What Is The Best Multivitamin For Bodybuilding? Complete Supplement Guide
We often hear about how important nutrition is when it comes to bodybuilding or any sport for that matter. And I think we can both agree that it is sometimes difficult to manage a strict diet day in and day out. This is where multivitamin’s come in.
When I was in the army, the gym was like my second home. However, like any twenty-year-old fitness geek, I was convinced that all I needed to become an Arnold Swarszenegar was the will to train like an animal, and of course…protein.Â
Only after did I learn about the value of vitamins and minerals and what it could truly do for my body. That journey inspired me to help people find the best multivitamin for bodybuilding, without having to waste money testing dozens of supplements.
So, to help you avoid the same mistakes, we will look at the best bodybuilding multivitamins available today.Â
Let’s dive right it!
In A Hurry?
Here are our best multivitamins for bodybuilders at a glance!
Contents
Reviewing The Best Multivitamins For Bodybuilding
OUR TOP PICK
VitaMode
By Evlution Nutrition
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
If you are looking for a more affordable vitamin, but still want a reliable product, then Vita-Mode is a great option. You get well rounded antioxidant support, including vitamin C and E which support good vision, skin, and healthy immunity. It also provides a full vitamin B complex to support muscle growth, healthy bones, along with a 4 enzyme blend to improve digestion.
What customers love most about this multivitamin for men and women is their overall improvement of both mood and bowel control. On the downside, these pills are large which can make it difficult to swallow. It also has an unpleasant smell.
You have a choice of either a 30 or 60 day supply, with a recommended intake of 2 pills per day. Overall, this is a well-rounded supplement containing all your essential vitamins and minerals for an exceptional price, making it a good choice if you have a fair budget to work with.
Pros
- Affordable
- 30 or 60 day supply
- Antioxidant support
- 4 digestive enzymes
- Full vitamin B complex
- Improves mood & digestion
- Manufactured in controlled labs
Cons
- Tablets are large and may be awkward to swallow.
- Customers reported that the pills have a unpleasant smell.
Animal Pak
By Universal Nutrition
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
The Animal Pak multivitamin by Universal nutrition has also been a really popular multivitamin supplement that is used among many professional bodybuilders. Inside are all your essential B complex vitamins including 50mcg (833% DV) of vitamin b12, which support better muscle growth and recovery. It also provides digestive enzymes and antioxidants from 60 high ingredients.
You get sufficient amounts of zinc and magnesium which are essential for healthy immunity and proper hormone production. Additionally, you will find essential amino acids that improve muscle recovery, without needing other amino supplements. Many customers love this product for the amount of energy it provides and said they saw a significant increase in good mood and recovery.
Animal Pak is more on the expensive side, providing options of either 15, 30, or 44 packs. Be warned, you get 11 tablets per pack, and the size can be a little overwhelming, which can be difficult to swallow depending on the person. Luckily, they created a powder option that is available as well.
The dosage recommendation is 1-2 packs daily with breakfast. I recommend just sticking to 1 pack daily unless you got the budget, or if you are a more advanced trainer looking to get the most out of your vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- Truly packed with every nutrient
- Amino acids for recovery
- Antioxidants
- Increases energy and improves mood
- Sufficient zinc and magnesium
- Credible company since 1983
Cons
- Taking this multivitamin late at night will may cause insomia.
- Expensive
- The Pills are large and you get 11 per dose which can be overwhelming, however there is a powder option available.
Opti-Men
By Optimum Nutrition
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
This multivitamin is made up of 75 active ingredients, with an amino blend containing arginine, glutamine, and BCAAS to help with quicker recovery. It is packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants which fight off free radicals and dangerous organisms in your body. You will also get 4 digestive enzymes which maximize the breakdown of food, allowing for better nutrient absorption.
Customers reported an increase of energy and improvement in health overall after using this product consistently. However, you may notice discoloration in your urine when taking these supplements. Don’t worry, this is completely normal, and is an indicator of a good multivitamin.
When it comes to value, this is one of the most well rounded supplements for the money, providing you with all your required vitamins and minerals for building muscle. You get a total of 150 tablets (3 a day) for a one month supply which is to be taken with each meal. Also, for those who are tired of gulping down giant golf balls, these tablets are small so that they are easy to swallow.
Pros
- Amino blend with glutamine and BCAAS for better recovery.
- Ingredients derived from over 20 fruits and vegetables.
- Manufactured and tested in controlled labs for quality.
