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The Best Multivitamin on Carnivore Diet

With a proper meal plan, you can receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals on the Carnivore Diet. However, some individuals, such as breastfeeding or pregnant women, older adults, and those with a vitamin deficiency may need more vitamins. After taking blood tests and consulting a healthcare professional, these individuals can use the multivitamin on Carnivore Diet introduced below.

The Best Multivitamin on Carnivore Diet
Highlights
  • Consuming multivitamins is not necessary on the Carnivore Diet.
  • Most vitamins, including Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, can be obtained from animal-based sources.
  • After consulting a healthcare professional, specific individuals, such as pregnant women, older adults, and professional athletes, may need multivitamins.
  • Thorne Basic Nutrients, Pure Encapsulations One Multivitamin, Ancestral Supplements, MegaFood, and Optimum Nutrition are among good and high-quality multivitamin brands.

What Vitamins Do You Need on a Carnivore Diet?

Focusing on animal-based foods, like meat, fish, poultry, and eggs, the Carnivore Diet can provide the body with the most essential nutrients, including vitamins

  • A,
  • D,
  • E,
  • B12,
  • K, and
  • C.

You can meet your nutritional needs on the Carnivore Diet by knowing which animal-based foods provide each vitamin.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy vision, immune function, and skin health [1].

The recommended vitamin A intake for adults 19 years and older is 900 mcg for men (3000 IU) and 700 mcg for women (2333 IU) [2].

You can get the following amounts of vitamin A from 100 grams of the animal-based foods below [3].

  • Cod Liver Oil: 100000 IU 
  • Turkey Liver: 26901 IU
  • Duck Liver (Foie Gras): 19973 IU
  • Beef Liver: 17997 IU
  • Pork Liver: 17997 IU
  • Lamb Liver: 12483 IU
  • Chicken Liver: 11100 IU
  • Butter: 2499 IU
  • Egg Yolk: 1442 IU
  • Fish Roe (Caviar): 303 IU
International Unit (IU)

The International Unit (IU) is an internationally accepted unit for measuring substances like vitamins, hormones, enzymes, and biologicals such as vaccines.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is vital in maintaining bone health and immune function [4]. It is primarily obtained from sun exposure and dietary sources such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and organ meats.

The daily intake of this vitamin is 15 mcg (600 IU), and vitamin D deficiency can cause bone disorders and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease [5] [6].

100 grams of the animal-based foods below provide the following amounts of vitamin D [7].

  • Cod Liver Oil: 10000 IU
  • Mackerel: 1006 IU
  • Rainbow Trout: 635 IU
  • Sockeye Salmon: 526 IU
  • Egg Yolk: 218 IU
  • Herring: 214 IU
  • Sardines: 193 IU
  • Halibut: 190 IU
  • Tuna: 82 IU
NHANES Survey on Vitamin D Deficient

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), approximately 41.6% of adults in the United States are vitamin D deficient.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect cells from oxidative damage and support immune function [8].

Your body needs about 15 mg of this vitamin daily, which you can get from the following animal sources [9].

  • Crayfish: 2.85 mg
  • Egg Yolk: 2.58 mg
  • Rainbow Trout: 2.15 mg
  • Shrimp: 1.68 mg
  • Salmon: 1.02 mg
  • Lobster: 1 mg

Learn More: Do You Need Boron on a Carnivore Diet? Everything You Should Know

Vitamin B12

This vitamin is crucial for maintaining healthy nerve function, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis [10].

The daily intake of vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms, and its deficiency can cause neurological disorders and anemia [11].

Some animal-based foods like egg yolk and beef liver are good sources of vitamin B12 [12]. But many other animal-based foods also contain vitamin B12, including

  • Beef Liver: 18.7 mcg
  • Mackerel: 12 mcg
  • Sardines: 8.94 mcg
  • Trout: 4.3 mcg
  • Swiss Cheese: 3.3 mcg
  • Salmon: 3.2 mcg
  • Beef: 2.6 mcg
  • Tuna: 2.2 mcg
  • Egg Yolk: 2 mcg
NIH Report on Vitamin B12 Deficiency

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), vitamin B12 deficiency affects between 1.5 of the general population.

