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Are Personalized Vitamins Worth It?
Updated on May 26, 2023
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Are Personalized Vitamins Worth It?

What Are Personalized Supplements?

Personalized supplements are created by taking an online quiz or consulting with a healthcare professional to determine an individual's unique nutritional requirements. The supplements are then customized to meet those needs and may be sold as a single product or as a daily pack of individual supplements.

Do They Work?

A study shows that people who took vitamins regularly reported an estimated 30% improvement on overall health.1 On the other hand, another review found that multivitamins and supplements didn’t significantly improve heart health at all.2 

While personalized supplements are often marketed as a convenient and effective way to improve health, there is no scientific evidence to support their effectiveness, and the safety and quality of these products may vary. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any dietary supplement.

Are Personalized Vitamins Worth It? 2

However, multivitamins significantly benefitted people who have more nutritional needs compared to others becuase of vitamin deficiencies, among other things.3

For example, pregnant women often need more folate or B vitamins compared to the average person. These essential nutrients help with the development of the baby’s brain and spine. Doctors often prescribe pregnant women prenatal vitamins with folate.3

Multivitamins are a popular one-size-fits-all option but they rarely provide what someone specifically needs to improve their health. 

One of their primary drawbacks is their lack of personalization. Many brands continue to pump out the same kind of multivitamin that doesn’t tailor to specific medical needs. 

Recently, however, personalized supplements have begun to take the vitamin industry by storm.

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What are Personalized Vitamins?

Several companies have launched personalized vitamins in response to consumer issues with how generalized vitamins are. 

Companies can tailor-fit vitamins to your health conditions, genetic makeup, or both. This sets them apart from traditional supplements.

Most companies that offer them will ask you to visit their website to take a quiz. They will build you a vitamin pack based on your answers. 

These companies' forms may ask for your:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Region of the country in which you live
  • Lifestyle choices
  • Current diet
  • Health concerns
  • Fitness regimen

Companies use an algorithm and other tools to design your personal vitamin packs.

Personalized vitamin companies aim to assess your unique needs when it comes to supplements.

Personalized vitamins are not much different fromn individual supplements you buy in a store. They’re just combined in a way that better suits your needs compared to one-size-fits-all multivitamins.

They’re convenient for people who don’t have the time or the desire to do research around the best supplements for them. The vitamin company will do all the work for them instead.

Are Personalized Vitamins Worth the Investment?

For many people, the answer is yes.

People with busy lifestyles or who don’t have the time to prepare healthy meals may benefit greatly from customized supplements. If they don’t reach their daily fruit and vegetable demands, vitamin packs can help them with their nutritional needs.

With personalized vitamin services, you’e only getting what you need. Even so, it doesn’t mean you’e getting everything you need. 

Idenitfying the vitamins you need more of doesn’t pinpoint the reason you might need those particular vitamins in the first place.

For example, if you say that you’re feeling sluggish or run-down on your assessment, the company may deduce that you need a higher dosage of vitamin B12

But many other things could be causing that deficiency and, without a thorough health evaluation, you might never know the actual cause.

Taking personalized supplements can potentially help you take better care of your health. They may assist with providing you with the ideal amount of vitamin and nutrient intake, but you definitely shouldn’t stop there.

Can Personalized Supplements Improve Health and Performance?

Absolutely. But they aren’t perfect.

For instance, the health assessments given to you when you first sign up for personalized supplements aren’t as in-depth as actual check-ups or appointments with your healthcare professional.

Some health professionals believe these quizzes are a little more than jumping-off points for figuring out what you need.

Suppose you are interested in really getting a personalized supplement. In that case, the best thing to do is ask your doctor to conduct a micronutrient lab blood test. 

Micronutrient lab testing are blood tests that analyzes the levels of specific vitamins and minerals in your body.

These tests provide accurate markers for vitamins and micronutrients and tells you where there are any deficiencies.

It’s also possible to utilize DNA testing to evaluate your health risks. If you understand your genetic health risks, you can better provide your body with what it needs to reduce your risks.

Keep in mind, though, these types of tests tend to be more expensive. This is why many people choose the basic overview assessment instead. 

DNA tests are available for around $100 to $200, but blood panels conducted by a doctor often cost more. You’ll need to decide how thorough you want to be when it comes to assessing your needs.

It’s also important to remember that even if you undergo a medical panel, you can still order from your trusted personalized supplement company to complement your efforts. 

Supplements aren’t regulated like medications. It can be difficult to find a company that provides a high quality product that will match your needs. 

Luckily, many companies are transparent with their manufacturing process, so you know you’re getting a quality supplement.

What Should I Look for in a Supplement?

You should treat personalized supplements the same way you would treat other vitamins you purchase. You want to look for a reputable company that stands behind its products.

Look for companies with no shady practices and are transparent about their ingredients and processes. It’s a big plus if they’re approved by governing bodies.

Many personalized supplement companies also offer herbal supplements. While most herbal supplements are safe, some can potentially interfere with medications or cause harm in other ways like increasing your risk of internal bleeding or stroke.4

Make sure you speak to your doctor before beginning any supplement regimen.

It’s also a good idea to check the ingredient list before investing in personalized supplements. 

Avoid products with synthetic fillers, such as food coloring or dyes and partially hydrogenated soybean oil. They serve no other function but to enhance the appearance of your supplements. 

Besides, hydrogenated soybean oil — like trans fat and solid fats — can increase your bad cholesterol and put you at risk of heart diseases.5 

Also, be on the look out for lead, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCBs, and mercury, which can be found in some fish oil supplements. In high concentrations, these toxic heavy metals can affect different brain functions.6

Make sure you look beyond attractive, flashy social media pictures and marketing campaigns when trying to find a personalized vitamin subscription service. Look for ones that are proven to help and are backed by good claims.

There are many great companies out there, you just need to do a little research and find one that works for you.

Vous Vitamins -- Our Recommendation

Vous Vitamins recognizes that one size does not fit all when it comes to vitamins. In order to offer their customers the best in terms of supplements, Vous Vitamins tailors their products to fit each customer.

By personalizing their vitamins, Vous Vitamins can optimize your health and wellness. Take their quiz and they'll determine what you need based on your age, lifestyle, and health status. This simplifies the vitamin selection process and saves you a ton of time and effort.

Each recommendation is backed by their team of medical professionals to ensure you get every nutrient you need.

Check out the price here.

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Updated on May 26, 2023
Dr. Dhingra
Dr. Harshi Dhingra
Medical Reviewer
Dr Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with a specialization in Pathology. Dr. Dhingra has of over a decade in diagnostic, clinical, research and teaching work, including managing all sections of Pathology laboratory including histopathology, cytology, hematology and clinical Pathology.
Cristine Santander
Cristine Santander
Content Contributor
Cristine Santander is a content writer for KnowYourDNA. She has a B.S. in Psychology and enjoys writing about health and wellness.
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