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Best Multivitamin For Athletes [2024 Updates]
Updated on
- Written by Alycia Watts, Former Health Writer
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
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Ritual Multivitamin
- Third-party tested
- Contains vital nutrients for athletes
- A great option for men and women
25% Off Your First Month (Expired on May 30th): MDW25
Care/of
- Vitamin package tailored to you
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Has a quiz to find your best multivitamin
Athletic Greens AG1
- Made with athletes in mind
- Science-backed ingredients
- Vegan and Keto-friendly
For some, it is just vitamins. Still, for others, they are key nutrients that help make a world of difference in mental health, immune system support, joint health, and many other health benefits. Most multivitamins do not contain everything you need. If you are an athlete, for example, you should strive to look for a multivitamin that is ideal for your age, gender, and lifestyle.
As you know, eating a healthy diet full of whole foods is the best way to ensure you are getting the most out of your nutrient intake, but sometimes just vitamins from food do not provide sufficient nutrients to achieve top athletic performance.
Therefore, we recommend that athletes look into taking essential vitamins and minerals to ensure that their body is getting the key nutrients it needs to thrive.
Best Multivitamins For Athletes & Bodybuilders in (April. 2024)
- Ritual Multivitamin – Editor’s choice
- Care/of – Best Variety
- Athletic Greens AG1 – Best for athletes in mind
- Performance Labs NutraGenesis Multi – High Potency
- Future Kind – Top Vegan Multivitamin
- Persona – Best Personalized
Why Should Athletes Use Multivitamins?
Multivitamin supplements are an excellent source of vital nutrients for your body that you may be lacking within your diet. If you are active, then your body mustn’t lack those essential nutrients to ensure that you can recover from each workout.
Some vitamin deficiencies can cause many unwanted symptoms, for instance, fatigue. If you are feeling fatigued all the time, you will not be able to put your best effort into your physical performance.
Furthermore, if your body is not receiving the vital nutrients it needs to thrive, you can potentially put yourself at risk for injuries. If your body is not getting the bone and joint support it needs and you are physically and mentally exhausted, an injury is likely to occur.
Below we will discuss some of the best multivitamins for athletes and bodybuilders.
Best Multivitamins For Athletes & Bodybuilders 2024
Ritual Multivitamin
25% Off Your First Month (Expired on May 30th): MDW25
Ritual Multivitamin supplements are made using traceable ingredients that are third-party tested. This daily multivitamin is available for women, men, kids, prenatal, and even postnatal packages.
- Third-party tested
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Contains vital vitamins and minerals for athletes
- Available for both men and women for target formula
- Can become expensive
- Only available online
With Ritual multivitamins, you can find the clinical-backed packaged vitamins that are right for you. This vegan vitamin is delivered monthly with free shipping. You can control your delivery date and cancel for free at any time. Additionally, if you are not happy with this product, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee within the first month of purchase.
Furthermore, the multivitamin for women over 18 contains nine traceable ingredients targeted for brain health, bone health, antioxidant support, and blood-building ingredients. For instance, you can find folate, omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, vitamin K2, boron, vitamin E, and magnesium within two capsules. According to the website, you can feel a difference from taking this vegan multivitamin within one to two weeks.
With that being said, bone health is vital for athletes. Clinical reviews[1] have found that vitamin D is one of the essential nutrients that play a crucial role in ensuring optimal bone health. When bone health is compromised due to nutrition or exercise, it can help lead to bone stress injuries and early onset of osteoporosis.
Furthermore, consumers rate this multivitamin a 4.5 out of 5 stars with satisfaction.
Care/Of
Care/Of is a multivitamin supplement company that is tailored specially to the individual. You take a quiz, and the website directs you to the recommended supplements.
- Tailored specifically for each individual
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Has a quiz to find your best multivitamin
- You have to join a subscription to purchase
- Only available online
Furthermore, these supplements ship to your home in individual packets to take each day. They promise to include the key nutrients needed for you specially. You do have to join a subscription to purchase the vitamins, but you can cancel or delay your order at any time.
Therefore if you are an athlete, you will fill out your quiz to help tailor your vitamins to provide you with the essential nutrients your body needs to perform. The Care/Of multivitamin is genetically modified organism free (non-GMO), vegan, and gluten-free. It is designed to help fill the gaps with the latest scientific research for effectiveness. With that being said, you can just purchase the multivitamin or add other key vitamins to go along for overall health.
Athletic Greens AG1
Athletic Greens AG1 is explicitly made with athletes in mind. According to the website, it is developed using the highest quality ingredients by following strict standards that are based on the latest science.
