How to Read a Multivitamin Label

By Florence

A multivitamin panel lists twenty or more nutrients, and almost none of that information appears on the front of the bottle. Reading one methodically takes about a minute and is the only way two products become comparable.

Start at the top: serving size

Before any nutrient figure, read the serving size. Multivitamins commonly state two or three tablets as one serving. Every number below refers to that serving, so a product appearing more complete may simply expect three tablets a day where its competitor expects one.

This single line changes the interpretation of the entire panel, and it is the most frequently missed thing in the category.

Then the %DV column

Percent Daily Value expresses each nutrient against a reference intake, which makes it the fastest way to scan a panel. Two caveats: not every ingredient has a %DV — botanicals and several additions show none, so there is no reference point for them — and %DV is a general population reference rather than a personal target.

Then check for iron

Whether iron is present, and at what level, is the main difference between men’s, women’s and 50+ versions of the same brand — see men’s vs women’s multivitamins.

Then the nutrient forms

The form is in brackets after each nutrient and is where much of the price difference sits: folate as folic acid or methylfolate, B12 as cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin, vitamin E as natural or synthetic, magnesium as oxide or a chelate. See methylated multivitamins explained.

Then anything above 100%

Nutrients well above their reference intake are worth noting, particularly the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, which accumulate. If you take other supplements, those totals add together.

Finally, the proprietary blend line

Where a group of ingredients shares one total, the individual amounts are not disclosed. That is not automatically bad, but it does mean that portion of the panel cannot be compared against anything.

In practice

Serving size, iron, forms, anything over 100%, proprietary blends. Our multivitamin comparison filters by brand, format and pack size.

References

Written and edited by

Florence Editor

Editor of SupplementsGo. Writes and edits the guides, checking each one against the sources cited for accuracy and clarity. Not a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian — nothing on this site is medical advice, and guides covering dosage or safety say so on the page.

Medical disclaimer Affiliate disclosure Editorial policy