Jan 28, 2020 9 min read

Best Vegan Multivitamin UK - The Definitive Guide

By Mark Robertson

Co-founder. BSc, MSc.

Mark founded Ethical Nutrition and oversees every formula. He holds a Masters in nutrition and writes about what the body can actually absorb and use, cutting through marketing claims to what the evidence supports.

Looking for the best vegan multivitamin can be overwhelming, with a wide array of options on the market. When choosing a vegan multivitamin, consider things like the forms and amounts of vitamins and minerals, and whether there are any potential allergens or preservatives in the product.

The great news is there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan multivitamin products to choose from in the UK. But not all supplements are created equal, and there are some key considerations you should know before selecting the best vegetarian or vegan multivitamin for you. In this post, we’ll provide a rundown of vegan multivitamins and vitamin B12, including an explanation of why the form and dosage of nutrients are important, which non-active ingredients to look out for, ethical packaging to consider and a 6-step checklist designed to help you choose the best vegan multivitamin.

What is the best multivitamin for vegans and vegetarians?

A good vegan multivitamin should prioritise vitamin B12 and vitamin D, with nutrients such as iron, calcium, iodine and zinc considered in light of your diet and individual needs. Look for appropriate doses and well-researched nutrient forms, choose a format you will take consistently, and check the label for allergens and unwanted additives. If sustainability matters to you, also consider palm-oil sourcing and plastic-free, reusable or recyclable packaging.

Your 6-step checklist for choosing the best vegan multivitamin

Six steps to choosing the best vegan multivitamin

Why does it matter which vegan multivitamin you choose?

The two key reasons are effectiveness and impact on the environment. To be effective, a multivitamin needs to contain appropriate ingredients in suitable doses and combinations. To reduce packaging impact, look for options that are plastic-free, reusable or recyclable. Ingredient quality matters too. For example, we choose vitamin C from acerola cherry rather than standard ascorbic acid. Both vitamin D2 and D3 can raise vitamin D levels, but research generally finds that D3 raises and maintains those levels more effectively. Vegan D3 can be sourced from lichen [15].

Comparing most multivitamins is like comparing apples and pears! Choosing the right vegetarian or vegan multivitamin can make a real difference to how well it complements your diet. Selecting a multivitamin with high-quality ingredients and ethical packaging may cost a little more because specialist ingredients and plastic-free packaging can be more expensive than conventional alternatives.

Check out our blog post “Why take a multivitamin?” for more information.

Why don’t we always get enough nutrients in our diet?

One common reason is an unbalanced diet. The reality is that many of us still aren’t eating enough vegetables. We’re guessing you’ve heard the line “a healthy balanced diet will give you all the nutrients you need”? So why do some vegans have insufficient micronutrient levels? There are a few reasons:

Impaired absorption of nutrients. Malabsorption can occur for many reasons and can be related to conditions such as IBS [1]. Remember, it’s not just what you eat; it’s what you absorb.

Medications. Medications for acid reflux, such as proton pump inhibitors, can impair the absorption of nutrients including vitamin B12 [2].

Changes in nutrient density. Some studies have reported declines in certain nutrients across selected crops over time, although the causes and extent vary [3].

Dietary choices not providing sufficient quantities of nutrients. Some dietary patterns contain lower amounts of particular micronutrients and can therefore lead to insufficiency or deficiency if they are not carefully planned.

Even with the best intentions and a good vegan diet, there is a chance you’re not getting enough of every nutrient you need.

Which nutrients do vegans need in a multivitamin?

If you’re eating a vegan diet, there are some nutrients to pay particular attention to. Whether you need each one in a multivitamin depends on your diet, fortified foods, individual requirements and, where appropriate, blood-test results:

Vitamin B12. The one we all know about! Reliable vegan sources are fortified foods and supplements, which is why vitamin B12 is the nutrient most vegans are advised to supplement. Vegans who do not use a reliable source of vitamin B12 are at risk of deficiency [4,5].
Iron. It is possible to get enough iron through a vegan diet, but some women eating vegan diets may still have low iron intakes or stores [6,7].
Calcium. Vegans can have lower calcium intakes [8], and sufficient vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.
Vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is a population-wide issue and can also affect vegans [9,10,11]. The NHS recommends that adults should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter [12].
Choline. Choline deficiency is not regarded as a vegan-specific problem, but achieving an adequate intake may require a little more planning because many rich sources are animal-derived.
Iodine. The iodine content of plant foods is variable and often low because it reflects the soil in which they are grown. Seaweed can contain very high and unpredictable amounts, so fortified foods or a suitably dosed supplement can be more reliable [13].
Zinc. Zinc is available in plant foods, but its absorption can be lower in diets high in phytates, so it is worth considering as part of a well-planned vegan diet [14].

