The Best Multivitamin in the UK - Vitamin Guide
Expert's Choice
Daily Multivitamin by Swallow
Discover Our #1 Pick ›

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ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: This website is funded by its audience. The content provided is neither a news article nor an independent review but is a sponsored comparison by theswallowco & vitabright. See advertising disclosure.

12 Min Read

Which is The Best Multivitamin in the UK? Tried and Tested

This time, our expert reviewers analyse the UK’s 5 best selling multivitamin supplements. You’ll want to read on. Whilst one is outstanding, they discovered one of them has no more nutrition than a bowl of breakfast cereal with a glass of orange juice, and two of them - almost unbelievably - contain additives that can cause cancer.

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The Nutrients Your Multivitamin SHOULD Contain

There are 13 essential vitamins and 16 essential minerals which we need from our diets. Any good multivitamin should contain all the vitamins, and 13 of the minerals (the essential minerals list includes salt, for example, which is why you don’t need to supplement all of them). The Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) is the bare minimum amount of any nutrient you need to avoid getting ill - a multivitamin should contain at least 100% of the NRV of every vitamin and trace mineral.

Choosing a good multivitamin supplement

Beware of Toxic Additives in Multivitamins!

Titanium Dioxide (E171) was made illegal in the EU as a food additive in 2022 over concerns it can damage DNA - yet the world’s best-selling multivitamin brand still uses it. Talc is now classified as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and there’s currently a UK lawsuit against talc manufacturers - yet it’s still used by a leading UK supplement brand.

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Multivitamins are NOT all created equal

Here’s our summary of the hallmarks of a good multivitamin, and the dangers to avoid.

What to Look For in a Good Multivitamin Supplement

Choose
The complete selection of vitamins and minerals

A good multivitamin should have all 13 essential vitamins, and 13 of the 16 essential minerals (some minerals, like sodium, are essential but don’t need supplementing).

Well absorbed forms of nutrients

There are variations in the molecular structure of nutrients. Look for activated or methylated vitamins, and chelated minerals, which are the best absorbed.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Look for a statement of GMP Certification and reassurance that your multivitamin is made in the UK under strict standards of hygiene and control. Third-party laboratory testing of ingredients is another reassurance of purity and safety.

Avoid
Dangerous additives

Vitamins need some additives to stay together as tablets, but some products use harmful, unnecessary or even carcinogenic ingredients like talc or Titanium Dioxide (E171). Nobody should eat toxic supplements every day.

Essential nutrients missing from the formula

A good multivitamin should have all 13 essential vitamins, and 13 of the 16 essential minerals.

Low doses below the minimum daily requirement

The Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) is the minimum amount you need to avoid a deficiency disease. A multivitamin with less than this amount of any nutrient isn’t doing its job.

SwallowVitaBrightHolland & BarrettBassettsCentrum
All vitamins
At least 100% daily requirement (NRV)
All essential minerals
Includes Lutein
Includes CoQ10
Best-absorbed forms (methylated, chelated)
Safe additives only
Cancer-risk ingredients💀 Talc💀 Titanium Dioxide, BHA
Money-back guarantee6 months35 days30 days60 daysNone
Full reviewFull reviewFull reviewFull reviewFull review
Ranked number 1
Swallow Daily Multivitamin bottle

Daily Multivitamin

by Swallow

PROS

  • ✅ Contains all 13 essential vitamins and minerals
  • ✅ All nutrients at or over the required minimum (NRV)
  • ✅ Includes a full daily dose of Coenzyme Q10
  • ✅ Includes Lutein, important for eye health
  • ✅ Vitamins and minerals in activated, chelated forms
  • ✅ Vegan, no artificial additives

CONS

  • ❌ Not the cheapest option
  • ❌ Only available online
Expert’s Opinion

For an outstanding quality multivitamin that ticks all the right boxes, we cannot find better than Swallow Daily Multivitamin. It provides all 13 essential vitamins and all 13 essential minerals, each at or above the recommended NRV. All vitamins come in their activated, body-ready forms, including methylated B vitamins, and minerals are included in chelated forms for better uptake.

Swallow Daily also includes a full daily dose of Coenzyme Q10 to support energy production and heart health, and adds lutein for long-term eye health. There are no artificial additives, fillers or unnecessary extras - every ingredient is third-party lab tested, and the supplement is made in the UK in GMP-certified facilities.

The only drawbacks are minor: it comes in a one-month bottle, and you need two tablets a day for the full dose. It comes with a six-month money-back guarantee. We’re joining the BBC Good Food reviewers in rating this Britain’s best multivitamin.

Ranked number 2
VitaBright Multivitamins and Minerals bottle

Multivitamins & Minerals

by VitaBright

PROS

  • ✅ Contains all 13 essential vitamins and minerals
  • ✅ All nutrients at or over the required minimum (NRV)
  • ✅ Exceptional value - 400 doses in a bottle
  • ✅ Includes Lutein, no harmful additives

CONS

  • ❌ Contains magnesium oxide and zinc oxide (less well-absorbed)
  • ❌ Vitamins are not methylated/activated, no CoQ10
Read Our Expert's Conclusion +
Ranked number 3
Holland and Barrett ABC-Z Multivits bottle

ABC-Z Multivits and Minerals

by Holland & Barrett

PROS

  • ✅ Contains all 13 essential vitamins at/over NRV
  • ✅ Just one tablet a day, 30-day guarantee

CONS

  • ❌ Contains talc, a suspected cause of cancer
  • ❌ Doesn’t contain all 13 essential minerals
Read Our Expert's Conclusion +
Ranked number 4
Bassetts Adult Multivitamins bottle

Adult Multivitamins

by Bassetts

PROS

  • ✅ Nice tasting gummies, easy to chew
  • ✅ Made in Britain, avoids toxic additives

CONS

  • ❌ Doesn’t contain all 13 vitamins, no minerals at all
  • ❌ Not vegan, contains sugar
Read Our Expert's Conclusion +
Ranked number 5
Centrum Advance Adults bottle

Advance Adults

by Centrum

PROS

  • ✅ Contains all 13 vitamins, free from common allergens

CONS

  • ❌ Contains Titanium Dioxide (E171) and other flagged additives
  • ❌ Low vitamin K, no money-back guarantee
Read Our Expert's Conclusion +

Our Expert’s Choice

Our number 1 pick
Swallow Daily Multivitamin

Daily Multivitamin

by Swallow
Five star rating
  • A clean multivitamin with no artificial additives
  • Strong, therapeutic doses of every nutrient
  • Complete formula including CoQ10 and Lutein
  • Vitamins and minerals in their best-absorbed forms
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References

  1. 1 - Essential vitamins: Vitamin A, D, E, K, C, Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), B6, Folic Acid, B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid (B5). Macrominerals: Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulphur. Trace minerals: Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Chromium, Molybdenum, Iodine, Fluoride
  2. 2 - IARC Monographs evaluate the carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile, IARC Monographs Volume 136
  3. 3 - European Food Safety Authority: Titanium dioxide (E171) no longer considered safe when used as a food additive

*This is a paid advertisement and is sponsored and owned by theswallowco and vitabright. It is not a news article or independent advice. The content on this site is not intended to replace professional medical advice. If you have, suspect, or anticipate any medical condition, please consult with a healthcare professional. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or the European Food Safety Authority. Results are based on the Vitamin Guide System and may not represent typical outcomes from using these products. Please visit product websites for more information. Rankings may be influenced by relationships or ownership interests we have with the products featured. All trademarks featured on our website are the property of their respective owners, and no endorsement of our website or services is implied or expressed.