Optimal Multivitamin Minus One

• Vitamin A(Vitamin A (Form: as 375 mcg RAE 50% Beta-Carotene, and as 375 mcg RAE 50% Retinyl Palmitate))

  750 mcg RAE

  Ingredient research · Vitamin A

  Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble nutrient that enables normal vision, especially in dim light, and helps maintain immune defenses, skin and other epithelial tissues, growth, and reproduction. Supplementation can prevent or correct deficiency when intake or absorption is inadequate, benefiting visual, immune, and developmental health.

  • Supports maternal and breast-milk vitamin A status, particularly where baseline stores are low.
  • Supports hemoglobin response in some anemic or vitamin A-deficient populations, including when added to iron and folate.
  • Supports reducing bacterial-vaginosis incidence and prevalence during pregnancy and postpartum follow-up in a studied deficient setting.

  Top References

  • Efect of vitamin A suplementation: a systematic review.
  • Retinol-to-Fat Ratio and Retinol Concentration in Human Milk Show Similar Time Trends and Associations with Maternal Factors at the Population Level: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
  • Vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women.
  • Concomitant supplemental vitamin A enhances the response to weekly supplemental iron and folic acid in anemic teenagers in urban Bangladesh.
  • Weekly supplementation with iron and vitamin A during pregnancy increases hemoglobin concentration but decreases serum ferritin concentration in Indonesian pregnant women.
  • Maternal vitamin A and β-carotene supplementation and risk of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh.

• Vitamin D3(Vitamin D3 (Alt. Name: Cholecalciferol) Note: 1000 IU)

  25 mcg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin D

  Vitamin D is a hormone-like nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones and muscle function. Supplementation can reliably prevent or correct low vitamin D status, particularly when sun exposure is limited, while broader immune, cardiovascular, and metabolic benefits are less certain.

  • Supports bone-density and fracture- or fall-related outcomes.
  • Supports muscle-strength outcomes, including lower-limb strength.
  • Supports glycemic-marker and insulin-sensitivity outcomes in studied metabolic populations.
  • Supports respiratory-infection-risk outcomes across studied age groups.

  Top References

  • Effects of combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  • What is the impact of daily oral supplementation of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) plus calcium on the incidence of hip fracture in older people? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
  • Clinical review: The effect of vitamin D on falls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  • Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Muscle Strength, Gait and Balance in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
  • The effects of vitamin D on skeletal muscle strength, muscle mass, and muscle power: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  • Effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • What is the impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in people with type-2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails
  • The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glycaemic Control in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
  • The Role of Vitamin D Oral Supplementation in Insulin Resistance in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  • Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: individual participant data meta-analysis.
  • Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of aggregate data from randomised controlled trials.
  • Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

• Vitamin E(Vitamin E (Form: as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate))

  50 mg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin E

  Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from oxidative damage and supports normal immune and nerve function. Supplementation is most useful for preventing or correcting deficiency, particularly when fat absorption is impaired; routine use has not shown broad protection against cardiovascular disease or cancer.

  • Supports improvement in liver histology in adults without diabetes who have biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
  • Supports lower CRP and malondialdehyde in studied adult populations, including people receiving hemodialysis.
  • Supports short-term improvements in fasting glucose and HbA1c in adults with type 2 diabetes.

  Top References

  • Pioglitazone, vitamin E, or placebo for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
  • The effect of vitamin E supplementation on selected inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
  • The effects of vitamin E supplementation on malondialdehyde as a biomarker of oxidative stress in haemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Effect of supplementation with tomato juice, vitamin E, and vitamin C on LDL oxidation and products of inflammatory activity in type 2 diabetes.
  • Antioxidant effects of vitamins in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Vitamin K2(Vitamin K2 (Form: as Menaquinone-7))

  100 mcg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin K2

  Vitamin K2 is a family of menaquinones that activates proteins involved in normal blood clotting, bone mineralization, and calcium regulation. Supplements are mainly used to support bone health, while possible benefits for vascular calcification and cardiovascular health remain less certain and may differ among forms such as MK-4 and MK-7.

