Multivitamin
The New Multi Formula Is Here
The new V4 multivitamin formula features optimized dosages of B12, selenium, and new minerals like boron. The nutrient combination is designed to provide optimal status across different intake scenarios.
Multivitamin
The new V4 multivitamin formula features optimized dosages of B12, selenium, and new minerals like boron. The nutrient combination is designed to provide optimal status across different intake scenarios.
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Some of you may have already heard the news:
The new Multi is here.
We're offering it in two variants: with and without iodine. The reason is that some people—for example, those with thyroid conditions—may want to avoid iodine as a precaution. We're responding to this product request.
Now, to the reasons why we've upgraded our Multi from V3 to V4. Our product page also notes that we continuously refine the Multi based on personal experience and scientific evidence.
Over the years, we've gradually moved toward an «optimal version» of the Multi suitable for as many people and contexts as possible. The nutrient combination should be chosen so that you benefit even if you don't take it daily, while at the same time there is no risk of overdose if you take, for example, two capsules daily. The current product update includes the following changes:
Reasoning: The EFSA concludes that even high-dose B12 supplements in the 1–5 mg range produce no toxic symptoms, which is why there has been no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for this vitamin for decades.
On the other hand: what is the natural reference? We know that hunter-gatherers valued liver as food and often ate it raw. Liver contains 40–70 μg (>1,600% NRV) of vitamin B12 per 100 g. About 80–100 g of liver per week is considered a reference amount. We also know that B12 absorption decreases significantly with age.
Somewhat higher B12 levels thus seem more realistic to us for optimal status. That's why we increased the dosage.
Molybdenum is considered a very safe trace element—toxic effects have only been observed at intakes about 100 times higher than the daily safe upper limit.
On the other hand, molybdenum is an important cofactor for several enzymes, such as the well-known aldehyde oxidase. This enzyme plays a key role in detoxifying drugs, toxins, and chemicals like xenobiotics («Phase I reaction»). Due to the broad substrate specificity of the enzyme, it contributes significantly to detoxifying various compounds.
So far, we've dosed molybdenum relatively conservatively—we're slightly catching up to other supplements and increasing the dose within a safe range.
Zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the body after iron. Food contains many inhibitors, especially phytic acid from plant foods, which is why nutritional societies base their zinc recommendations on the phytic acid content of the diet.
Here, we want to maximize the recommendations of the relevant risk assessment authorities and offer the highest possible zinc amount in the Multi.
Chromium picolinate is an edubily favorite. We've explained why, among other places, on [source no longer available] (individual supplement)—in short: it has far-reaching effects especially on carbohydrate metabolism.
While most studies work with doses around 200 μg in the therapeutic range, we want to ensure basic coverage of this valuable trace element.
We find a somewhat higher dosage plausible, given that chromium is not a trace element that occurs particularly ubiquitously in food. Even conservative estimates suggest that up to 100 μg per day might be needed for healthy adults to be well supplied. Here we're making our contribution.
For years, there has been scientific consensus that we Europeans have selenium levels far below those needed for maximum activity of the body's selenoproteins. In short: we are not well supplied with selenium.
We've covered this in more detail [source no longer available] (please read). Regular blog readers know that we lack approximately 50 μg of selenium per day to close the gap and reach acceptable selenium levels. We want to make a better contribution here.
Originally, it was planned earlier to offer more selenium. However, only selenium yeast was approved. But for many people it has a "musty smell," so we used it sparingly.
The bulk of selenium in selenium yeast occurs as selenomethionine. Now we use selenomethionine—but without the yeast. The chemical form doesn't change. However, we hope that selenomethionine at the higher dose we're now using won't smell as noticeable.
Boron has been increasingly studied in recent years, and there's ongoing discussion about whether boron is an essential trace element. In any case, there's exciting research on boron: it plays a role in maintaining bone health, it improves wound healing, it favorably regulates hormones (e.g., testosterone and vitamin D), it reduces inflammation—and more (cf. [source no longer available])
Typical intake ranges from 1–3 mg per day. Boron is now also permitted in dietary supplements. Reason enough to use it. The added 500 μg will make a valuable additional contribution to coverage.
As a reminder: we were the first company to include PQQ in physiologically meaningful doses in a multivitamin supplement. For good reason—[source no longer available].
However, this also applies: «the Multi» should work in various contexts, for example even if an endurance athlete decides to take two capsules per day. PQQ is a very potent antioxidant and should be supplied in amounts roughly similar to folic acid (100–400 μg). That's why we decided to lower the dosage a bit further, so that PQQ cannot have unfavorable effects in any context.
