Vegan Multiple (formerly Vegetarian Multiple)

As far as we know, this isn’t being discontinued, but it has been out of stock for quite some time. A good replacement vegan multivitamin is the Vitaminstore Vegan Multi. This multi has been specially developed to complement a plant-based lifestyle. It contains nutrients that are mainly found in animal-based foods, such as the essential amino acids taurine, L-carnitine and L-lysine, vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and iron.

The Vegan Multiple from Solgar can be used from the age of 12. For 12-year-olds with a normal diet, we recommend 1 capsule per day. If the diet is poor or if extra support is desired, then 2 or 3 capsules may be taken daily.

It is not dangerous, but it is probably a waste of money to use a B-complex alongside it, as you are already getting enough from your plant-based diet and Solgar's Vegan Multiple.

Supplementing with extra vitamin B12 is advisable, especially if you are only taking one capsule of the Vegan Multiple per day (the Vegan Multiple is originally a three-per-day formula). For example, consider taking a capsule of Essential Organics Vitamin B12 1000 mcg vegicaps twice a week.

Solgar's Prenatal Nutrients is originally a 4-per-day formula, but the Dutch label recommends it as a 2-per-day formula. With the 2-per-day dosage, it is highly advisable for a vegan to additionally take extra vitamin D, as the Prenatal provides only 5 mcg of vitamin D per two tablets, which is on the low side. For instance, the Vegan D3 25 mcg can be taken to reach a total of 30 mcg.

Additionally, it is wise to start using an algae oil supplement as a source of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, such as the Testa Omega-3.

We are legally obliged to state that "dietary supplements are not a substitute for a healthy, varied diet," and veganism is by definition not varied as it excludes a significant number of essential food items for ideological reasons. The dietary choices are primarily ideological: veganism is not so much about whether something is healthy or not, but whether it is animal-based or not.

From an evolutionary perspective, veganism is a relatively new phenomenon. Humans have been consuming animal-based foods for millions of years, only adopting lacto-ovo-vegetarianism for a few thousand years, and only in the last 50 years have people been experimenting with a vegan diet. There has been very little research into the effects of this strict diet during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and growth.

Especially during pregnancy and for growing children, there are associated risks. It is well-known that vegan diets provide virtually no vitamin B12, but there are many other nutrients that vegans are deficient in, such as the amino acids L-lysine, L-carnitine, carnosine, and taurine, the minerals iodine, iron, calcium, and zinc (although these, like B12, are provided in reasonable amounts by Prenatal Nutrients), various fatty acids (hence the algae oil), and all fat-soluble vitamins (which is why the advice to take extra vitamin D is given above). Therefore, we cannot encourage veganism during pregnancy, and later during the child's growth, although the aforementioned supplements can help prevent the most common deficiencies.

(Regarding Solgar's Vegan Multiple: this is simply a multivitamin in plant-based capsules. In terms of composition, it is not specifically tailored to the increased needs of vegans. For example, this multi provides only 3 mcg of vitamin D per capsule and also relatively low amounts of iron and iodine. Specifically formulated to meet these increased needs is the Vegan Multi from Vitaminhealth.)

Solgar Netherlands has recently decided to reduce the recommended dosage to one capsule per day.

Although the formula is indeed entirely plant-based, taking just one capsule provides insufficient amounts of certain nutrients to compensate for the limited nutrient intake associated with a vegan lifestyle. For instance, one capsule per day only delivers 3.3 mcg of vitamin D (in the form of D2) and 3.3 mg of iron. The amount of vitamin B12 is merely 50 mcg per capsule. Therefore, if you have been taking 3 capsules per day for a while and are satisfied with that, you may continue with that dosage. With just one capsule per day, it is advisable to use a separate vitamin D supplement alongside it. This is actually recommended in general, even when using three capsules per day.