Vitamin K

This vitamin is essential for blood clotting and bone health [13]. The recommended daily amount of vitamin K is 1 mcg, and its deficiency can lead to bleeding disorders and bone fractures [14] [15].

Many animal-based foods contain vitamin K, which you can see in the following list [16].

  • Pork Liver: 7.8 mcg
  • Butter: 7 mcg
  • Beef Liver: 3.1 mcg
  • Egg Yolk: 0.7 mcg
  • Fish Roe: 0.2 mcg

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, which supports skin health and wound healing [17]. The recommended daily intake of this vitamin is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men, and you can get it by consuming the following animal-based foods [18].

  • Pork Liver: 23.6 mg
  • Clams: 22.1 mg
  • Chicken Liver: 17.9 mg
  • Fish Roe: 16.4 mg
  • Lamb Liver: 4 mg
  • Salmon: 3.9 mg
  • Oysters: 3.8 mg
  • Beef Liver: 1.9 mg

Animal-based foods can provide most of these essential vitamins. But if you have a vitamin deficiency, multivitamins can help you.

Learn More: 10 Most Important Carnivore Diet Supplements

Why Do Multivitamins Matter on a Carnivore Diet?

Generally, it’s not necessary to have a multivitamin on the Carnivore Diet since animal foods provide the most necessary nutrients. Still, certain groups like professional athletes or older adults may need to have multivitamins and supplements on this diet for the following reasons:

Filling Nutritional Gaps for Certain Individuals

Sensitive individuals like pregnant women need more folate and iron to support fetal development and prevent anemia, and older adults need more vitamin D and calcium for bone health.

These extra vitamins may not be sourced from regular food intake, so taking multivitamin pills can help these individuals meet their nutrient needs.

Pregnant women and older adults may also experience lower appetites that make it hard to consume enough food. Again, in this case, consuming multivitamins can help fill the nutrient gaps [19] [20].

Supporting Overall Health

When you switch to the Carnivore Diet, your body needs time to adjust. At first, you might have some issues like constipation, which is normal. But multivitamins and other supplements can help you boost nutrient absorption and support gut health [21].

If you think your body lacks certain vitamins, like vitamin D, which is common these days, you can get a test to be sure. Then, you can start adding multivitamins to your Carnivore meal plan after consulting a healthcare professional.

If you’re prescribed multivitamins, these 5 brands can be good options for including a multivitamin on Carnivore Diet.

NHANES Report on Vitamin D Deficiency

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), approximately 41.6% of adults in the United States are vitamin D deficient.

Learn More: Taking Medications on Intermittent Fasting: Do Medications Break a Fast?

5 Best Multivitamins for the Carnivore Diet

Here are 5 best multivitamins for Carnivore Diet:

  • Thorne Basic Nutrients,
  • Pure Encapsulations One Multivitamin,
  • Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Organs,
  • MegaFood One Daily Multivitamin, and
  • Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin.

These multivitamin brands are suggested based on the nutrient label, brand reputation, and consumers' comments. Still, you should consult a nutritionist or doctor to ensure which is best for you.

Thorne Basic Nutrients

Thorne's Basic Nutrients offers a good multivitamin and mineral formula with just two capsules daily.

It provides nutrients for heart, brain, nerve, immune, bone, and skin health, such as Vitamins A, D, B, and Zinc, all in absorbable forms.

It’s recommended for teenagers, athletes, and older adults. It's also NSF Certified for Sport®, ensuring that no banned substances are used for athletes.

The following list shows the nutrient profile of this multivitamin in each capsule.