  • Supports selected osteocalcin carboxylation markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

  Top References

  • Efficacy and safety of vitamin K2 for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at a long-term follow-up: meta-analysis and systematic review

• Thiamine(Thiamin (Form: as Thiamine Hydrochloride))

  25 mg

  Ingredient research · Thiamine

  Thiamine is vitamin B1, an essential nutrient that helps convert carbohydrates into usable energy and supports normal nerve and heart function. Supplementation reliably prevents or corrects deficiency, with particular relevance when absorption or intake is impaired, including in chronic heavy alcohol use.

  • Supports depression-treatment response when used alongside standard antidepressant treatment.

  Top References

  • Adjuvant thiamine improved standard treatment in patients with major depressive disorder: results from a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial

• Riboflavin(Riboflavin (Form: as Riboflavin 5-Phosphate Sodium))

  5 mg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin B2

  Vitamin B2 is riboflavin, an essential nutrient that helps enzymes release energy from food and supports normal red blood cell, skin, and nervous-system function. Supplementation reliably prevents or corrects deficiency, and regular use can reduce migraine frequency and severity in some people.

  • Supports blood-pressure control in treated hypertensive adults with the MTHFR 677TT genotype.

  Top References

  • Riboflavin offers a targeted strategy for managing hypertension in patients with the MTHFR 677TT genotype: a 4-y follow-up.
  • Blood Pressure in Treated Hypertensive Individuals With the MTHFR 677TT Genotype Is Responsive to Intervention With Riboflavin: Findings of a Targeted Randomized Trial

• Niacin

  20 mg

  Ingredient research · Niacin

  Niacin is vitamin B3, essential for enzymes that convert food into energy and support normal skin and nervous-system function. Supplementation prevents or corrects deficiency; in high-dose nicotinic acid form it can alter cholesterol and triglycerides, but this pharmacologic use is distinct from routine nutritional supplementation.

  • Supports favorable changes in selected cholesterol fractions, including LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol, in studied metabolic and diabetes populations.
  • Supports favorable fasting-triglyceride changes in studied adults with diabetes or metabolic dysregulation.

  Top References

  • Effectiveness of niacin supplementation for patients with type 2 diabetes
  • Effect of niacin on lipids and glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.
  • Niacin induces miR-502-3p expression which impairs insulin sensitivity in human adipocytes
  • Postprandial triglyceride responses to aerobic exercise and extended-release niacin.

• Vitamin B6(Vitamin B6 (Form: as Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate))

  20 mg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin B6

  Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient that helps enzymes process amino acids and supports neurotransmitter, hemoglobin, and immune function. Supplementation reliably corrects deficiency and can reduce nausea during pregnancy; outside these uses, it is most relevant when intake or absorption is inadequate.

  • Supports depressive-symptom measures in premenopausal women with hormone-related contexts.

  Top References

  • The role for vitamin B-6 as treatment for depression: a systematic review.
  • Vitamin B6 Supplementation Reduces Symptoms of Depression in College Women Taking Oral Contraceptives: A Randomized, Double-Blind Crossover Trial

• Folate(Folate (Form: as Calcium Folinate))

  400 mcg DFE

  Ingredient research · Folate

  Folate is vitamin B9, an essential nutrient needed for DNA synthesis, cell division, and healthy red blood cell formation. Supplementation is especially important before conception and in early pregnancy because adequate folate reliably reduces neural tube defect risk, and it can also correct folate-deficiency anemia.

