The 7 Best Gummy Vitamins of 2024

Where We Stand

While there are many factors that play into choosing the right gummy vitamin, we love SmartyPants Adult formula for its quality ingredients and sustainability sourced omega-3s. If you're interested in a more customizable option, Nourished Essentials takes you through a mini quiz to find the right stack for your needs.

Are Gummy Vitamins Beneficial?

Gummy Vitamins aren't necessary for everyone, but there are certain situations where they can be a great fit.

• People who have trouble swallowing pills. Gummy vitamins offer an alternative way to meet nutrient needs without having to deal with capsules. If liquids or chewables aren't appealing, gummy vitamins can be a nice alternative for kids and adults alike.
• People who forget to take their vitamins. If taking standard vitamins feels like a chore, switching to a more flavorful option like a gummy can be an easy way to make it a more interesting part of your daily routine.
• Those with dietary restrictions. If your diet is limited because you have a food allergy or choose to avoid certain foods, you may need some extra help meeting your nutrient needs through a supplement. Vegans should opt for a gummy without gelatin.
• Kids who need to take vitamins. When kids need to take vitamins, it is often much easier to get them to take gummies. Though most kids don't need supplements, pediatric Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and author Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN, creator of Solve Picky Eating, notes that gummy vitamins may be worth considering for "kids who are plant-based, vegan or vegetarian, or missing entire food groups from the diet, kids who have food allergies or intolerances, and children with chronic health issues such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and malabsorption issues."

Who May Not Benefit from a Gummy Vitamin?

If you eat a varied, omnivorous diet and do not experience any health conditions, you likely do not need a multivitamin supplement. However, if a healthcare provider has recommended a multivitamin, there are some cases where you should choose a non-gummy option.

• Those with iron deficiency. Most gummy multivitamins do not contain iron or contain a very low dose because it is a bulkier mineral to include and has a taste that is trickier to mask. If you have low iron levels, opt for a multivitamin that includes this nutrient, or be sure to add on iron in another form.
• People after bariatric surgery. The physical changes post-surgery require a higher dosage of nutrients than most gummy vitamins provide. Gummy vitamins are also often missing key minerals that are important in this population, such as iron and calcium.
• People with diabetes. Since many gummy vitamins contain sugar, people who need to pay more attention to blood sugar levels, like those with diabetes or PCOS, may want to look for alternative options.

How We Select Supplements

Our dietitians put together this list of best gummy vitamins by considering a variety of products with different ingredients that would fit various preferences and needs. In refining the list, we considered these qualities.

• Third-party testing: Choosing a gummy vitamin that is third-party tested is highly important. The ConsumerLab testing group found that gummy vitamins were more likely than other vitamins to contain unreliable levels of nutrients. Since the nutrients can degrade over time, companies may put in higher levels of certain nutrients to make up for potential losses. Some manufacturing processes (like spraying on the nutrients to a finished gummy product) could also yield much lower levels of nutrients in the gummy. It's important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend. Based on this methodology, we picked gummy vitamins with important third-party certifications.
• Vitamin and Mineral content: A multivitamin shouldn't be your sole source of micro-nutrients, but we looked for products that contain close to 100% of the DV (Daily Value) for basic vitamins like A, C, D, E, K, and B vitamins, with some picks also including omega-3s and minerals like zinc, calcium and so forth. Based on your current diet and any additional needs, you will want to prioritize which gummy vitamin fits that criteria.
• Added sugar: When you opt for a gummy vitamin as opposed to a traditional capsule, it's tough to avoid added sugar. We looked for products that contain no more than 8 grams of sugar per serving and also included product picks that use fruit juices to sweeten gummies. However, keep in mind that the current recommendation is to limit added sugar to no more than 10 percent of your daily caloric intake; this would translate to less than 30 grams per day for men and less than 25 grams for women. Some gummy vitamins may also contain artificial sugars and sugar alcohols, which can cause stomach upset in some people. 