- Easy to swallow
- Amazons best selling multivitamin
Cons
- Contains soy
- May cause urine to turn bright orange
Signature MultiVitamin
By Bodybuilding.com
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
If you are really tight on funds and want an exceptional multivitamin for men and women, then a great option is the Signature Multivitamin by bodybuilding.com. What I like about his product, is it gives you more flexibility when it comes to dosage.Â
You get 90 tablets for a 30 day supply of all your essential vitamins and minerals. You can limit your dose to 2 a day because of the high potency of the pills and cover your daily basis by taking only one pill a day. This multivitamin has over 29 nutrients derived from high-quality ingredients and doesn’t contain any fillers or chemicals that would compromise value.
Overall, this is a great product if you don’t yet take a multivitamin, or if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative. Customers say this supplement helps improve mood and energy. The formula could use more iron, but this is still an impressive product for the price.
Pros
- Very affordable
- 1 pill covers your basis
- High quality ingredients
- Increased energy & mood
- Easy to swallow tablets
- Transparent brand
Cons
- Not enough iron mineral
- Pretty standard product. Not good for advanced bodybuilders that are wanting to get the most out of their workouts.
Vita Jym
By Jym Supplement Science
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Created by Ph.D. Doctor Jim Stoppani, Jym is a unique brand that goes the extra mile when it comes to its research. Jim believes that minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and calcium, should not be added to a multivitamin because these they interfere with absorption. This is a new point of view when it comes to modern-day supplements, however, none of these claims are approved by a third party.Â
Inside the bottle, you get 25 critical micro-nutrients, all your essential B complex vitamins, and vitamin A to promote recovery, muscle growth, and overall health. They also added 5mg of BioPerine, which helps your organs and muscles absorb the nutrients quicker and more efficiently.
The only downfall we found was the high levels of vitamin B6. There is a whopping 5882% daily value, which can be toxic for someone who is not an advanced trainer. I would definitely not recommend this product unless you have been training for some time.
Pros
- Company focuses on maximizing absorption through comprehensive research.
- 25 critical micronutrients for advanced trainers
- Full Vitamin B complex
- Easy to swallow
- 100% Beta-carotene (Vitamin A)
- Increases energy naturally
Cons
- Expensive for the value
- Doesn't contain supporting minerals for improving absorption. You may have to purchase other supplements and take them at a different time during the day.
- 30 day supply only
Our Top Pick, And Why!
Let’s admit it, bodybuilding is not cheap, and shopping for supplement products can be overwhelming.
So, out of the 5 multivitamins that we reviewed, Vitamode by Evlution Nutrition qualifies as our top choice. It is a great option for beginner, intermediate and advanced trainers.Â
In addition, Vitamode contains all of your B complex vitamins, is packed with antioxidants using quality ingredients, and promotes healthy digestion. It is affordable for the value and can be purchased in both a 30 or 60 day supply.Â
However, If you are an advanced trainer, have the budget, and want something that packs more of a punch, then the Universal Nutrition’s Animal Pak multivitamin is definitely the way to go. It is a well-rounded product that also comes in a powder form, in case you find the tablets overwhelmingly large.Â
F.A.Q
What Vitamins Do Pro Bodybuilders Take?
The Essentials
When looking for a good multivitamin, there is a handful of vitamins and minerals that you must look out for if you want to supplements like a pro.
Below is a list of must-have essentials that should be included in your multivitamin. Anything extra is a bonus to your supplement stack.
VItamin B Complex
There are a total of 8 vitamins in the B family, all of which are important in producing energy, muscle tissue repair, and nerve function.
Vitamin B1 – helps convert glucose to energy
Vitamin B2 – promotes good energy production
Vitamin B3 – converts carbohydrates and fats to energy and supports your nervous system.
Vitamin B5 – assists with steroid hormone production and helps with metabolism.
Vitamin B6 – also helps with steroid hormone production, as well as healthy brain function
Vitamin B7 – helps your body convert fats and glycogen to fuel for energy.
Vitamin B9 – Is responsible for helping your muscles distribute oxygen and promoting cell growth.
Vitamin B12 – Supports healthy nerve cells and mental focus.
Vitamin D
Natural forms of vitamin D can be absorbed by the sun. This vitamin helps with bone health by allowing your bones to absorb calcium and strengthens your skeletal muscles while providing joint support.
The majority of people are deficient in vitamin D, due to lack of sun exposure. So if you are someone who is inside often and does not get enough sun, then supplementing this vitamin is a must.
Vitamin C
This vitamin acts as an antioxidant that helps fight off free radicals which can lead to illness, infection, disease, and even cancer. Vitamin C also strengthens your joints while protecting the muscle tissue surrounding them.Â
Vitamin E
Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant. It also strengthens your immune system, improves liver health, and prevents’s the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing blood clots from building up along the artery walls.Â
Calcium
Calcium repairs and strengthen your bones. Having sufficient amounts of calcium can help prevent injuries such as fractures and breaks.Â
Iron
Iron is a mineral that assists in the production of proteins, which are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. This allows you to increase your workload capacity and helps maximize your performance during your workouts.