  • Supports homocysteine measures in women with PCOS and adults with metabolic syndrome.
  • Supports insulin and beta-cell-function markers in women with PCOS or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
  • Supports selected lipid-panel and vascular markers in women with PCOS and adults with metabolic syndrome.
  • Supports selected inflammation and oxidative-stress biomarkers in PCOS, metabolic syndrome, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

  Top References

  • The effects of folate supplementation on inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
  • Metabolic response to folate supplementation in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  • The Effects of Folate Supplementation on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Metabolic Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
  • Effects of long-term folate supplementation on metabolic status and regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

• Vitamin B12(Vitamin B12 (Form: as 50% Hydroxocobalamin, and as 50% Adenosylcobalamin))

  25 mcg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin B12

  Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient needed for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and normal nerve function. Supplementation reliably prevents or corrects deficiency—especially when intake or absorption is limited—and may improve anemia, fatigue, or neurologic symptoms caused by low B12, but is not a general energy booster when status is adequate.

  • Supports vitamin B12 status and responsive deficiency markers in low-status populations, including maternal and breast-milk status during pregnancy and early lactation.

  Top References

  • Studies of biomarker responses to intervention with vitamin B-12: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
  • A vitamin B-12 supplement of 500 μg/d for eight weeks does not normalize urinary methylmalonic acid or other biomarkers of vitamin B-12 status in elderly people with moderately poor vitamin B-12 status.
  • Vitamin B-12 supplementation during pregnancy and early lactation increases maternal, breast milk, and infant measures of vitamin B-12 status.

• Biotin

  500 mcg

  Ingredient research · Biotin

  Biotin is an essential B vitamin that helps enzymes process fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Supplementation reliably prevents or corrects deficiency, but extra biotin has not been shown to improve hair, skin, or nails in most people who are not deficient, and high intakes can distort certain laboratory test results.

• Pantothenic Acid(Pantothenic Acid (Form: as D-Calcium Pantothenate))

  50 mg

  Ingredient research · Vitamin B5

  Vitamin B5 is an essential nutrient used to make coenzyme A, a molecule central to releasing energy from food and building and breaking down fats. Supplementation prevents or corrects deficiency, but deficiency is uncommon and taking extra pantothenic acid has no clearly established benefit for most otherwise well-nourished people.

• Iodine(Iodine (Form: from organic Icelandic Kelp PlantPart: stem & leaf Genus: Laminaria Species: digitata))

  100 mcg

  Ingredient research · Iodine

  Iodine is an essential mineral the thyroid uses to make hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Supplementation reliably prevents or corrects iodine deficiency and is especially important when needs rise during pregnancy for fetal brain development, but excess intake can also disturb thyroid function.

  • Supports selected micronutrient and thyroid-status markers in iodine-deficient adults.

  Top References

  • Iodine Supplementation of Mildly Iodine-Deficient Adults Lowers Thyroglobulin: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  • Iodine Supplementation Decreases Hypercholesterolemia in Iodine-Deficient, Overweight Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

• Zinc(Zinc (Form: as Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate Note: TRAACS))

  10 mg

  Ingredient research · Zinc

  Zinc is an essential mineral needed for hundreds of enzymes, DNA and protein synthesis, immune defense, wound healing, and normal growth. Supplementation corrects low zinc status and helps restore these functions; certain zinc lozenges may also modestly shorten a common cold when used early, though this benefit depends on the formulation.

• Selenium(Selenium (Form: as SelenoExcell High Selenium Yeast))

  75 mcg

  Ingredient research · Selenium

  Selenium is an essential trace mineral used to make antioxidant enzymes and regulate thyroid hormone activity, linking adequate intake to thyroid, immune, and reproductive function. Supplementation can correct low selenium status, but more is not necessarily better because excessive intake can be toxic.

  • Supports selected thyroid-autoantibody and TSH markers in studied people with autoimmune thyroiditis.
  • Supports selected antioxidant-defense biomarkers in studied metabolic, cardiovascular, and selenium-status populations.
  • Supports depression-symptom measures across a small selenium-specific randomized evidence base.

