How to Read a Multivitamin Label

Quick guide to choosing a quality supplement

Dosing Information

Check serving information, clear and precise daily doses.

Key Nutrients

✓ Key nutrients in one serving.
X Multivitamins with 4-5 vitamins are not enough.

Ingredient List

The first and second ingredients are easy identificators about the quality of the supplement.

X Avoid glucose syrup, sweeteners, xilitol, maltitol...

% NRV

Nutrient Reference Value; shows how much each nutrient contributes to your daily needs.

Kid requirements lower than adults (Less than 15% should not be optimal doses.

Vitamin & Mineral Forms

✓ Look for methylated o chelated forms of vitamins and minerals (they are better absorbed).

Certifications

Look for easy identified logos such as vegan, allergen free and no added-sugars..

Learning About Supplements

How to Choose the Best for Your Child

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1. Check the Ingredient List (Really Check It)

The ingredient list reveals everything: quality, intention, and whether a brand truly prioritizes children's health rather than manufacturing shortcuts.

Ingredients you should find:
  • Pectin (plant-based gelling agent, typically from apples)
  • Natural colorants such as anthocyanins or spirulina extracts
  • Natural flavors
  • Coconut oil or carnauba wax as clean coating agents
Preferred nutrient forms (for better absorption and tolerability):
  • Zinc: zinc citrate or zinc bisglycinate
  • Folate: L-methylfolate / L-5-MTHF
  • Vitamin B12: methylcobalamin
  • Vitamin A: retinyl acetate

These forms tend to be more bioavailable and better supported by clinical evidence.

2. Avoid Added Sugars & Animal Fats(A Non-Negotiable)

Many children's multivitamin gummies are closer to candy than nutrition. Added sugars, syrups, gelatin, and artificial sweeteners contribute nothing to health and often replace meaningful ingredients.

Ingredients to refuse
Added sugars & syrups
  • Glucose syrup
  • Glucose
  • Cane sugar
  • Dextrose
  • Corn syrup
  • Tapioca syrup
  • Fructose
  • Added sugars of any kind
Artificial or unnecessary sweeteners
  • Acesulfame K
  • Sucralose
  • Sorbitol
  • Mannitol
  • Xylitol
  • Steviol glycosides
  • Monk fruit* (used in some US brands; not permitted in the EU)
Bulk additives and fillers
  • Modified starches
  • Tapioca starch / corn starch
  • Microcrystalline cellulose (common in tablets)
  • Maltodextrin (a fast-digesting simple carb).

Note: In some complex blends it cannot be entirely eliminated

Artificial colors and flavors
  • Brilliant Blue
  • Carmine
  • Any flavor not explicitly labeled “natural”
Lower-quality nutrient forms
  • Zinc oxide / zinc sulfate
  • Folic acid (pteroilmonoglutamic acid)
  • Cyanocobalamin (B12)
  • Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A)

Note: In some complex blends it cannot be entirely eliminated.

3. Look for Clear Dosage Information

A trustworthy brand is transparent. You should always see:

  • The exact mg or mcg of each nutrient
  • The %NRV (Nutrient Reference Value)
  • Age-appropriate dosing
  • No megadoses without clinical justification

Understanding how NRVs work

In Europe, supplement labels must display the %NRV, but NRVs are defined for healthy adults, not for children—even when the product is formulated specifically for kids.

What is the NRV (VRN)?

The NRV is a daily reference amount established by EFSA for adults. It does not represent the nutrient requirement of a child.

Why do kids’ supplements show lower percentages?

Because the label compares children’s doses to adult NRVs, not to children’s actual needs.

Example

  • Adult NRV for Vitamin C: 80 mg = 100% NRV
  • Recommended daily intake for a 4–8-year-old: ~40 mg

If a supplement provides 40 mg, the label must show:

40 mg / 80 mg = 50% NRV
But the child is actually receiving 100% of what they need, not “only 50%.”

Why does Europe use adult NRVs even for kids?

  • No legally standardized NRVs for children EFSA provides age-specific recommendations, but legislation does not require companies to display them
  • Simplification of labels (single reference table)

What parents should look for instead

  • The actual mg/mcg dose
  • Whether that dose aligns with scientifically supported needs for their child’s age
  • Brands that explain dosing clearly

Children have different nutritional needs based on growth stage, body weight, and metabolism. A responsible brand doses nutrients for children, even when the %NRV looks low on the label.

4. Choose Brands That Value Quality Over Cheap Shortcuts

A high-quality children’s multivitamin shows thoughtful formulation and responsible manufacturing:

  • No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
  • High-quality, bioavailable nutrient forms
  • Plant-based bases (pectin), not gelatin
  • Fruit and vegetable concentrates instead of syrups
  • No added sugars or sweetener-loaded formulas
  • GMO-free and allergen-free (gluten, lactose)
  • Third-party tested for purity and safety
A science-first brand will always choose:
  • Effectiveness over candy-like appeal
  • Nutrient density over marketing tricks
  • Natural ingredients over artificial shortcuts
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