Ask The Experts

Question:

What multivitamin would you recommend for a vegan?

I live a vegan lifestyle for the most part. I also avoid the sun as much as possible. When I do go out, I always wear sunscreen. Because of my lifestyle, I worry that I could be missing out on important vitamins. What multivitamin would you recommend for me?

Answer:

Vegan lifestyles offer many benefits, but you are correct in thinking you might be missing out on important vitamins. I would encourage you to visit with your practitioner first regarding your concerns and to have your B vitamins and vitamin D levels tested. You will also want to discuss any age-related issues and family history before deciding on a supplement routine that works for you.

There are two supplements I would suggest: an age-appropriate multivitamin and a vitamin D supplement. I recommend vitamin D especially because you mentioned you try to avoid the sun. (Learn more about vitamin D here.) When considering a vitamin D supplement to help support bone and immune health, you'll want to think about what you classify as vegan.* Vitamin D2 is made from non-animal sources but is less bioavailable throughout the body, while vitamin D3 is not vegan because it's commonly derived from the lanolin in sheep's wool.

I would suggest you look for a complete, high potency multivitamin in capsule or tablet form ... When choosing a multivitamin, you'll want to pay close attention to the ingredients. Look for those nutrients you might not be getting enough of such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, vitamin B12, and more.

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