Healthnews24South Africa's supplement answer desk

Best Multivitamin in South Africa 2026: 7 Products Compared

Healthnews24 editorial deskUpdated 7 products compared
Answer first

A multivitamin only helps if your diet has gaps, so the best one in South Africa prints its doses, stays near daily needs and costs little. As of October 2026, Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active (R199.99 for 60, R3.33 a day) is the cheapest with full doses published. Tony Ferguson is the cheapest overall at R3.03 a day, but its amounts are only in the pack insert. Viridian High Five (R7.50) is the low-iron, sweetener-free pick. Premium tubs at R16–R18 a day add little.

2026 at a glance: ranked on published doses close to daily needs, then cost per day

  1. Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active 60 softgels Best value with full label
    One softgel a day with vitamin D3 200 IU, iron 10 mg, vitamin C 60 mg and B12 10 µg published; R199.99 for 60 is R3.33 a day.
  2. Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman 60 softgels Best for menstruating women
    Two capsules give D3 400 IU, folate 400 µg, iron 9 mg and zinc 10 mg; R132.99 for 30 days is R4.43 a day.
  3. Solgar Formula VM-2000 60 tablets Highest doses
    Two tablets give zinc 15 mg, vitamin C 300 mg, iron 10 mg bisglycinate and vitamin D2 400 IU; R499 for 30 days is R16.63 a day.
  4. Viridian High Five Multivitamin and Mineral 90 capsules Low iron, no sweeteners
    Vegetarian capsule with 1 mg iron, D3 400 IU, zinc 5 mg; R675 for 90 is R7.50 a day, but B6 25 mg is above EFSA's 12 mg upper limit.
  5. Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral Complex 60 tablets Cheapest per day
    R181.99 for 60 at Dis-Chem is R3.03 a day, but per-tablet amounts are only in the pack insert, and it contains phenylalanine.
  6. New Leaf Multivitamin Plus Iron High Strength 90 tablets Health-store mid-price
    One tablet a day with iron as ferrous fumarate; R409 for 90 is R4.54 a day, but amounts are not on the retailer page.
  7. MuscleTech Platinum 100% Multi Vitamin 90 caps Sports-branded, priciest
    Three capsules a day with '20 vitamins and minerals' and 865 mg amino acids, amounts not listed; R549.99 for 30 days is R18.33 a day.

ATP Fitness is a commercial partner of Healthnews24 and its products are featured on this site. Rankings follow our published method, and every pick, including ATP Fitness, shows its price maths and trade-offs. Disclosure and method.

Comparison table

ProductSizePriceServingsR per servingSweetenersBest for
Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active 60 softgels60 softgelsR200Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 202660R3.33glycerol (132 mg sugar source per capsule)Best value with full label
Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman 60 softgels60 softgelsR133Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 202630R4.43sorbitol 70% and glycerine in capsule fillBest for menstruating women
Solgar Formula VM-2000 60 tablets60 tabletsR499Faithful to Nature, Oct 202630R16.63mannitol, maltodextrinHighest doses
Viridian High Five Multivitamin and Mineral 90 capsules90 capsulesR675Faithful to Nature, Oct 202690R7.50noneLow iron, no sweeteners
Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral Complex 60 tablets60 tabletsR182Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 202660R3.03not statedCheapest per day
New Leaf Multivitamin Plus Iron High Strength 90 tablets90 tabletsR409Faithful to Nature, Oct 202690R4.54not statedHealth-store mid-price
MuscleTech Platinum 100% Multi Vitamin 90 caps90 caps (3 per day)R550Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 202630R18.33not statedSports-branded, priciest

Prices are dated retail observations (October 2026) from Dis-Chem Living Fit and Faithful to Nature. Cost per day uses the label's daily dose (for example 2 or 3 units), not cost per tablet.

Do you need a multivitamin?

Probably not, if you eat a varied diet. Large trials show little effect of multivitamins on major disease outcomes, and they do not improve sports performance in well-nourished people; the Australian Institute of Sport places them in Group B. The COSMOS trial reported a small memory benefit in older adults, which is modest evidence for one group. Our evidence rating is Weak.

