7 Best Multivitamins for Bodybuilding in 2024

While multivitamins may not be the first supplement you associate with bodybuilding, they can be extremely beneficial in certain cases. Whether you’re a casual or professional bodybuilder, during an intense cut when you’re eating a restrictive diet, a multivitamin will help ensure you’re not becoming deficient in anything. This is why we made this list of the best multivitamins for bodybuilding.

Note that unless you’re deficient in anything, taking a multivitamin for muscle growth likely won’t make a huge difference for you. When we talk about the best multivitamin for weightlifting and bodybuilding, understand that it’s in the context of cutting weight when you’re more likely to be deficient. While multivitamins aren’t necessary for all bodybuilders all the time, they can be a very valuable tool to ensure optimal nutrition – especially when cutting. 

Our team of certified nutritionists and professional athletes has reviewed 20 products and the best ones made it to this list. We’ve based our evaluations on 5 key factors and we have spent 3 weeks testing most of these products out. Additionally, we have also analyzed hundreds of online user reviews. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section because our list is regularly updated.

Top 7 Best Multivitamins for Bodybuilding Reviewed

1. Whole Food Multivitamin by Kaged – Top-Pick
2. Sentry by 21st Century – Best B-Complex Breakdown
3. Kirkland Signature Daily Multi – Best USP-Verified
4. Deva Vegan Multivitamin & Mineral – Best Vegan Option
5. Multivitamin by Transparent Labs – The Most Magnesium and Vitamin D
6. Momentous Essential Multivitamin – Best NSF for Sport Certified
7. Triumph Men’s Sport by Legion – The Most Ashwagandha Among Competitors

Product	Total	Overall Micros Breakdown	Capsules / Tablets per Serving	Nutrition Label Transparency	Third-Party Testing	Price / Quality
Whole Food	49.5	10	10	10	10	9.5
21st Century	49	9.5	10	10	9.5	10
Kirkland	48.5	9.5	10	9.5	9.5	10
Deva	48.5	9.5	10	9.5	9.5	10
Transparent Labs	46.5	9	8.5	10	10	9
Momentous	46.5	9.5	8.5	10	10	8.5
Legion	46.5	9.5	8	10	9	9

Arguably the best multivitamin for bodybuilders is Kaged’s Whole Food Multivitamin. This is one of the most optimally dosed supplements on our list, and with an Informed Sport certification, it will be perfect for any competitive bodybuilders. 

What’s great about Kaged’s formula is that almost all of its ingredients are dosed at 100% DV, meaning there are no unnecessary megadoses. Expect solid doses of Iron, and Vitamin D, similar to most of the other products on our list. 

This is also one of the best formulas on our list, being a completely organic, whole food-based multivitamin. It’s also 100% vegan-friendly. At 2 capsules per serving, it’s also easy to get a full serving of Kaged in. However, with only 30 servings per package, you will likely run out of this supplement in about a month. 

Finally, one of the biggest downsides to this product is its price. While it’s not the most expensive option on our list, at ~$1.16 per serving, it’s still being sold at a premium price point.

The next product on our list of weightlifting multivitamins is Sentry by 21st Century, which is the complete opposite of Kaged when it comes to cost. While this is the cheapest option on our list, it still delivers a high-quality formula that’s able to rival much more expensive supplements. 

It’s worth noting that Sentry doesn’t have the same perfectly balanced formula as Kaged. While many of their ingredients are dosed right around 100%, there’s a slightly wider range. One pro here is the B-Vitamin complex, which is highly dosed (125-250%) without having unnecessary megadoses. Like Kaged, you can also expect solid doses of iron and Vitamin D. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t a vegan or organic formula if this is important to you. The tablets are made with some artificial dyes as well. This is a great “one-a-day” option, which may be ideal if you’re not a fan of taking multiple capsules/tablets. Also, with a whopping 300 servings per package, this single bottle will last you for nearly a full year with daily use. 

