Anyone use generic vitamins?

[Danzig747]

I just got back from BJs and bought a big thing of generic daily vitamins for dirt cheap. I was just wondering if anyone noticed a difference in generics compared to name brand.

[Danzig747]

bump

[sizeNstrength]

I just got back from BJs and bought a big thing of generic daily vitamins for dirt cheap. I was just wondering if anyone noticed a difference in generics compared to name brand.

There are some differences, but it all depends on which "brand names" you are talking about. But, I don't know if I would say there is much of a difference between Centrum and BJ's house brand...

For the longest time however, I have preached for the usage of food based vitamins. IMO, there is no better vitamin - expensive - but quality.

[Madevilz]

I use Kirkland's Signature by Alan A's recommendation.

10 bucks for a year worth of supply. Can't beat that.
And to be honest, i dont see any difference from an high end multi.

[Grambo25]

Food based are tgreat as well as ones that include krebs cycle metabolites.
You get what you pay for in everything, and this is true with supplements.

My favorite is MST MVP and ZMK.....mostly all I use when not on my Chiropracter prescirbed ones that are almost identical.

[ONtop888]

I buy Centrum, no complaints.

[Boxerguy204]

just check the ingredients if they are identical...granted there might be very slight difference in quality and mg's, but nothing that youll ever notice!!

[sizeNstrength]

Food based are tgreat as well as ones that include krebs cycle metabolites.
You get what you pay for in everything, and this is true with supplements.

My favorite is MST MVP and ZMK.....mostly all I use when not on my Chiropracter prescirbed ones that are almost identical.

I go to Whole Foods and get their house food based ones...

[NC_Tarheel]

Equate Multi FTW!

[kr1s]

I use the Kirkland (Costco)

[shadar]

just check the ingredients if they are identical...granted there might be very slight difference in quality and mg's, but nothing that youll ever notice!!

This guy has absolutely no clue what he is talking about.


Yes, they might all include "vitamin A", "Vitamin C", "Vitamin E", etc... but they most definitely do not all contain the same forms of these vitamins.


For one, check out which form of VitaminB12 a vitamin uses. If it's Cyanocobalamin it's the cheap form and likely means the company is cutting corners (not always, but often). You want Methylcobalamin.

Check out the Vitamin E used. The cheap ingredient is D-alpha-tocopherol. The good ingredients are a blend of tocopherols and tocotrienols (especially gamma tocopherol/tocotrienol). You might have to look in multiple places, sometimes a vitamin will include d-alpha-tocopherol in one spot and then have a "tocopherol blend" or "gamma tocopherol/tocotrienol blend" or "mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols", etc. But if it is lacking this blend then it's a fairly low quality vitamin.

Check the vit C. Most will just be ascorbic acid, which is fine as thats good. But they should really also have a bioflavanoid mix as well as rose hips.

These are three basic things to check for in a vitamin, there are many others.

I personally take Source Naturals Life Force Multiple because it's cheap and it passes many of the "quality" tests I know of.

The king of multi's as far as I'm concerned is AOR's Ortho-Core. Peter LeDrew could give you a laundry list of reasons why it's so good if he stops by, he's researched all this far more than I have.

[Grambo25]

^^^ Good post. There are different sub types of these certain vitamins and some are MUCH better than others. People get turned off by buying quality multivitamin/minerals because they don't "feel" anything from them. They make your body run optimally and the health benefits are the way to go.

Everyone is willing to spend 50-100 dollars on the next big muscle building/fat shredding supplement and then want to skimp on the basic foundations like vitamins. Just food for thought.

[D.d.c.]

^^^ Good post. There are different sub types of these certain vitamins and some are MUCH better than others. People get turned off by buying quality multivitamin/minerals because they don't "feel" anything from them. They make your body run optimally and the health benefits are the way to go.

Everyone is willing to spend 50-100 dollars on the next big muscle building/fat shredding supplement and then want to skimp on the basic foundations like vitamins. Just food for thought.

I'd also like to add that the way to 'notice' vitamins isn't to 'feel them'. If you wanna feel something, get some *******. It's the little things you notice. Increased healing, getting sick less, perhaps less inclined to be fatigued, better sleep.

A good seperate supplementation program can match or beat orthocore for a lesser price, but that's if you put the work into it... which I have. You may want to change a few things, perhaps to bring the price down, but I have a stack I plan on using (when my current one runs out) in my sig that looks really promising.

[LIGHTNINGBLITZ]

I use generic, but I normally double dose and supplament with other vitamins for specific issues.