- Developed using science-based ingredients
- Vegan, paleo, and keto-friendly
- Made with athletes in mind
- Expensive
- Contains proprietary blends
In just one scoop of Athletic Greens, you can find 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sources of nutrients. You can find a list of vitamins used within this product and several proprietary blends targeted to provide essential amino acids, digestive enzymes, and dairy-free probiotics.
This powdered form supplement promises to promote a healthy gut, support immune health, boost energy, and help with recovery for those with an active lifestyle. Additionally, according to the website, this product is recommended by professional athletes to help boost nutritional needs.
Performance Lab NutraGenesis Multi
Performance Lab NutraGenesis Multivitamin has two different options for men and women. This allows you to ensure you are getting the vital nutrients needed for each gender.
- Designed for individual men’s or women’s formulas
- 30-day performance promise
- Worldwide shipping
- You have to take four capsules each day
- Expensive
For instance, the men’s multivitamin is designed with 17+ essential daily vitamins and minerals that are for men’s specific nutritional needs. Additionally, they contain whole-food cofactors to enable optimal absorption and maximize benefits. Also, the vitamins and minerals formula is processed in the manufacturer’s own lab.
However, you must take four capsules daily for best results. They also recommend upping your dose to help fill those nutritional gaps by taking three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Although that may seem like a lot, these capsules are designed to support overall health, hormonal support, and athletic performance.
Also, they promise that none of their vitamins contain caffeine or soy and are vegan friendly. Each product also undergoes quality tests and third-party validation. This may be one of the best multivitamins, but it does cost a bit much to maintain, significantly if you are upping your dose and taking more capsules.
All in all, this could be one of the best multivitamins for male athletes being that it is designed especially for male nutrient needs and the women’s multivitamin for women’s needs.
Future Kind+
Future Kind multivitamins have a few different options to choose from. They deliver the best vegan multivitamin for vegetarian athletes, a complete multivitamin that includes probiotics and enzymes, and gummy vitamins that are tailored for kids and teenagers.
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Third-Party tested
- Made in the United States
- Only available online
These multivitamins help promote a healthy immune system, provide vital nutrients for muscle recovery, and help increase energy production. Additionally, the company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on products.
This vegan-friendly vitamin promises to ensure that teenage athletes who follow a vegan diet are getting nutrient intake that they may lack, like vitamin B12, omega-3s, and vitamin D. For instance, research[2] has found that deficiencies in B12 can cause low levels of energy and exercise tolerance causing fatigue.
It is recommended that you take three capsules a day with a meal for best results. This is an excellent choice for those who want to avoid artificial sweeteners or supplements or have any dietary restrictions.
Persona
Like Care/of, Persona is also an essential vitamins and minerals company that is a personalized multivitamin for each individual. You take a free assessment to determine what daily vitamins are recommended for you.
- Personalized to each individual
- Designed by doctors
- Science-based ingredients
- Only available online
- You must subscribe to purchase
However, the company does offer a multivitamin and a women’s multivitamin to purchase. The foundational multivitamin contains 19 essential vitamins and minerals that are combined to promote your health and wellbeing. At one vegan capsule a day, the multivitamin is designed to be taken with food and plenty of water. All the vitamins are prepackaged and shipped to your house each month.
Other multivitamins are made using specific vitamins and minerals using a one fits all method, but this takes dietary supplements to the next level, ensuring that you receive the actual vitamins you need for your individual health and wellness.
Essential Vitamins And Minerals For Athletes?
There are many essential vitamins and minerals that are recommended for athletes. The best multivitamins will be those containing vitamins and minerals specifically for your age, gender, and activity level.
Some of the best vitamins and minerals for athletes include B vitamins, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. For vegetarian athletes, the inclusion of vitamin B12 is crucial.
B vitamins are a great source for helping boost energy production. If you are deficient[3] in vitamin B, you may find it hard to perform high-intensity workouts. This supplement is vital for athletes, especially if you have a poor diet.
Iron is a key nutrient for endurance athletes. It is very important[4] that endurance athletes do not have an iron deficiency. Iron plays a large role in energy metabolism, oxygen transportation, and acid-base balance. Furthermore, female athletes are at a higher risk of iron deficiency due to losses of iron[5] through menstruation and exercise-induced activities. Therefore it is vital that you supplement if you are not getting enough in your diet.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin important[6] for bone and joint health. Fat-soluble vitamins are found in food within your diet[7] containing fats, and your body absorbs these vitamins the same as it does dietary fats. This vitamin is needed for bone growth and helps prevent muscle cramps and spasms. Additionally, it helps reduce inflammation and supports your immune system.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for athletes because it helps reduce the risk[8] of exercise fatigue and muscle damage.
