Top Six Customized Vitamin Supplements for 2024
Firms touting customized vitamins claim they tailor supplements to unique health requirements, but there are potential hazards involved. Prominent brands such as HUM and Ritual provide some of the top personalized vitamin subscription services.
A review of 6 exceptional personalized vitamin subscriptions
- Superior selection: HUM Nutrition | Skip to review
- Versatile options: Persona Nutrition | Skip to review
- Family-friendly: Ritual | Skip to review
- Consultation-based: Ro Roman Daily | Skip to review
- Fitness-focused: Gainful | Skip to review
- Multivitamin master: Vous Vitamin | Skip to review
Selection process
Medical News Today selects personalized vitamins based on the following criteria:
- Personalization: We select companies that provide truly tailored vitamins through surveys and questionnaires.
- Supplements: We choose brands that offer supplements that fill any nutritional gaps in a person's diet.
- Quality: We select vitamins with high-grade ingredients, free of artificial flavors, colors, and additives.
- Regulatory compliance: All featured companies comply with the Food and Drug Administration's health claim and labeling regulations.
- Pricing: We select vitamins with a range of price points.
Medical News Today uses a rigorous product selection and vetting process. Further information is available here.
from around $26
Top personalized vitamin companies
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Below are some of the top choices for personalized vitamins.
yes
Comparing the best personalized vitamin brands
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The table below compares the brands detailed in the preceding section.
A
| Price | Personalization | Customization | Health advice | BBB rating | Shipping || --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || HUM | around $26 | online quiz | yes | dietitian | A | $5.95 free on orders over $50 || Persona | $1.68 per 28-day supply | online quiz | yes | nutritionist | B | free on orders over $50, $5 to $25 per shipment below $50, depending on location and pill quantity || Ritual | from $33 | online quiz | no | none | A | free || Ro | $35 per month or $87 quarterly | doctor consultation | yes | yes | A | free || Gainful | varies, from $22 | online quiz | yes | dietitian | F | $5.99, free for orders over $60 || Vous Vitamin | starts at $30 | online quiz | yes | none | – | included in the vitamin cost |
•$5.95• free on orders over $50
Are multivitamins essential?
Most individuals should obtain all essential nutrients through a diverse and balanced diet.
from $1.68 per 28-day supply
Nutritional requirements vary from individual to individual, due to age, gender, dietary preferences, and more. Therefore, vitamins necessary for some may not be suitable for others. Taking excess vitamins may pose risks, so individuals should consult their healthcare providers before taking multivitamin supplements.
online quiz
However, certain high-risk groups might require supplements. These include but are not limited to:
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Pregnant or attempting to conceive women
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- Preconceptional folate supplements can lower the risk of conditions like spina bifida.
- Iron supplements during pregnancy can minimize anemia and bleeding risks.
- Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy can ensure the baby's heart, bones, and teeth thrive and decrease the risk of seizures after birth.
B
Older adults and those with osteoporosis
•.free on orders over $50• $5 to $25 per shipment below $50 depending on location and number of pills ordered
As people age, their ability to process and absorb certain nutrients decreases. Consequently, older adults may need to supplement dietary intake with specific vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, B12, and calcium.
Individuals with osteoporosis may require additional vitamin D and calcium beyond their daily diet intake.
from $33
Vegans and vegetarians
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Vitamins such as vitamin B12 are exclusively present in animal sources. Therefore, individuals following a vegan or vegetarian diet may need to take vitamin B12 supplements.
no
People with chronic diseases
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Chronic diseases like Chron’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cause gut inflammation, which may result in difficulty digesting and absorbing certain nutrients. Common deficiencies in Chron’s disease or IBD include iron, vitamin B1, B6, B12, K, iron, zinc, folic acid, and selenium. Taking these supplements may be necessary for people with these conditions.
A
- Quality Assessment: An individual can assess the quality of personalized vitamin products by looking for certifications like Certified Organic. It's also crucial to ensure that the companies manufacture their products in facilities adhering to specific standards.
- Cost Consideration: Pricing can vary greatly between personalized vitamin subscription services. It's advisable to ask for quotes from various services before making a decision.
- Personalization Options: Some companies require customers to fill out a lifestyle questionnaire to recommend tailored vitamins and supplements. Others offer a more DIY approach, allowing customers to choose their preferred vitamins.
- Transparency: Due to limited regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supplement and vitamin companies must be transparent about their ingredients and manufacturing processes. Ideally, products should undergo third-party testing, and brands should provide test results.
free
Do Personalized Vitamins Work Effectively?
Research on personalized vitamins is relatively scarce. Few studies support their efficacy, especially when compared to non-personalized options.
$35 per month or $87 quarterly
Despite a lack of concrete evidence, a review of nine studies did not find consistent, substantial benefits from personalized nutrition for dietary, behavioral, or health outcomes. More research is needed.
doctor consultation
The U.S. government has limited oversight over companies selling personalized vitamins. An older Government Accountability Office (GAO) study revealed that these vitamins may fail to improve health and that companies selling them may disseminate misleading or questionable health information.
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One of the main selling points of these companies is that they personalize supplements to meet an individual's health needs. The GAO study confirmed this claim by using fake profiles to investigate four companies offering this service. The authors filled out the online surveys and submitted DNA samples for the tests.
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The study found that the companies struggled to communicate what genetic markers they analyzed, their methods, or the rationale behind their predictions and nutritional advice.
A
Risks and Factors to Consider
free
Most personalized vitamin subscription brands' online surveys and quizzes may not be accurate or correctly interpreted.
A person's medical history and family background significantly contribute to their nutritional needs. This analysis of online surveys and results is complex and unlikely to be definitive or comprehensive. A healthcare professional is generally the best-equipped person to interpret these tests.
varies, from $22
The FDA warns that taking vitamins may increase a person's likelihood of exceeding the tolerable upper intake (TUI) of certain nutrients. This can lead to health issues.
online quiz
For example, people who take supplements containing folic acid might exceed the TUI if they consume foods fortified with the vitamin. Some studies suggest that high levels of folic acid may be linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Personalized Vitamins
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Below, we answer some of the most common questions about these vitamins.
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Yes, individuals can create their vitamin supplementation plan by purchasing vitamins separately or using a company to bundle them into one package.
$5.99 and free for orders over $60
The FDA does not approve dietary supplements.
No, individuals cannot manufacture their own multivitamin tablets.
starts at $30
However, individuals can take multiple individual vitamins or use a customized vitamin service to address nutritional gaps.
online quiz
Yes, vitamin subscription services deliver vitamins to a person's home every month, which can be convenient for many.
yes
Personalized vitamins might be worthwhile if an individual has a specific nutrient deficiency or medical condition requiring vitamin supplementation.
none
Conclusion
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Companies that sell personalized vitamins may promise tailored supplements that cater to an individual's health needs. However, these supplements often do not meet such expectations and may contain unsafe amounts of certain vitamins that can negatively impact health.
included in the cost of the vitamins
Companies that conduct third-party testing on all their products are more likely to produce safe supplements.
An alternative to investing in customized vitamins is to undergo a health examination with a healthcare professional and consult with a registered dietitian to receive dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
- Despite the promises of personalized vitamin companies, a government study revealed that their online surveys and tests may not be accurate or comprehensively analyze an individual's nutritional needs, relying on healthcare professionals for a more accurate interpretation.
- Certain high-risk groups may benefit from multivitamin supplements, such as pregnant women who should consider preconceptional folate supplements to lower the risk of conditions like spina bifida, or older adults with osteoporosis who might need to supplement their dietary intake with vitamin D and calcium.