The best thing about Sentry compared to a product like Kaged is undeniably its price. At only ~$0.04 per serving, you can get a great multivitamin for less than a nickel a day!

Next up on our list is another excellent budget multivitamin from Kirkland Signature with their Daily Multivitamin, which is only slightly more expensive than Sentry’s product. Like the first 2 options we’ve covered, Kirkland also offers an excellent, effectively dosed supplement. 

While most of Kirkland’s ingredient doses fall right around 100%, similar to Sentry there is a fairly wide range. While Iron is dosed right at 100%, keep in mind that you’ll only be getting 50% of Vitamin D. Kirkland has a similarly solid B-Complex to Sentry as well, dosed at 125-250% DV.

This is the first supplement on our list to be USP verified, which is a great sign for the potency, quality, and manufacturing process of the product. Like Sentry, Kirkland is not a vegan-friendly or organic product. However, it is a “one-a-day” multivitamin that comes in a huge package of 500 servings. 

While Sentry narrowly beats out Kirkland in terms of price, this is still easily one of the cheapest multivitamins available. At only ~$0.05 per serving, you still won’t be paying much for such a solid multivitamin.

While Kaged was a vegan-friendly supplement, our next option, Devva, is the first multivitamin we’re covering from a 100% vegan company. This product offers an excellent formula that still comes at a very affordable price. 

It’s worth noting that this is the first option on our list to contain several unnecessary megadoses. B12, for example, is dosed at 4167%. Even for vegans, this is likely an unnecessarily high dose. However, the majority of vitamins are dosed right around 100%, including both Iron and Vitamin D.

As mentioned, this is a fully vegan multivitamin, although it does not appear to be an organic formula. Like Sentry and Kirkland, this supplement offers a single-capsule serving size, although at 90 total servings, it doesn’t have the same huge package size as those 2 supplements. 

Deva’s a budget-friendly option, even if it’s not able to rival the cost of Kirkland or Sentry. Still, at only ~$0.15 per serving, you’ll be getting a great supplement for a fair price.

Next up is Transparent Labs’ signature multivitamin. On top of having high doses of Vitamin D and Magnesium, this is also the first option on our list to contain the additional active ingredient Ashwagandha. 

This is easily the most unbalanced supplement on our list so far. While several ingredients are dosed significantly lower than 100% (Selenium, Copper, Manganese), others are dosed at 1000%+ (Mostly B Vitamins). This is the best supplement on our list if you’re looking for magnesium, with 71% DV per serving. Vitamin D is also dosed high at 310% DV per serving, just be aware this is the first option to not contain any iron in its formula. 

As mentioned, this supplement is the first to include Ashwagandha at 300mg per serving. Ashwagandha has many benefits including reducing stress which may lead to a resulting boost to testosterone and sleep quality. However, not much is known about its long-term effects, and you may want to control the dose more if you’re taking it. As a result, it may not be the best inclusion in a multivitamin, especially if you’re planning on taking it long-term. 

It also includes the additional ingredient Coenzyme Q10, which is an antioxidant. While most people have enough naturally, supplementation may have some benefits for overall health.

This is a vegan-friendly formula, similar to Kaged and Deva, although it doesn’t appear to be an organic formula. Also, at 4 capsules per serving, Transparent Labs may not be ideal for those who don’t want to take many capsules each day. Also, like Kaged, this only has 30 servings per container, meaning you will run out in a month with daily use. 

Also, like many of Transparent Labs’ products, this multivitamin comes at a premium price point. Each serving will cost you ~$1.00. While this is cheaper than Kaged, it’s still easily one of the most expensive products on our list.

Next on our list is the Momentous Essential Multivitamin which is easily the most expensive supplement on our list. 

Most of the ingredients included here are dosed at well over 100% DV.  This isn’t usually necessary, especially in the case of megadoses, like B12 being dosed at 8333% DV. Similar to Transparent Labs, this is one of the few supplements on our list not to contain any iron, although it does have a high 250% DV dose of Vitamin D.