Zinc
Zinc helps build and repair muscle fibers and promotes a healthy immune system.
Magnesium
This is an important mineral which is responsible for helping your body metabolize fat, and helps to regulate hormonal function. Generally, this can improve endurance when performing during physical workouts, and allow you to complete higher intensive tasks.
Selenium
Selenium is an antioxidant that helps protect and promote healthy immunity. It also supports a healthy thyroid gland which is responsible for releasing hormones into the bloodstream.
Other Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Multi
Concentration
Having all your essentials checked off is great when trying to find the best multivitamin, but ensuring you have a good level of each is just as important.Â
You may notice that some vitamins and minerals offer 300% – 500% of your daily intake, which can be a little extreme and unnecessary. If you see these high percentages, then consider it as a bonus, but make sure you don’t go below 80%, which is more than enough.
Quality
It is always a good idea to run a background check on the brand behind your vitamins and minerals supplement. Check that there is no history of lawsuits in the past for any false claims, or compliance issues. Luckily, we did all the research here for you in this guide to save you time.
I always look out for quality control indicators such as certificates and third party approval. Companies that invest their profits towards scientific research, manufacture their products in controlled labs, and constantly improve their products using the right ingredients is always a huge plus.
Lastly, I look at the best of the best. If the pros are ACTUALLY using the product, and not just marketing it, then this can also be a good indicator of a good quality multivitamin.
Price Vs Value
We both know how expensive supplements can be. Unfortunately in this market, you get what you pay for. Many companies have a very high margin on their products so that they can further invest in research and pay their scientists.
This being said, there are companies who can be overpriced for what they deliver, that is why going back to understanding the product’s brand is key when determining value.
There is a sweet spot where you can receive great value for what you pay for, however, it can be quite the task when making that judgment call.
Capsule Size
Some multivitamins can be more awkward to swallow than others. A good example of a brand that delivers large tablets is Universal Nutrition’s Animal Pak multivitamin.
If you find that swallowing large pills is a challenge, then consider choosing a multi with smaller capsules.
However, if you can’t look away from a multivitamin that uses large capsules, then consider using a vitamin crusher and mixing the supplement in a beverage. Some vitamins, including Animal Pak, may also have other versions of the same vitamin available which can be dissolved in water.
Why Should Bodybuilders Take Multivitamins?
My guess is you want a quality multivitamin that can help you recover faster, and maximize your bodybuilding results. Regardless of how much sleep you get, how much protein you ingest, or how hard you push at the gym, without the proper nutrition, your body will never reach its maximum potential.
Choosing the best multivitamin supplement will allow your body to complete all its performing tasks properly, such as breaking down proteins and storing energy. This will allow you to perform better, and recover faster. The right nutrition will also allow you to overcome workout plateaus which may be stopping you from further progress in your workouts.
B Vitamins play a key role in muscle repair. They are responsible for providing benefits such as delivering oxygen to your muscles, promoting HDL Cholesterol (good cholesterol), muscle repair, and optimizing your body’s ability to absorption nutrients.Â
Nutrition requires a lot more attention as you grow and become stronger because your body demands more of you in order to sustain your growth. Therefore, multivitamins can serve as great add on to your diet and can fill gaps where food sometimes can’t.
Do Multivitamins Help Build Muscle?
Absolutely.
Multivitamins help your organs to function properly, and assist in the breakdown of proteins. They also allow your muscles to properly absorb natural sources of vitamins and minerals found in whole foods in order for your muscles to repair fast.
Pairing the nutrition your body requires, along with getting proper sleep, will help you get the most out of your training efforts.
When Is The Best Time To Take Your Multivitamins?
Timing is key. It is important for your muscles and organs to constantly be absorbing the nutrients it needs throughout the day.Â
Taking certain vitamins and minerals can make it difficult to fall asleep at night due to energy spikes, so I recommend you avoid taking your multivitamin before bed.
Multivitamins should be taken with each meal, at least 2-3 times daily. Our bodies typically take 4-5 hours to completely break down and absorb nutrients that are ingested. Therefore, you should keep rolling out that nutrition intake cycle consistently throughout the day, especially on non-training days.
What Should You Avoid When Choosing Your Multivitamin?
Not all multivitamin supplements should be treated equally, so when you are taking part in an extreme sport such as bodybuilding, you must go the extra mile when it comes to your vitamin intake. Avoid cheap products found at the dollar store, or that contain fillers and low-quality ingredients.
Create a checklist of all your essential vitamins and minerals. If they are not listed on the label, then stay away from purchasing cheap vitamins, as they can do more harm than good for your body.
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