Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals covering the full range — multivitamins, individual vitamins A through K, minerals, omegas and specialty nutrients. Brands include NFH, Designs for Health, AOR, Bioclinic Naturals, Jamieson, Webber Naturals and Nature's Bounty. Shipping across Canada.

Browse by nutrient

Multivitamins · Vitamin D · Vitamin B · Vitamin C · Vitamin E · Magnesium · Iron · Calcium · Minerals · Omega & Essential Fatty Acids · Probiotics · Antioxidants

What Canadians are most often short of

Diet covers most nutritional needs for most people, but a few gaps are common enough here to be worth knowing about:

• Vitamin D — the clearest case. Above roughly the 40th parallel, skin makes little to no vitamin D through the winter months, and food sources are limited.
• Iron — particularly among menstruating women, though it's worth confirming with a blood test rather than assuming, since excess iron carries its own risks.
• B12 — relevant for vegetarians and vegans, and absorption declines with age regardless of diet.
• Magnesium — intake often falls below recommended levels on a typical Western diet.

Reading a label properly

Two products can look identical and deliver very different results:

• Check elemental content. "500 mg magnesium bisglycinate" is compound weight — the actual magnesium may be a fraction of that.
• Check the form. Methylcobalamin vs. cyanocobalamin, methylfolate vs. folic acid, chelated vs. oxide minerals — these affect how well the nutrient is used.
• Check the NPN. An eight-digit Natural Product Number confirms Health Canada has assessed the product.
• Fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E and K — are absorbed better with a meal containing some fat.

More isn't better

Water-soluble vitamins are generally excreted when in excess, but fat-soluble vitamins accumulate, and minerals compete with one another for absorption — high-dose zinc over time can deplete copper, for instance. Taking a targeted supplement for an identified gap works better than layering several high-dose products.

If you take prescription medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or manage a health condition, check with your healthcare provider before starting. Several common supplements interact with medications — vitamin K with blood thinners and calcium or iron with thyroid medication are among the frequent ones.