This list isn’t exhaustive. A multivitamin can help cover some nutritional gaps, but no single formula is right for everyone and more is not always better.

Vitamin B12 in food

Vitamin B12 is naturally found mainly in animal-derived foods. For vegans, fortified foods and supplements are the reliable sources of vitamin B12.

Cyanocobalamin is commonly used in fortified foods and supplements. Despite its name, it is a well-researched, stable and effective form of vitamin B12 at normal supplement amounts. Methylcobalamin is another form that the body can use, but current evidence does not show that vitamin B12 absorption is better simply because a supplement uses methylcobalamin rather than cyanocobalamin [16].

Do the form and dose of nutrients in a vegan multivitamin matter?

Absolutely. Nutrient forms can differ in bioavailability, stability and suitability, so the evidence, dose and overall formulation all matter. However, “natural” does not automatically mean safer or more effective, just as “synthetic” does not automatically mean inferior.

We prefer food-derived and organic ingredients where they are practical and supported by the formulation. Most multivitamins cannot be described as organic because many vitamins and minerals are not available in certified organic forms, but that does not stop brands from including selected organic ingredients.

What about the dosage? The appropriate amount of each nutrient varies with individual requirements. Many multivitamins contain 100% of the NRV for each nutrient. This can be a useful reference point, but it is not a personalised target and higher amounts are not always better.

A good vegan multivitamin should complement the diet without unnecessarily exceeding safe levels. Nutrients such as magnesium and calcium are needed in relatively large quantities, so meaningful amounts can be difficult to fit into a capsule. If additional magnesium or calcium is needed, it may be more practical to take it separately after considering your overall intake and individual needs.

Which ingredients should I avoid in my vegan multivitamin?

Multivitamins and other supplements will often contain extra ingredients called ‘excipients’. These are non-active ingredients used to support manufacturing, stability or delivery of the product.

Here are some common examples:

Magnesium stearate or stearic acid. These are often used as flow agents to help powders move through manufacturing equipment. Magnesium stearate is not considered dangerous at the small amounts used in supplements, but its source can vary. If palm-oil sourcing matters to you, check with the manufacturer.
Silicon dioxide. This is commonly used as an anti-caking or flow agent. In its 2024 re-evaluation, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that silicon dioxide (E551) did not raise a safety concern for any population group at permitted uses [17].
Flavourings and preservatives. These may be used for taste or stability. If you prefer a simple formula, check the label and ask what purpose each added ingredient serves.
PVP/povidone. This is a synthetic, water-soluble polymer used as a binder or coating in some tablets. People seeking a minimal formulation may prefer products without it, but its presence does not by itself mean a product is unsafe.
Gelatin capsules. These are animal-derived and therefore unsuitable for vegans. Look for a clearly labelled vegetable capsule instead.

Excipients are not automatically unnecessary or unsafe: some help with accurate dosing, manufacturing or product stability. If you prefer a shorter ingredient list, look for a manufacturer that explains why each ingredient is included.

Does my vegan multivitamin need to be independently approved?

Non-vegan ingredients and processing aids can be difficult to spot on a multivitamin label. A manufacturer may need to look deep into its supply chain to confirm that a product is free from animal-derived ingredients.

One way to check is to look for the Vegan Trademark. The Vegan Society’s certification standards include assessment of raw materials, ingredients, components, manufacturing methods and cross-contamination controls.

At Ethical Nutrition, we believe products should be independently registered with The Vegan Society. All of our products are registered, including The Ethical Multivitamin.

What packaging should my multivitamin be in?

Glass jars. Our current choice of packaging is reusable, fully recyclable glass with no plastic seals. Glass is heavier than plastic, but it protects food supplements well and can be reused or recycled without losing material quality.

Here’s a breakdown of other common types:

Plastic pots. Plastic is strong, cheap, light and provides a good moisture barrier, which is why it is widely used for food supplements. Recycling availability varies by material and local collection service, and reducing single-use plastic remains an important consideration.
Paper pouches. These are light and can use less material, but their recyclability depends on the barrier layer and local collection rules. Check whether a pouch is genuinely plastic-free and whether it can go into your household paper recycling.
Plastic pouches. Pouches vary in their composition. Many contain mixed materials that cannot be separated easily, making them difficult to recycle. Some compostable pouches require industrial composting, so always follow the disposal instructions rather than placing them automatically in paper recycling.

Packaging claims such as recyclable, biodegradable and compostable mean different things and depend on how an item is disposed of. Read more about greenwashing here.

Finally, the best vegan multivitamins aren’t just for vegans; they’re for everyone! Thanks for reading our guide to vegan multivitamins.

At Ethical Nutrition, we help people feel amazing with superior supplements that protect our planet. Click here to check out a vegan multivitamin you can take pride in taking.