the latest clinical research that address the desired health benefits. Then they develop a formulation that includes the amount of ingredients to ensure real results. Our team ensures any claims we make about the ingredients in our products are fully supported by published scientific literature.
– Crafted clearly
We are committed to transparency, so you know what you’re getting every time you buy and take an OLLY gummy vitamin. None of our flavors, colors, and sweeteners are derived from artificial sources. We use non-GMO sources of raw materials whenever possible, plus all our products are gluten-free (Source)
– OLLY Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Supplements for Sleep
c. Supplements for Immunity
d. Supplements for Beauty
9. Vital Proteins
Vital Proteins is a popular brand known for its collagen supplements, which are available in a variety of forms and flavors, including vanilla, matcha, and dark chocolate blackberry. Types of vitamins available: collagen powders, drinks, capsules, and gummies.Nestle Health Science, a division of Nestle owns Vital Proteins.
– Clean
Vital Proteins believes in providing clean, natural nutrition without the use of fillers, binders, or artificial colors and sweeteners.
– Certificarion / Audited by Third Parties
Vital Proteins is USDA Organic Certified by CCOF; is Non-GMO Project Verified; and a NSF certified cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) facility.
FAQ
- Is Vital Proteins collagen vegan?
No, it is not, as it’s sourced from beef/fish/chicken. As of right now, we have yet to find a known source of vegan collagen. We do however have various vegan friendly products – Spirulina, Beauty Boost, Hair Boost, Skin Hydration Boost, Complexion Boost, Feeling Zen, and Mind + Memory Boost. They are not made of collagen, but offer other plant-based ingredients that help boost the body’s production of collagen or offer other functional benefits. (Source)
- Still new to collagen? What product should I start with?
Try our Collagen Peptides. They are our most popular and are odorless and tasteless, so they are very easy to incorporate into your diet.
– Vital Proteins Supplements | Browse on Amazon
10. Culturelle
Culturelle are gut health experts, and Culturelle developed a line of products driven by science, and backed by results. With Culturelle®, you are choosing a brand trusted by families and doctors alike, and you are getting products that work.Culturelle products are manufactured in a facility that’s certified by NSF International, and each product lot is carefully inspected prior to packaging.
Most Culturelle supplements are also free of common allergens like dairy, soy, and gluten, making them great options for those with food allergies.
Types of vitamins available in Culturelle: probiotics, alone or combined with multivitamins or other nutrients
– Culturelle Supplements | Browse on Amazon
a. Supplements for Digestion
b. Supplements for Immune Support
DISCLAIMER
Always see your doctor before taking these supplements. Be aware that some of the brands' recommended dosages are above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and therefore such dosages should not be maintained on a long term basis.
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