Have you ever thought about whether to take multivitamins vs. individual vitamins and minerals? What are the benefits of multivitamin/mineral supplement (from here on referred to as a multivitamin)? And, is taking one better than taking several individual vitamin and/or mineral supplements? 

These are just some of the many questions you might have when considering adding multivitamins vs. individual vitamins and minerals to your daily routine. While there are benefits to both – and although questions like “Is it better to take a multivitamin or individual vitamins?” may arise – each person should decide which works best for them based on their unique and individual health needs. No one person or their health story is the same, including when it comes to choosing between individual vitamins vs. multivitamins.

To learn more about multivitamins vs. individual vitamins, keep reading! 

Benefits of multivitamins

One of the best things about taking a multivitamin is that it can add to your nutrient baseline. It’s possible that you may be lacking key nutrients based on your daily diet and lifestyle, so taking a multivitamin can help fill the gaps, which helps you function at your best. 

It’s also worth noting that taking a multivitamin best represents how we acquire nutrients through the foods we eat. A multivitamin can be important for individuals with dietary restrictions or intolerances that prevent them from eating certain foods, thereby missing out on sources of vital daily nutrients.

The other basic truth about multivitamins is that they can offer simplicity to your everyday wellness routine. Some benefits of taking a multivitamin daily are that, depending on the multi you choose, might just require you take two a day – and that’s it! For some people, keeping track of multiple capsules of individual vitamins and minerals overcomplicates their wellness routines, and carrying around a seven-day capsule organizer isn’t always practical. Multivitamins turn complexity into convenience with standard daily nutrients streamlined in one effortless bottle. For some, a multivitamin like Thorne’s Basic Nutrients 2/Day or Advanced Nutrients might be better options because they contain an all-in-one balanced formula of vitamins and minerals for daily use. Note: Because Advanced Nutrients contains additional ingredients to support healthy aging,* you may want to take more than two capsules a day to take full advantage of what the supplement has to offer.

Multivitamins can be formulated for individuals with different needs.  No one multivitamin is right for everyone. Children have different needs than adults. Men have different nutritional support needs than women, and women who are pregnant or nursing have different nutritional support needs than women in other stages of life. Multivitamins can be formulated for a certain time of day – a morning multi versus a nighttime multi.

Because different multivitamin formulas are indicated for different needs, always read the product label (“Supplement Facts”) to ensure you get the one best for your needs. This also ensures you are choosing a formula that contains safe and effective ingredients – without unnecessary fillers. Some ingredients commonly used in the supplement industry can interfere with absorption. That’s why Thorne is committed to our “No List”, which identifies substances we never use in our products. 

So, when it comes to multivitamin vs individual vitamins, which is better? The answer is never one-size-fits-all, and there’s a reason for that.

Benefits of individual vitamins and minerals

Because a multivitamin formula provides baseline nutritional support, it’s a good place to start when seeking personalized solutions for health and wellness. But you might discover that you are deficient in a specific vitamin or mineral because of various lifestyle, life stage, or health factors. For example, individuals who don’t spend enough time outdoors or who live in the northern latitudes are more susceptible to a vitamin D deficiency. Are you one of those people who might be at risk? Take the easy, at-home Vitamin D Test and find out. 

If you are deficient in a specific vitamin or mineral or have an increased need due to lifestyle or health factors, then the amount of that nutrient in a multivitamin might not be sufficient for your specific health needs. This is where the distinction between individual vitamin and mineral supplements can prove important.

Individual vitamins and minerals are focused on a single nutrient. From A to Z, this could range anywhere from Thorne’s Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) to Thorne’s Zinc Bisglycinate. Individual supplements like these provide for a targeted increase in the amount of a specific nutrient without needing to increase the other nutrients you aren’t deficient in. What’s more, an individual vitamin or mineral supplement can offer a more concentrated amount per capsule, allowing for more versatility in your personal supplement regimen.

Individual vitamins and minerals also can be taken at different times of the day. When taken together in higher amounts, some minerals and vitamins can compete for absorption in your gut. Therefore, spacing out certain supplements throughout the day gives the body sufficient time to absorb each nutrient instead of prioritizing one over the other. For example, supplementing with 50 mg of zinc daily can result in a decreased ability to absorb copper. For some individuals who take a high amount of zinc for optimal immune function, taking a separate copper supplement can avoid a deficiency while helping maintain their immune health.*

So, what's the answer? Is it better to take a multivitamin or individual vitamins? Maybe both.

Although there is much debate about taking multivitamins vs. individual vitamins, both can offer a starting point to fill in any gaps in your health and wellness. As you continue supplementing, you can refine your diet and supplement needs and focus on specific health goals. For many individuals, a mix of a multivitamin and individual vitamins provides a more personalized approach. The debate of taking multivitamins vs individual vitamins comes down to customization versus convenience; while individual vitamins allow for precision, multivitamins offer simplicity. Ultimately, whether it’s better to take a multivitamin or individual vitamins depends on your unique health goals, lifestyle, and any guidance from a health-care professional.

With a variety of multi-vitamin/mineral supplements, a full suite of individual vitamin and mineral supplements, and numerous specialty supplement formulas, Thorne has health and wellness solutions for every health need and life stage.

Health test kits taken in the comfort of your home can also get you started on the journey to better health and wellness. Each Thorne test analyzes your individual biomarkers to create an in-depth and accurate picture of your health. Your results include a comprehensive improvement plan, tailored with individual recommendations based on your unique results to help you get answers to your health questions, including “Should I take a multivitamin or separate vitamins?”