Similar to Transparent Labs, this is a vegan-friendly option. This product also has a 4-capsule serving size, with 30 total servings per container. It’s worth noting that this is the first supplement on our list to be NSF for Sport Certified, which is a major pro for competitive bodybuilders. 

Finally, at ~$1.83 per serving, this is easily the most expensive option on our list. While this is a solid supplement, the price does seem high, especially considering the fairly standard formula.

Finishing off our list is the Triumph sport multivitamin by Legion. Note that because of the high doses, this product may not be ideal without a specific recommendation from a medical professional. While this may still be an excellent option, keep in mind it does also come at a premium price point. 

This has a very unbalanced formula. For example, it contains 50% DV of something like Vitamin A and an insanely high 25000% DV of Vitamin B12. Like the past 2 supplements we covered, Legion’s product doesn’t contain any Iron, but it does have a high dose of Vitamin D. There also isn’t any iron included here. 

Also like Transparent Labs, you can expect CoenzymeQ 10, and a high 500mg dose of Ashwagandha. While Ashwagandha certainly may have some benefits, keep the downsides we mentioned above in mind. 

Because it contains milk, be aware that this isn’t vegan-friendly. This supplement is dosed at 8 capsules per serving, which is very high. It also only has 30 servings per container, which is fairly low. It’s also worth noting Legion doesn’t have any sports-specific certifications, which is a major downside if you’re a competitive athlete being tested. 

Finally, at ~$1.67 per serving, this is easily the most expensive option on our list. While it has a solid formula, this price is very high considering some of the obvious downsides.

Do Bodybuilders Need Multivitamin Supplements?

It depends. While bodybuilders in a bulking phase eating a diverse diet of nutritionally-dense foods are unlikely to be deficient in anything, the same can’t be said for those in a prolonged restrictive cutting phase. Deficiencies can sap your energy, and make training much more difficult. If you’re low on one or more vital micronutrients, using a multivitamin for working out will likely be very beneficial. 

This is when bodybuilders are most likely to benefit from a multivitamin supplement, however, this may not always be the case. It’s a good idea to get your blood work done and consult with your doctor – especially if you’re a competitive athlete. This will help you make a more informed decision about whether you genuinely need a multivitamin. 

4 Situations When Multivitamins Are Most Justified

As mentioned above, many bodybuilders likely don’t need multivitamin supplements. However, some specific conditions will make these supplements more beneficial which we’ll be covering more in-depth below. 

1. Prolonged Period of Energy Restriction

First, and likely the most common reason a bodybuilder will benefit from a multivitamin is a prolonged cut – especially if you’re preparing for a competition. When eating a very low-calorie diet, it becomes exceedingly difficult to get all the necessary nutrients in. As a result, a multivitamin will help you fill in the gaps, even if you’re just using it for a few months to assist you during your cut. 

2. Reliance on a Limited Range of Foods

This ties in with the point above. When eating a very high-protein, low-calorie diet, your options for food are limited. If you’re living off chicken and rice, getting the proper micronutrients in will be tough. A multivitamin will help you fill in the gaps in your diet, and prevent any possible deficiencies. 

3. Heavy Competition Schedule

As you likely know, the dietary needs to get competition-ready for bodybuilding are far from sustainable or healthy. If you have a heavy competition schedule, the two points above likely apply to you even more. If you’re staying competition-ready for longer than a few days or weeks, you will almost definitely need a multivitamin to avoid any serious deficiencies. 

4. Malabsorption Conditions

Finally, while this won’t apply to everyone, if you suffer from any malabsorption conditions you may very well not be getting adequate vitamin intake even when eating a diverse diet of nutritionally-dense foods. 

Consult with your doctor if you’re concerned about this, especially if you’re undiagnosed. There might be additional treatments available, even if a multivitamin supplement will be beneficial. 

How to Choose the Best Multivitamin for Bodybuilding

If you’ve decided that a multivitamin supplement will be beneficial for you, there are a few things you’ll want to consider about each supplement before making a decision. 