Studies have found that magnesium is a vital supplement for athletes because it supports energy production and storage, muscle function, and maintains blood glucose levels. Furthermore, animal studies[9] have found that exercise levels increase with magnesium supplementation.
Lastly, potassium is an important mineral for teenage male athletes or any athlete for that matter. When working out, you lose potassium through exercise and sweating. When your potassium levels are too low[10], you can find yourself with muscle cramping and cardiovascular irregularities. Therefore, athletes who are involved in intense exercises may require supplements with potassium.
With that being said, the above vitamins and minerals are essential for athletes. Typically an athlete is taking their body to its limits and will need all of the nourishment it can get to keep going.
How To Choose Best Multivitamin For Athletes?
The best multivitamin for athletes will be a vitamin that is full of the vital nutrients an athlete can thrive on. Additionally, you will want to choose the proper vitamin that fits your needs, and it helps if the company uses third-party testing to ensure you are getting a great product. Many options are available for just men or women to help target your body’s needs based on gender and age.
Furthermore, you want to ensure the company uses quality, science-based ingredients to create clinically effective doses. Also, we recommend that you reach out to your medical care provider before starting any new supplements, especially if you are taking any prescription medicines.
Final Thought
Surveys[11] have found that most elite athletes take multivitamins. You just want to ensure that you are getting the best multivitamins for you. If anything, a multivitamin is just going to help you ensure that your body is getting the valuable vitamins it needs.
Multivitamins are not required to take as an athlete, but it does seem to offer many benefits for your health and recovery. We recommend trying out one of the above vitamins and seeing how it benefits you personally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Multivitamins do work and help fill that gap of nutrients that you may lack in your diet. It is important that you take the recommended dose supplied by the manufacturer. You should also keep in mind that this is not going to be a magic pill. Most multivitamins show results over time, and you need to keep taking them to maintain those health benefits.
When taking the recommended intake, your multivitamin should be safe and without side effects. It is best to take certain vitamins with a meal and a full glass of water to avoid any stomach discomfort. Also, as mentioned above, reach out to your doctor before getting started on something new if you have any current medical conditions.
The best multivitamin for athletes is going to contain the essential vitamins needed for an active lifestyle. Additionally, you will want to choose a product with high-quality ingredients that also offers a potent formula made with highly bioavailable minerals.
+ 11 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Goolsby, M.A. and Boniquit, N. (2016). Bone Health in Athletes. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, [online] 9(2), pp.108–117. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27821574/#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%2C%20calcium%2C%20and%20hormones,stress%20injuries%20and%20early%20osteoporosis.
- Tardy, A.-L., Pouteau, E., Marquez, D., Yilmaz, C. and Scholey, A. (2020). Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients, [online] 12(1), p.228. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019700/.
- Woolf, K. and Manore, M.M. (2006). B-Vitamins and Exercise: Does Exercise Alter Requirements? International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, [online] 16(5), pp.453–484. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17240780/.
- Hinton, P.S. (2014). Iron and the endurance athlete. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, [online] 39(9), pp.1012–1018. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25017111/#:~:text=Iron%20is%20a%20trace%20mineral,%2C%20and%20acid%2Dbase%20balance.
- Alaunyte, I., Stojceska, V. and Plunkett, A. (2015). Iron and the female athlete: a review of dietary treatment methods for improving iron status and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, [online] 12(1). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26448737/.
- Nih.gov. (2015). Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin D. [online] Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/.
- Berry Ottaway, P. (2010). Stability of vitamins during food processing and storage. Chemical Deterioration and Physical Instability of Food and Beverages, [online] pp.539–560. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/fat-soluble-vitamins.
- Braakhuis, A.J. (2012). Effect of Vitamin C Supplements on Physical Performance. Current Sports Medicine Reports, [online] 11(4), pp.180–184. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22777327/.
- Zhang, Y., Xun, P., Wang, R., Mao, L. and He, K. (2017). Can Magnesium Enhance Exercise Performance? Nutrients, [online] 9(9), p.946. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622706/.
- Anderson, J., Young, L. and Long, E. (n.d.). Potassium and Health no. 9.355. [online] Available at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/Potassium_Fact_Sheet_320291_7.pdf.
- MH, W. (2021). Vitamin supplementation and athletic performance. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Supplement = Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Supplement, [online] 30. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2507696/.
Written by:
Alycia Watts, Former Health Writer
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