  • Calcium: 52 mg
  • Magnesium: 20 mg
  • Manganese: 3 mg
  • Selenium: 200 mcg
  • Vitamin A: 450 mcg
  • Vitamin B12: 600 mcg
  • Vitamin C: 250 mg
  • Vitamin E: 16.5 mg
  • Zinc: 15 mg

Pure Encapsulations One Multivitamin

Pure Encapsulations One Multivitamin is a good supplement that contains essential vitamins and minerals, including highly bioavailable forms of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.

This supplement promotes eye, cognitive, and cellular health and is suitable for adults aged 18 and more.

One capsule daily with a meal is recommended for the best nutritional support. You can check out the nutrition profile for each capsule in the following list.

  • Manganese: 2 mg
  • Vitamin A: 1125 mcg
  • Vitamin B12: 500 mcg
  • Vitamin C: 180 mg
  • Vitamin E: 20 mg
  • Vitamin D: 50 mcg
  • Zinc: 25 mg

Ancestral Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Organs

Ancestral Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Organs offer a rich supplement that provides essential nutrients like vitamin A, B12, coenzyme Q10, heme iron, and selenium.

They support liver health, cardiovascular health, detoxification, digestion, and immune function.

They are sourced from pasture-raised and grass-fed cattle in New Zealand and Australia and are free from hormones, pesticides, GMOs, and fillers.

The organs are freeze-dried and non-defatted, with third-party testing to ensure purity and allergen-free.

1 capsule daily (which is recommended) consists of the following supplements:

  • Grass Fed Liver (Bovine): 600mg
  • Grass Fed Heart (Bovine): 600mg
  • Grass Fed Kidney (Bovine): 600mg
  • Grass Fed Pancreas (Bovine): 600mg
  • Grass Fed Spleen (Bovine): 600mg

MegaFood One Daily Multivitamin

MegaFood One Daily Multivitamin offers essential vitamins and minerals in one daily tablet.

It includes 21 essential nutrients, such as vitamins C, B, D, zinc, and iron. This multivitamin features food-paired vitamins and fermented minerals, making it suitable to take at any time, even on an empty stomach.

Also, it is verified as non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms), gluten-free, and made without allergens.

Each capsule of this multivitamin contains:

  • Manganese: 1.2 mg
  • Vitamin A: 180 mcg
  • Vitamin B6: 6 mg
  • Vitamin B12: 15 mg
  • Vitamin C: 60 mg
  • Vitamin E: 10 mg
  • Vitamin D3: 10 mcg
  • Vitamin K: 65 mcg
  • Iron: 4.5 mg
  • Zinc: 6 mg

Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin

Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin has two main products, Opti-men and Opti-women.

Opti-Men comes in 90, 150, and 240 tablet containers, offering a 30, 50, and 80-day supply. Each 3-tablet serving, which can be taken all at once or spread throughout the day, includes vitamins B, C, D, zinc, and 1 gram of free-form amino acids.

Opti-women provides 60 and 120 capsules for 30 and 60 servings and the same vitamins and minerals.

These supplements are intended for use together with a balanced diet and exercise program. The recommended dosage is 3 tablets daily for men and 2 tablets daily for women.

Here are the nutrition details for each serving of Opti-men (3 tablets).

  • Manganese: 2 mg
  • Vitamin A: 3000 mcg
  • Vitamin B6: 18 mg
  • Vitamin B12: 27 mزg
  • Vitamin C: 300 mg
  • Vitamin E: 134 mg
  • Vitamin D: 37.5 mcg
  • Vitamin K: 75 mcg
  • Magnesium: 80 mg
  • Zinc: 15 mg

Learn More: The Carnivore Diet Protein Powder: 4 Best Protein Powders

Summary

Multivitamins are unnecessary on the Carnivore Diet, as you can get all essential vitamins from animal-based foods.

However, if you have a nutrient deficiency or are among sensitive groups, like older adults, you can take multivitamin on Carnivore Diet only if your doctor approves.

Remember that these supplements are not a substitute for the vitamins found in animal sources and are most effective when included in a balanced diet.

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