1. Avoid Supplementing With Megadoses of Micronutrients

First, understand that most vitamin megadoses are unnecessary. This is unless it’s being prescribed by a doctor to treat a deficiency, with iron for example. However, when it comes to megadoses of well-absorbed micronutrients like Vitamin B12, there’s no reason to be taking in so much at a time. 

2. Consider Nsf for Sport or Informed Sport Certification if You Are Tested for Banned Substances

Especially if you’re a bodybuilder competing in tested shows, all of your supplements should include some form of sport-specific certification. While this is less important for those who don’t compete, third-party certifications are still a good way to gauge the quality of a multivitamin supplement. 

3. Consider Other Micros if You Take Them in Isolated Supplements

Especially if you’re taking things like Vitamin D, Magnesium, or Iron as individual supplements, there may be some drawbacks to taking additional high doses from a multivitamin, which could even lead to toxicity in some rare cases. 

This is another reason why we recommend consulting with your doctor before taking a multivitamin. They can help you make a more informed decision that’s optimal for your personal needs. 

4. If You Are a Woman of Reproductive Age, Consider the Dosage of Iron

While both men and women are commonly deficient in iron, it’s most common in women of reproductive age. If you’re deficient, more targeted iron supplementation may be beneficial. However, if you’re not deficient but still want to prioritize iron intake, choosing a supplement with a high dose of iron may be ideal for you. 

5. Consider the Number of Capsules/Tablets per Serving

Finally, one more minor thing to consider is the amount of tablets/capsules you’ll need to take to get a full serving. The products on our list range from 1-8 capsules per serving, so there’s a pretty wide range here. Smaller serving sizes make taking multivitamins more convenient, so “one-a-day” supplements will generally be better for most people. 

FAQ

Are Multivitamins Good for Bodybuilding?

It depends. If you’re eating in a caloric surplus with a diverse, nutrient-dense diet, you’re unlikely to need a multivitamin. It’s more likely you’ll need one when cutting, especially if you’re preparing for a competition. In this case, a multivitamin will likely be very beneficial. 

Regardless, we recommend talking to your doctor and getting your blood work done to see if a multivitamin is necessary for you. 

How to Choose a Multivitamin for Bodybuilding?

We recommend getting blood work done and talking to your doctor to see if there are any specific micronutrients you’re deficient in that you need to supplement with. Understanding your personal needs will help you make a more informed decision on which multivitamin is right for you. 

Conclusion

While using multivitamins for muscle building likely won’t make a major difference if you’re not deficient in anything, they can be a valuable asset when you’re cutting or getting ready for competition. We recommend consulting with a doctor to better understand your personal needs and use this info to decide which multivitamin is right for you.

Overall, our top pick for the best bodybuilding multivitamin is the Whole Food Multivitamin by Kaged for its exceptional formula.  

Are you a competitive or more casual bodybuilder? Do you regularly take a multivitamin supplement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read:

• Best Multivitamin Gummies
• Best Vitamin D3 and K2 Supplements
• Best Vitamins for Weight Loss
• Best Organic Multivitamin
• Best Multivitamin for Men Over 40

References:

1. Akhgarjand C, et. al, “Does Ashwagandha supplementation have a beneficial effect on the management of anxiety and stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Phytother Res. Nov;36(11):4115-4124. (2022).
2. Lopresti AL, et. al, “An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Medicine (Baltimore). Sep;98(37). (2019).
3. Stephen J Smit, et. al, “Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review” Adv Nutr. 2021 May; 12(3): 744–765
4. R. Morgan Griffin, “Coenzyme Q10”, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-coenzymeq10-coq10 (Accessed Jan. 5, 2023). 
5. Harvard Health Publishing, “Taking too much vitamin D can cloud its benefits and create health risks” Harvard Medical School, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/taking-too-much-vitamin-d-can-cloud-its-benefits-and-create-health-risks  (Accessed Jan. 5, 2023).