What To Look For

• Allergens: If you have any food allergies or sensitivities, always check the ingredient list to ensure that the supplement that you are selecting is safe for you.
• Gelatin: Gelatin is a common ingredient in gummies to create the desired texture. It is made from animal bones and tissues and thus is not a vegan ingredient. Depending on the source and processing, it may not be considered Kosher either. If you are searching for a gelatin-free option, look for gummy vitamins that use pectin instead.
• Sweeteners: All gummy vitamins use some kind of sugar or alternative sweetener. People with certain health conditions like diabetes may want to pay closer attention to added sugar amounts and choose options that are lower in sugar. Additionally, some sweeteners, like sugar alcohols, may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so take note of these ingredients if you are sensitive.
  

Gummy Vitamin Dosage

The dosage for the vitamins and minerals in a gummy supplement will vary by product. Although there isn't a standard dose for multivitamins, on the label, you will see that manufacturers use the daily values (DVs), dietary reference intakes (DRIs), or adequate intakes (AIs) to quantify dosing.

Some supplement companies add more than the recommended amount of certain vitamins and minerals, so take care to get your vitamin and mineral levels checked to make sure you are not exceeding your body's needs.

The ideal dosage for you will depend on your diet, life stage, and medical needs. Check with a healthcare provider to personalize a supplement choice that contains the nutrients most relevant for you.

How Much To Take?

Though vitamins and minerals are essential for health, you can have too much of a good thing. Children who mistake gummy vitamins for candy may overeat them, which will usually only lead to minor side effects like upset stomach and diarrhea. However, if the gummies contain iron or gummy vitamins are eaten in large quantities over an extended period of time, there is an increased risk of vitamin and mineral toxicity.

Nutrients to pay attention to:

Iron: Most gummy vitamins do not contain iron, but some do. If your gummy contains iron, take note that overconsumption of iron can lead to uncomfortable and potentially dangerous outcomes, including stomach discomfort and vomiting. When very high doses of iron are consumed (27 mg per pound), there is potential for organ failure, coma, and even death.

Fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble, which means they are stored in the fat tissue and liver. If you consume too much, the levels can accumulate in the body and lead to problematic outcomes.

• Vitamin A: Too much vitamin A can cause joint pain, irritated skin, nausea, or more extreme liver damage and birth defects. Certain forms of vitamin A pose a higher risk of toxicity, such as retinol, retinyl acetate, and retinyl palmitate. Beta-carotene and carotenoids are less risky.
• Vitamin D: Taking too much vitamin D can raise the calcium levels in the body too high, causing pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, kidney stones, or even kidney failure and heart disease. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin D is set at 4000 IUs, though the Food and Nutrition Board committee noted adverse symptoms are unlikely at intakes below 10,000 IUs. Getting blood levels tested to see actual vitamin D status is the most reliable way to determine risk for toxicity.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E toxicity appears to be less likely though still possible, especially from long-term excessive intake. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is set at 1000mg for adults. Risks include hemorrhage and stroke.
• Vitamin K: Too much vitamin K has not been shown to be associated with toxicity risk.

Iodine: Iodine is a trace element that is vital for thyroid health. However, taking too much iodine can damage your thyroid. So it is important not to exceed the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for iodine of 1100mcg for adults.

Our Experts

To help come up with this list, we consulted with experts:

• Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, CPT, a Registered Dietitian and author of "Fueling Male Fertility"
• Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN, a pediatric Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and author/creator of "Solve Picky Eating"

Why Trust VeryWell Fit

Alexandra Paetow is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with master’s degree in nutrition education from Teachers College Columbia University. She is the Founder of Thrive and Bloom Nutrition, a private practice specializing in maternal nutrition. Alexandra specializes in nutrition through preconception, prenatal, and postpartum life stages. She uses intuitive eating principles to help women learn to trust and care for their changing bodies by breaking the diet cycle, building a positive relationship with food, and healing body image struggles. As a mom of two (soon to be three!) she understands the importance low-stress, practical strategies and the profound impact that mom’s nutrition and body image can have on the whole family.