Updated: October 2026
In short: According to the NHS, most people cover their need for vitamins and minerals with a varied, balanced diet. A multivitamin can be a supplement with a vegan diet, increased needs or gaps in everyday life, but it doesn't replace good food. Look for doses close to the daily requirement rather than mega-doses, and talk to a doctor or pharmacy first if you take medication.
The shelf of multivitamins at the drugstore is long, and the promises are big. What a multivitamin can do, who it makes sense for and how to recognise a sensible product, we clarify here without the marketing.
Do you need a multivitamin at all?
Usually not. The NHS writes that most people should get all the nutrients they need from a varied and balanced diet, though some need supplements in addition. A multivitamin is therefore a safeguard for certain situations, not a must-do.
| Situation | Multivitamin worthwhile? |
|---|---|
| balanced mixed diet with plenty of vegetables and fruit | usually not needed |
| vegan diet | can make sense, plan consciously |
| very one-sided diet or dieting | can fill gaps |
| pregnancy, breastfeeding, older age | discuss with a doctor or pharmacist |
| long-term medication | check beforehand because of interactions |
Who can benefit from a multivitamin?
People with increased needs or dietary restrictions: vegans, pregnant women, older people with a small appetite, people with gastrointestinal conditions or strict diets. Here a supplement helps fill gaps. If you suspect a deficiency in individual vitamins, for example iron or vitamin D, a targeted test with medical advice is better than a catch-all product.
You'll find more background on signs of deficiency in our article Nutrient Deficiency.
How do you recognise a good multivitamin?
- Dose close to the daily requirement (around 100 percent of reference values), not a multiple
- A clear nutrition table with amounts per daily dose
- No unnecessary additives and colourings
- A recommended intake you can stick to
- No healing claims on the packaging
Note: more is not better. For individual minerals like zinc, the NHS points out that too much can do harm, and names upper limits for supplements.
What does frank.'s Daily Complete contain?
According to the product page, a daily dose of 2 capsules contains 13 vitamins, 10 minerals and trace elements and 2 carotenoids. The nutrient reference values range from 25 to 225 percent, depending on the nutrient.
| Nutrient | per daily dose | % NRV |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 120 mg | 150 |
| Vitamin D3 | 10 µg (400 IU) | 200 |
| Vitamin B12 | 3.75 µg | 150 |
| Folic acid | 400 µg | 200 |
| Zinc | 5 mg | 50 |
| Magnesium | 100 mg | 27 |
| Iron | 5.6 mg | 40 |
A tin of 60 capsules lasts four weeks and costs €29, so about €1.04 per day. Daily Complete is vegan, and the capsule shell is plant-based. It does not replace a balanced diet.
When should you opt for single supplements?
When a specific deficiency has been found, for example of iron, vitamin D or B12. A multivitamin then often doesn't cover the amount needed, and a single supplement at a doctor-recommended dose is more targeted. With medication or chronic conditions, the choice also belongs in medical hands.
For zinc, for example, our article Zinc: Effects, Daily Requirement and Sources explains why the amount matters.
What does a multivitamin do for the immune system and energy?
A multivitamin can fill gaps, but it's not a booster. If you're not lacking any nutrient, you'll hardly notice anything from the extra dose. The same goes for energy: tiredness often has other causes such as sleep, stress or illness; see our article Recharge Your Energy.
More helpful than a supplement is usually a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes and nuts, plus sleep and exercise.
How do you compare price and value?
Work out the price per day and look at the amount of active ingredients per daily dose. A cheap product with few nutrients isn't automatically worse, and an expensive one with 40 ingredients isn't automatically better. What matters is whether the composition suits your diet.
| Question | How to check |
|---|---|
| What does it cost per day? | Price divided by the number of daily doses in the tin |
| How high is the dose? | Percentage of the reference amount per daily dose |
| Is the product vegan? | Check the note on the packaging and the capsule shell |
| Are there warnings? | Read the recommended intake and notes on maximum amounts |
For Daily Complete, it's about €1.04 per day (€29 for 60 capsules at 2 capsules per day). That's as of October 2026; prices may change.
What should you look out for with capsules and additives?
Read the ingredient list: capsule shell, fillers and additives are listed there. If you react sensitively or live vegan, look for a plant-based capsule shell. According to the product page, frank.'s Daily Complete states a plant-based shell and a vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free recipe.
Also check the best-before date, store it dry and dark and keep the tin out of reach of children.
What's the bottom line?
A multivitamin is an option, not a must. It can make sense if your diet has gaps or your needs are higher. Choose a product with a clear dose, stick to the recommended intake and don't combine it with other high-dose products. The best investment in your nutrient supply remains a varied diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes and nuts.
If you're unsure, take medication or have pre-existing conditions, talk to your doctor or pharmacy before taking a supplement long term.
How do you take a multivitamin properly?
Follow the recommended intake on the packaging and take the capsules with a meal and enough fluid. This generally improves tolerance. Don't exceed the daily amount, and don't combine several high-dose products without checking first.
Matching picks from frank.
If you're looking for daily basic cover: Daily Complete with 40 nutrients in 2 capsules a day. In addition, there are teas and shots in the Functionals collection.
You might also like
- What to Do About Nutrient Deficiency?
- Which Nutrients Does the Body Need Daily?
- Natural Vitamins or Synthetic Vitamins?
Frequently asked questions about multivitamins
Does a multivitamin every day make sense?
If you need it, you take it daily according to the recommended intake. Whether you need it depends on your diet and life situation.
Which is better: multivitamin or single vitamins?
With a diagnosed deficiency, single supplements are more targeted because the amount can match the need. A multivitamin is more of a broad safeguard for everyday life, especially when your diet isn't always balanced.
When is the best time to take a multivitamin?
With a meal, so that it is better tolerated and fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed.
Can I overdose on a multivitamin?
Unlikely if you follow the recommended intake. It becomes a problem when you combine several supplements.
Does a multivitamin replace healthy food?
No. It complements, but doesn't replace fibre, secondary plant compounds and the variety of a good diet.
Note: This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical or therapeutic advice. If you have complaints, pre-existing conditions, are pregnant or take medication, please talk to your doctor first.