Quality and asorbtion into your body is a HUGE issue. My former nutritionist - person - lady ( I know, what a classy title ) said it did not matter what form it was included or how much excess. As long as it contained the amount which helps the body and the form is pure, its all you need. BUT, if its not natural or the cheaper form the body has an issue asorbing it. As such, your body doesnt asorb it. Food based will asorb.

If you take the fake stuff, which I do, you need to know how much is used by your body. Then take enough to get your full dose. Then factor two comes in, the fact we are athletes in some extent.

I do MMA/Boxing, most body build. We need more than most people. More energy, more building blocks, and we use more nutrients. This is why the use and quality of vitamins matters. If you were a normal joe blow the generic stuff in normal doses would be fine, but for us here, I suggest food-based, clean, quality, time tested vitamins by good companies. But that is just me.

But I am a hypocrite, I use Kirkland but just take a couple/few. I am cheap, what can I say?

[CTDeuce]

My favorite is MST MVP and ZMK.....mostly all I use when not on my Chiropracter prescirbed ones that are almost identical.

thanks for the support brother!

[gclark13]

I've tried several different multivitamins however i discoverd most product only
focus on a niche of proper nutrition.

Apolo Anton Ohno, the speed skating champion not only uses 8zone but developed it!

It's called 8 zone. i would at least go check it out. it's phenomenal!
Definitely feel better when you take it, much more energy with it, than with out it.

it has 3 areas that it focuses on morning, day, and night.

8zone.com

[BULKMONSTER]

I've tried several different multivitamins however i discoverd most product only
focus on a niche of proper nutrition.

Apolo Anton Ohno, the speed skating champion not only uses 8zone but developed it!

It's called 8 zone. i would at least go check it out. it's phenomenal!
Definitely feel better when you take it, much more energy with it, than with out it.

it has 3 areas that it focuses on morning, day, and night.

8zone.com

[Illadelphia]

Alot of people here do, they are one of the best sellers. Whoops, wrong thread.

[Herky]

I buy Centrum, no complaints.

Same here. I used to use ADAM Superior Men but I can't tell a difference.

[Mortum]

[sncaufield]

I've never bought into the whole multivitamin rage. I use Target's version of Centrum (literally exact same thing) and a bottle for 10 bucks lasts me 6 months. I mean I could buy a weeks worth of Animal Pak for 13 bucks.... lol yeah no.

[Macrobolic]

right now, yes. I'm using Kirkland's multi

[sl4vik]

All the people using centrum/kirland signature are fooling themselves if they think those vitamins are being absorbed.

[Macrobolic]

All the people using centrum/kirland signature are fooling themselves if they think those vitamins are being absorbed.

please explain

[TMac26]

please explain

Curious as well.

[Shane30794]

All the people using centrum/kirland signature are fooling themselves if they think those vitamins are being absorbed.

Yes please DO explain. Sound like you might be justifying paying top dollar for whatever MV's you are currently purchasing.

Anyway, I take Members Mark (Sam's Club) Multis 1 in morning 1 at night. No complaints at all, I also supplement individual vitamins and minerals though including:
Vitamin E, Glucosamine, Calcium Magnesium Zinc, VITAMIN D especially in the winter, only way to get this naturally is from sunlight, and of course the Omega 3 fish oils. All generic brands of everything I just listed, and boy do I see the results.

[josh001122]

Yes please DO explain. Sound like you might be justifying paying top dollar for whatever MV's you are currently purchasing.

Anyway, I take Members Mark (Sam's Club) Multis 1 in morning 1 at night. No complaints at all, I also supplement individual vitamins and minerals though including:
Vitamin E, Glucosamine, Calcium Magnesium Zinc, VITAMIN D especially in the winter, only way to get this naturally is from sunlight, and of course the Omega 3 fish oils. All generic brands of everything I just listed, and boy do I see the results.

The forms of vitamins are inferior, they have a lower level of bioavailability which means they aren't as easily absorbed by the body.

[Madevilz]

To all those wasting their money on expensive multis, i'll repost this again :

The current scientific understanding of micronutrition is crude and in its infancy. Many companies would love for consumers to believe that more is better when it comes to micronutrition, but that's just not true. Your best bet is to get a low-to-moderate dose multi that's been verified by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), they've set the standard for the drug industry for the past 150+ years, and a few companies (I use Costco's Kirkland brand) have multi's that are USP verified.

-Alan Aragon

[KimJong-il]

Currently I use Orange Triad, I know its not the cheapest generic but it includes joint benefits as well, and at a 45 day supply its really a good deal.

As far as generic vitamin...I wouldnt get anything lower quality than NOW Adam which is very affordable.

[Valhallabound86]

NOW Adam will be my next. Utilizing some off-the-shelf multi I picked up for dirt cheap. No complaints, but it's pretty basic.