This guide explains how to assess multivitamins using the information on the label and product page.
It focuses on product categories, ingredient declarations, serving information, suitability and the limits of permitted claims. It does not rank or score competing brands.
Commercial disclosure: The Health Improvers sells food supplements in this category. Where one of our products is used as a worked example, it is clearly identified and assessed using the same label-reading principles.
How should you choose a multivitamin?
1. Start with the nutrients, not the front-of-pack number
A formula with 23 nutrients is not automatically better than one with 17. Read the amount and % NRV for each nutrient. NRV is a labelling reference for an average adult; it is not a personalised target, an upper safe limit or a guarantee of effectiveness.
For many vitamin and mineral health claims, the product must provide at least a legally significant amount. In food supplements this is normally judged from the recommended daily serving, and 15% NRV is the usual “source of” threshold. An amount below that is not necessarily biologically useless; it simply may not qualify for the relevant nutrition or health claim. See the GB claims guidance.
2. Decide whether you want iron
Some general multivitamins contain iron and others do not. Iron can be appropriate where intake is low or a healthcare professional has identified a need, but a general multivitamin should not be used to self-treat suspected iron-deficiency anaemia. The NHS advises diagnosis with a blood test and treatment according to the identified cause. Read the NHS iron-deficiency guidance.
3. Check vitamin A if you are pregnant or trying to conceive
The NHS advises avoiding supplements and multivitamins containing vitamin A as retinol during pregnancy. A pregnancy-specific supplement is a better starting point than an ordinary A-to-Z formula. The NHS recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid daily from before conception until 12 weeks of pregnancy, with higher doses only for certain people on professional advice. See NHS pregnancy supplement advice.
4. Check vitamin K if you take warfarin
Vitamin K can affect how warfarin works. Do not start a vitamin K supplement without discussing it with your doctor or anticoagulation service. The One contains vitamin K2, so it is not a casual choice for someone taking warfarin. See the NHS warfarin guidance.
5. Check suitability and serving size
Vegetarian and vegan are not interchangeable. The One is labelled suitable for vegetarians, not vegans. Also check whether the quoted figures apply per tablet, per capsule or to a multi-capsule daily serving.
How should you choose a multivitamin?
- Fully declared 17-nutrient capsule with fibre ingredients and named live cultures: The One.
The honest answer is that many people do not need a broad multivitamin. If one nutrient is the actual gap, a targeted supplement may be simpler. Read Do you need a multivitamin? and why nutrient count alone can mislead.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100% NRV always better than 25%?
No. NRV is a standard label reference, not a personal prescription. The relevant question is whether the amount fits your diet, life stage and any professional advice.
Are gummies worse than tablets or capsules?
Not automatically. Gummies can be easier to take, but often contain fewer nutrients per serving and may contain sugar or sweeteners. Compare the full daily serving rather than judging by format alone.
Can a multivitamin replace a balanced diet?
No. Food supplements are intended to supplement the normal diet, not replace varied food or a healthy lifestyle.
Sources and checking method
Product facts were taken from the manufacturers’ or retailers’ current pages and from our current product label. Health and legal statements were checked against the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register, 2026 food supplements guidance and the NHS pages linked above.
Written by Barry Lees. Last reviewed 2 August 2026.
Always read the label. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
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