Multivitamin ingredients fall into three groups: vitamins, minerals and, in some formulas, botanical blends. Daily Essential+™ has all three in a two-capsule morning serving: vitamins A, C, D and E, a full B-complex, eight minerals from calcium to molybdenum, and three named botanical blends. This guide walks through each group line by line, so you know what each line on the label means.
Reading a multivitamin label can feel like reading a chemistry exam. Long names, unfamiliar units and a column of percentages all compete for your attention. The good news is that the panel follows a pattern, and once you know the pattern, the ingredients make sense.
Key takeaways
- Multivitamin ingredients fall into three groups: vitamins, minerals and, in some formulas, botanical blends.
- The serving is two capsules, taken in the morning with a meal, and the 60-capsule bottle lasts 30 days.
- Each of the three botanical blends lists its total, not the amount of each ingredient inside it.
- The Daily Essential+ label says to consult with a physician prior to use if you have a medical condition, and not to use it if you are pregnant or lactating. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements also names medicines that can interact with some of its nutrients, such as methotrexate, some antibiotics, statins and metformin; see the safety notes below.
What are the main multivitamin ingredients?
Almost every multivitamin is built on the same foundation: the 13 essential vitamins (or most of them) plus a handful of essential minerals. Formulas then differ in three ways: which forms of each nutrient they use, how much of each they include, and whether they add anything beyond vitamins and minerals.
Daily Essential+ adds three botanical blends on top of its vitamins and minerals. That makes it a broader daily formula than a basic multi, and it also means the label works a little differently, which we explain below. The formula is made to support healthy muscle function, immune health and cardiovascular health, and to provide overall joint support.*
The vitamins in Daily Essential+
Here is every vitamin on the Daily Essential+ panel, with the amount in one two-capsule serving and the form the label names.
| Vitamin | Per 2-capsule serving | Form on the label |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 600 mcg RAE | Beta-carotene |
| Vitamin C | 150 mg | Ascorbic acid |
| Vitamin D | 10 mcg | Cholecalciferol |
| Vitamin E | 13.5 mg | DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate |
| Thiamin (B1) | 7 mg | Thiamine mononitrate |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 7.5 mg | B2 |
| Niacin (B3) | 30 mg NE | Niacin |
| Vitamin B6 | 7.5 mg | Pyridoxine HCl |
| Folate | 680 mcg DFE | 400 mcg folic acid |
| Vitamin B12 | 27 mcg | Cyanocobalamin |
| Biotin | 300 mcg | Biotin |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 10 mg | D-calcium pantothenate |
Why the units change from line to line
Vitamin A is listed in mcg RAE (retinol activity equivalents) and folate in mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalents). These units adjust for how well the body uses each form, which is why the folate line shows 680 mcg DFE next to 400 mcg of folic acid: folic acid is used more efficiently than the folate in food, so the label converts it. Niacin is listed in mg NE (niacin equivalents) for a similar reason. If you want the longer story on folate, our guide to folate vs. folic acid on a label covers it.
What the B vitamins do
The eight B vitamins work as helpers in the reactions that turn food into usable energy. They are water-soluble, so the body does not store most of them for long, which is one reason people like a daily source. Vitamin B12 and folate also play a part in forming healthy red blood cells, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
The minerals in Daily Essential+
Minerals are the other half of a multivitamin. Daily Essential+ includes eight:
- Calcium (as calcium carbonate) and magnesium (as magnesium oxide), 50 mg each. These are modest amounts: both minerals are bulky, so no two-capsule multi can hold a full day of either. Food stays the main source. Add up your calcium from food and supplements: Daily Essential+ gives 50 mg, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists an adult upper limit of 2,000 to 2,500 mg a day, depending on age. Magnesium works differently: the same office lists an adult upper limit of 350 mg a day for magnesium from supplements and medicines only, not food. Daily Essential+ gives 50 mg, so count it with any other magnesium supplement you take.