South Africa's maize meal and bread flour have been fortified by law since 2003 with vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron and zinc, so many people already get some of these from staples. A multivitamin makes more sense for people on restrictive or low-energy diets, vegans (who need B12), older adults with small appetites, and people advised by a doctor or dietitian. Women planning pregnancy need a specific prenatal product with folic acid, chosen with their doctor.

What makes a good multivitamin label?

  • Doses printed per daily serving. Three of the seven products here did not show their amounts on the retailer pages we read.
  • Close to 100% of daily needs, not mega-doses. High doses of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D) and some minerals can push you over upper limits once you add fortified foods and other supplements. EFSA set the adult upper limit for vitamin B6 at 12 mg a day in 2023 and for vitamin D at 100 µg (4 000 IU) a day.
  • Iron to match you. Menstruating women, endurance runners and vegetarians may need iron; most men and post-menopausal women do not. Iron supplements beyond a multivitamin should follow a blood test.
  • Vitamin D. Most multis give 200–400 IU (5–10 µg). People with confirmed deficiency need a separate product on medical advice.
  • Fillers and capsule shells. Softgels may use bovine gelatine, sorbitol or glycerol. Vegetarians should check the capsule.

What does a multivitamin cost per day in South Africa?

Cost per day = price ÷ (units in pack ÷ units per day).

Product Price (Oct 2026) Daily dose R per day R per month
Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral R181.99 / 60 1 tablet R3.03 R91
Dis-Chem Gold Supreme Active R199.99 / 60 1 softgel R3.33 R100
Dis-Chem Gold For Woman R132.99 / 60 2 softgels R4.43 R133
New Leaf Multi Plus Iron R409 / 90 1 tablet R4.54 R136
Viridian High Five R675 / 90 1 capsule R7.50 R225
Solgar VM-2000 R499 / 60 2 tablets R16.63 R499
MuscleTech Platinum Multi R549.99 / 90 3 capsules R18.33 R550

The cheapest product costs one-sixth as much a day as the dearest.

Brand by brand

Best value

1. Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active 60 softgels

60 softgels | R200 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | R per serving: R3.33

Dis-Chem's house-brand Supreme Active is one softgel a day at R3.33 a day (R199.99 for 60), and Dis-Chem Living Fit publishes the key amounts: vitamin D3 5 µg (200 IU), zinc 1 mg, iron 10 mg (as fumarate), B12 10 µg and vitamin C 60 mg. That combination of a transparent label, sensible doses and a low price earns the top slot. Two points to weigh: 10 mg iron is useful for menstruating women but more than most men need, and zinc at 1 mg is low. The softgel uses bovine gelatine and contains soy, so it is not suitable for vegetarians or people with a soy allergy.

Strengths

  • Key doses published on the retailer page
  • R3.33 a day, two months per pack
  • One softgel a day

Trade-offs

  • 10 mg iron is more than most men and post-menopausal women need
  • Low zinc (1 mg)
  • Bovine gelatine and soy, so not vegetarian
For women

2. Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman 60 softgels

60 softgels | R133 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | R per serving: R4.43

Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman is two softgels a day. Per daily dose that gives vitamin D3 400 IU, folate 400 µg, iron 9 mg, zinc 10 mg, B12 25 µg and vitamin C 50 mg, based on the per-capsule amounts Dis-Chem publishes. At R132.99 for 60 (30 days) it is R4.43 a day. The iron and folate suit menstruating women. It is not a prenatal formula: if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, choose a product with your doctor. The softgel uses bovine gelatine with sorbitol and glycerine.

