What Are Custom, Personalized Vitamins, and Are They Worth It?

A personalized vitamin is custom-designed to address your unique nutritional needs. Some people may benefit more from personalized vitamins than others.

Recent advances in technology have led to the growth of precision medicine. This method considers individual factors like environment and lifestyle to develop customized treatments. Personalized vitamins are one of the latest innovations to emerge as part of this trend. Online subscription companies can assess your dietary needs and mail you a customized vitamin. 

Learn what you need to know about custom and personalized vitamins, including their potential advantages and disadvantages.

A personalized vitamin is custom-designed to address your unique nutritional needs. In contrast, traditional vitamins sold by pharmacies and retailers provide the same micronutrients for everyone. 

Subscription companies that offer personalized vitamins conveniently ship your unique dietary supplement to your front door biweekly or monthly. 

Many people have vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but these requirements vary. One study found that Americans over the age of 9 years commonly have deficiencies in vitamins B6 (11% of Americans), D (9%), C (6%), and B12 (5%). 

People with multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies may need a multivitamin or several individual dietary supplements. A personalized vitamin makes this process more convenient by combining every micronutrient you need into a single daily pill.  

Personalized vitamin companies use several methods to design customized supplements. You’ll likely need to complete an online assessment to help determine your goals and needs. For example, you may need to complete a quiz that gathers health information like: 

• Bowel movements
• Diet
• Energy level
• Health goals
• Height
• Gender
• Sleep

Some companies may also require you to take a DNA test or send a blood or hair sample. Companies analyze these materials for mineral and vitamin deficiencies.

Anyone can order a personalized vitamin, but some people may benefit more from this service than others. 

You may find it helpful to order a customized vitamin if one or more of these traits apply to you: 

• Constantly busy. If you have a hectic schedule, you may not have time to pick up vitamins at the grocery store or pharmacy. A convenient subscription service automatically delivers personalized vitamins as often as you need them. You also don’t need to visit a doctor to get started, saving money and time.  
• Forgetful. Many people find it challenging to take medications and supplements consistently. Experts estimate that 50% of patients don’t take their medications correctly. Personalized vitamin companies frequently send you individually packaged pills, making it easier for you to take a vitamin daily. 
• Pregnant. Taking a folic acid supplement and other prenatal vitamins helps prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. 71% of pregnant women take a multivitamin, but a personalized vitamin could provide customized micronutrients. 
• Premenopausal. Premenopausal women often don’t get the recommended daily amount of calcium, folic acid, iron, and vitamin B. A customized vitamin company typically takes age and gender into account, so you can receive a supplement that addresses these deficiencies.
• Vegetarian or vegan. People who exclude some or all animal products from their diet are more likely to have certain micronutrient deficiencies. For example, vegetarians and vegans often don’t get enough calcium, iron, vitamins B12 and D, and zinc. A personalized vitamin that considers diet can target these micronutrients.

Ordering a personalized vitamin from a subscription service can provide several benefits, such as: 

• Adaptability. Your micronutrient needs may change throughout your life as you age, change your diet, get pregnant, or develop health conditions. These requirements can also change with the seasons. For example, reduced exposure to sunlight in the winter causes more people to develop vitamin D deficiency. You can update your personalized vitamin to keep up with these changes. 
• Convenience. You can order customized vitamins online and have them delivered to your doorstep. Many companies offer an auto-refill option, so you don’t need to remember to buy more vitamins when you run low. This service makes it easy to take dietary supplements. 
• Expert advice. Some custom vitamin companies allow you to schedule virtual consultations with nutritionists or registered dieticians. This feature lets you chat with a healthcare professional whenever you have a question about your health. 
• Increase overall health. Taking a personalized vitamin could improve your health by targeting specific micronutrient shortages in your body. One study found that pregnant women who received customized dietary supplements and other resources had fewer adverse outcomes. 

If you’re looking for a convenient way to boost your health, a personalized vitamin could be an excellent addition to your daily routine. 

While personalized vitamins offer a few benefits, these supplements also have several potential disadvantages: 

• Cost. Subscription services for personalized vitamins can be much more expensive than traditional over-the-counter vitamins. Some companies only charge a few dollars per customized supplement, but they add shipping costs. Services that offer more features, like blood tests and nutritionist consultations, start at $50 per month for a personalized supplement. 
• Lack of regulation. The Federal Drug Administration doesn’t regulate dietary supplements. This lack of oversight means that companies can sell personalized vitamins without having an external agency assess the safety of their product first. The FDA also doesn’t ensure that products are accurately labeled, so your personalized supplement may not contain the promised micronutrients. 
• No thorough medical testing. Personalized vitamin companies use a limited range of tools to evaluate your micronutrient needs, like a short quiz or blood test. These tools can’t detect underlying health conditions that may cause a micronutrient deficiency. For instance, celiac disease and cystic fibrosis can decrease vitamin D absorption. 

A personalized vitamin may not be the best fit if you have a limited budget or potential health issues. 

A personalized vitamin could be better than traditional dietary supplements in some circumstances. A company that uses blood, DNA, or hair tests may provide more accurate insight into your nutritional needs than researching vitamins on your own. Additionally, taking a single personalized vitamin is more convenient than combining multiple supplements to address your unique dietary needs. 

However, ordering a personalized vitamin isn’t a replacement for consulting a healthcare provider. Your physician can test your micronutrient levels and determine if you have an underlying health condition that supplements alone can’t address.