- Zinc (as zinc oxide), 15 mg, a mineral the immune system relies on.*
- Selenium (as selenium amino acid chelate), 30 mcg.
- Copper (as copper gluconate), 2 mg. Copper is often paired with zinc in a formula, since the two are absorbed through related pathways.
- Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate), 2 mg.
- Chromium (as chromium picolinate), 120 mcg.
- Molybdenum, 75 mcg.
Notice that iron is not on the list. That is a deliberate choice in many adult multivitamins, because iron needs vary a great deal from person to person. If you have been told you need iron, talk with your healthcare provider about a separate source.
The three botanical blends, explained
This is where Daily Essential+ goes beyond a basic multi. The label lists three blends:
- Health Support, 170 mg: lutein (from marigold flower), lycopene (from tomato), stinging nettle root extract and saw palmetto fruit.
- Immune Support, 110 mg: echinacea purpurea extract, beta glucan (from yeast), spirulina and garlic.
- Antioxidant Fruit & Energy Blend, 190 mg: green tea extract, Chinese hawthorn, cassia cinnamon, bilberry extract, grape seed extract, black currant extract and pomegranate extract.
Here is the honest part. Blend totals are on the label; the amounts inside each blend are not. You can see that the antioxidant blend adds up to 190 mg, but not how much of that is green tea or pomegranate. Blends like these add a spread of plant compounds to the formula, and the vitamins and minerals above are each listed with their own exact amount.
How to take Daily Essential+
The label is simple: take two capsules in the morning with a meal, and the 60-capsule bottle lasts 30 days. Food helps for two reasons. Vitamins A, D and E are fat-soluble, so they are best taken alongside a meal, and many people find a multivitamin sits more comfortably on a full stomach. Our article on the best time to take a multivitamin has more ideas for building it into breakfast.
Many people pair it with Vitamin K2/D3+ and Collagen Complex+ as a daily foundation. Each label gives its own direction: Daily Essential+ is two capsules in the morning with a meal; Vitamin K2/D3+ is one capsule daily, preferably 20-30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by your healthcare professional; and Collagen Complex+ is 1 to 2 servings per day (a serving is three capsules), or as directed by your healthcare professional. If you pair them, add up the vitamin D. One Vitamin K2/D3+ capsule gives 125 mcg (5,000 IU), above the 100 mcg (4,000 IU) daily upper limit for adults, set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies and listed by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Daily Essential+ adds another 10 mcg, so check the total with your healthcare provider. Both products also contain calcium: 210 mg in one Vitamin K2/D3+ capsule and 50 mg in Daily Essential+, 260 mg together, so count both against the adult upper limit of 2,000 to 2,500 mg a day from food and supplements listed by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. The vitamin K in Vitamin K2/D3+ can affect how blood-thinning medication works, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says people who take certain blood thinners, such as warfarin, "should talk with their health care providers before taking any MVM or dietary supplement containing vitamin K." Vitamin D can also interact with thiazide diuretics, and calcium with levothyroxine and some antibiotics; see the safety notes below.
Collagen Complex+ contains egg and fish (cod). The Vitamin K2/D3+ and Collagen Complex+ labels both read: "Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place."
Safety notes from the label
The Daily Essential+ label says not to use it if you are pregnant or lactating. It also asks you to consult a physician before use if you have a medical condition. The botanicals (including green tea extract, garlic, echinacea and saw palmetto) are another reason to check with your provider or pharmacist first if you take any prescription medication. Keep it out of reach of children.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheets also name medicines to raise with your provider before you start. Folic acid can interact with methotrexate, with antiepileptic medications such as phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproate, and with sulfasalazine. Zinc "may interact with certain medications, such as quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and penicillamine," and some diuretics can lower zinc levels. Calcium supplements may interact with "dolutegravir, levothyroxine, lithium, and quinolone antibiotics." Vitamin D supplements may interact with "orlistat, statins, steroids, and thiazide diuretics," and thiazide diuretics taken with vitamin D supplements "might lead to hypercalcemia, especially among older adults and individuals with compromised renal function or hyperparathyroidism." Some medicines, "including gastric acid inhibitors and metformin, may affect vitamin B12 levels." If you pair Daily Essential+ with Vitamin K2/D3+, the same office says people who take certain blood thinners, such as warfarin, should talk with their health care providers before taking any supplement containing vitamin K.