  Top References

  • Selenium Supplementation Significantly Reduces Thyroid Autoantibody Levels in Patients with Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
  • Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A prospective randomized‐controlled trial
  • Effect of selenium supplementation on antioxidant markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  • The effect of selenium supplementation on coronary heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  • Methods of assessment of selenium status in humans: a systematic review.
  • The role of selenium in depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human observational and interventional studies

• Manganese(Manganese (Form: as Manganese Bisglycinate Chelate Note: TRAACS))

  1 mg

  Ingredient research · Manganese

  Manganese is an essential trace mineral that activates enzymes involved in energy metabolism, connective-tissue and bone formation, and antioxidant defense. Supplementation can restore these functions when intake is inadequate or deficiency is present, but added manganese has no clear general benefit for people who already get enough.

• Chromium(Chromium (Form: as Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate Note: TRAACS))

  200 mcg

  Ingredient research · Chromium

  Chromium is a trace mineral thought to assist insulin action and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Supplements are mainly used to improve blood sugar control, though benefits are usually modest or inconsistent outside rare deficiency; the trivalent chromium in supplements is distinct from toxic industrial hexavalent chromium.

• Molybdenum(Molybdenum (Form: as Molybdenum Glycinate Chelate Note: TRAACS))

  75 mcg

  Ingredient research · Molybdenum

  Molybdenum is an essential trace mineral that serves as a cofactor for enzymes involved in processing sulfites, sulfur-containing amino acids and purines. Because ordinary diets generally provide enough and deficiency is exceptionally rare, standalone supplementation has no clear practical benefit for most people, though it can restore status when intake or absorption is genuinely inadequate.

• Superoxide Dismutase(Superoxide Dismutase (Form: from Extramel M Melon extract PlantPart: pulp Genus: Cucumis Species: melo) Note: 100 IU)

  7.14 mg

  Ingredient research · Superoxide Dismutase

  Superoxide Dismutase is an antioxidant enzyme that converts reactive superoxide radicals into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, making it part of the body’s own oxidative defense. Supplements are taken to support antioxidant protection, inflammation control, or exercise recovery, but ordinary oral SOD may be digested before absorption, and demonstrated human benefits remain limited.

• Mixed Tocopherols

  5 mg

  Ingredient research · Tocopherols

  Tocopherols are a family of fat-soluble vitamin E compounds that help protect cell membranes from oxidative damage; alpha-tocopherol is the form the body preferentially retains and uses to meet vitamin E needs. Supplements can prevent or correct deficiency, while claimed advantages of mixed tocopherols for broader cardiovascular or immune benefits remain uncertain.

• Lutein(Lutein (Form: from Marigold extract PlantPart: flowers Genus: Tagetes Species: erecta))

  3 mg

  Ingredient research · Lutein

  Lutein is a carotenoid that accumulates in the retina’s macula, where it helps filter high-energy light and protect tissue from oxidative stress. Supplementation can increase macular pigment and may support visual function, with greatest clinical relevance alongside other nutrients in formulations used for age-related macular degeneration.

  • Supports macular pigment density and selected contrast, glare, and retinal-sensitivity measures.
  • Supports attenuation of selected UV-induced skin-response markers in healthy adults.

  Top References

  • Clinical Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Lutein with High Bio-Accessibility on Macular Pigment Optical Density and Contrast Sensitivity: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Parallel-Group Comparison Trial
  • Changes following supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin in retinal function in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
  • Molecular evidence that oral supplementation with lycopene or lutein protects human skin against ultraviolet radiation: results from a double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, crossover study

• Boron(Boron (Form: as Bororganic Glycine Note: TRAACS))

  1 mg

  Ingredient research · Boron

  Boron is a trace element that may influence mineral metabolism and the actions of vitamin D and steroid hormones. Supplements are mainly considered for bone and joint health, but a distinct benefit in people with adequate diets has not been firmly established.

• BioPQQ Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt

  1 mg

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