Why the testing matters for a multi
A multivitamin carries a long list of ingredients (Daily Essential+ lists 20 vitamins and minerals plus three botanical blends), so there are many lines that can drift from the label. Daily Essential+ is third-party tested, every batch, for purity and potency by an outside lab, and it is manufactured in USA with globally sourced materials in an NSF-certified, GMP-certified, FDA-registered facility. You can read how that testing works on the Our Standards page.
Frequently asked questions about multivitamin ingredients
What should a good multivitamin contain?
Most adult multivitamins cover most or all of the essential vitamins, including A, C, D, E and the B-complex, plus key minerals such as zinc, selenium and magnesium. Beyond that, look for clear forms and amounts on the panel, and a brand that tests every batch. A multi supports a varied diet; it does not replace one.
Why does Daily Essential+ contain botanicals as well as vitamins?
The three blends add lutein, lycopene, green tea, berries and other plant ingredients that a basic multi leaves out. They make it a broader daily formula.
Does Daily Essential+ contain iron?
No. Iron is not on the label. Iron needs differ widely between people, so if you have been told you need iron, ask your healthcare provider about a separate product.
How many capsules of Daily Essential+ do I take?
Two capsules in the morning with a meal, as the label directs. That is one serving, and the 60-capsule bottle lasts 30 days.
Can I take Daily Essential+ with other supplements?
Many people pair it with a vitamin D3 and K2 formula or a collagen product. Our labels give different directions: Daily Essential+ is two capsules in the morning with a meal, Vitamin K2/D3+ is one capsule daily, preferably 20-30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by your healthcare professional, and Collagen Complex+ is 1 to 2 servings per day (a serving is three capsules), or as directed by your healthcare professional. Add up any nutrient that appears in more than one product, especially vitamin D: Daily Essential+ gives 10 mcg (400 IU) a day and our Vitamin K2/D3+ alone gives 125 mcg (5,000 IU), so together they give 135 mcg (5,400 IU), above the 100 mcg (4,000 IU) adult upper limit listed by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium adds up too: 50 mg in Daily Essential+ and 210 mg in Vitamin K2/D3+, 260 mg together, to count against the adult upper limit of 2,000 to 2,500 mg a day from food and supplements listed by the same office. If you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, talk with your healthcare provider before taking any product with vitamin K, such as Vitamin K2/D3+; the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements gives the same advice for any supplement containing vitamin K. Collagen Complex+ contains egg and fish (cod), so it is not suitable if you have an egg or fish allergy. The Daily Essential+ label says not to use it if you are pregnant or lactating, and to consult a physician before use if you have a medical condition. The Vitamin K2/D3+ and Collagen Complex+ labels say not to exceed the recommended dose, and that pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements also names medicines that can interact with folic acid, zinc, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12, including methotrexate, some anti-seizure medicines, some antibiotics, levothyroxine, statins, thiazide diuretics and metformin, so check with your healthcare provider about any medication you take.
Related reading from our Wellness Hub
- Do You Need a Clean Multivitamin If You Eat Healthy?
- Best Time to Take a Multivitamin: A Simple Daily Routine
- Third-Party Tested, Every Batch: Here’s the Receipt
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Multivitamin/mineral Supplements Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated July 17, 2024
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated November 30, 2022
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated July 2, 2025
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated January 6, 2026
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated June 27, 2025
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated June 22, 2026
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, updated January 6, 2026
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dietary Supplements, content current as of October 1, 2024
Individual results vary.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