Strengths

  • Iron (9 mg) and folate (400 µg) suited to menstruating women
  • Full per-capsule doses published
  • R4.43 a day

Trade-offs

  • Two softgels a day
  • Not a prenatal formula
  • Bovine gelatine, so not vegetarian
High dose

3. Solgar Formula VM-2000 60 tablets

60 tablets | R499 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | R per serving: R16.63

Solgar's VM-2000 is a two-tablet, high-dose formula: per daily dose, zinc 15 mg, vitamin C 300 mg, iron 10 mg (bisglycinate), B12 100 µg, beta-carotene 2 500 µg and vitamin D 400 IU. Two details matter. The vitamin D is ergocalciferol (D2), which raises blood levels less effectively than D3 in most studies. And at R499 for 30 days it costs R16.63 a day, five times Dis-Chem Gold. The tablets use mannitol and maltodextrin. Higher doses are not better for people who already eat well.

Strengths

  • Iron as bisglycinate, often better tolerated
  • Higher zinc and vitamin C
  • Full doses published

Trade-offs

  • R16.63 a day
  • Vitamin D as D2, not D3
  • Two tablets a day
Low iron

4. Viridian High Five Multivitamin and Mineral 90 capsules

90 capsules | R675 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | R per serving: R7.50

Viridian High Five is a vegetarian capsule with no sweeteners, built on an alfalfa, spirulina and bilberry base. Per capsule it gives vitamin D3 400 IU, zinc 5 mg (citrate), iron only 1 mg (bisglycinate), B12 50 µg, vitamin C 100 mg and magnesium 12 mg. The low iron suits men and post-menopausal women. At R675 for 90 on Faithful to Nature it costs R7.50 a day. The trade-off is B vitamins: B6 at 25 mg a day is above the 12 mg adult upper limit EFSA set in 2023, based on the risk of nerve damage with long-term use, and B5 is 150 mg. If you take other B-vitamin products, add up your total.

Strengths

  • Vegetarian capsule, no sweeteners
  • Low iron for men and post-menopausal women
  • D3 400 IU, zinc 5 mg

Trade-offs

  • B6 25 mg exceeds EFSA's 12 mg upper limit
  • R7.50 a day, more than double Dis-Chem Gold
  • Too little iron for women who need it
Cheapest

5. Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral Complex 60 tablets

60 tablets | R182 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | R per serving: R3.03

Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral Complex is the cheapest per day at R3.03 (R181.99 for 60 at Dis-Chem Living Fit), one tablet with food. The page lists vitamin D (colecalciferol), zinc sulphate, ferrous fumarate, B12 and vitamin C, plus L-glutamine and L-phenylalanine, but the per-tablet amounts are only in the package insert, which we could not read. It ranks below the Dis-Chem Gold products on our transparency criterion. It contains phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria must avoid it, and the page says it is not for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Strengths

  • R3.03 a day, the cheapest we found
  • One tablet a day

Trade-offs

  • Amounts only in the pack insert
  • Contains phenylalanine; not for pregnancy or breastfeeding per the page
Mid-price

6. New Leaf Multivitamin Plus Iron High Strength 90 tablets

90 tablets | R409 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | R per serving: R4.54

New Leaf's Multivitamin Plus Iron High Strength is one tablet a day at R409 for 90 (Faithful to Nature), R4.54 a day. The page names the forms (vitamin D3, zinc oxide, ferrous fumarate, B12 as cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid) but not the amounts, so we cannot check doses against daily needs or upper limits. Read the box before buying; if the amounts are close to 100% of daily needs, it is reasonable value. The iron (ferrous fumarate) suits menstruating women but is unnecessary for most men, and a 90-tablet pack lasts three months.

Strengths

  • One tablet a day, three months per pack
  • R4.54 a day
  • Includes iron

Trade-offs

  • Amounts not published on the retailer page
  • Listing mixes 'capsules' and 'tablets'
Priciest

7. MuscleTech Platinum 100% Multi Vitamin 90 caps

90 caps (3 per day) | R550 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | R per serving: R18.33

MuscleTech Platinum 100% Multi Vitamin is sports-branded, three capsules a day, with '20 vitamins and minerals' and 865 mg of amino acids. The Dis-Chem Living Fit page does not list the amounts. At R549.99 for 30 days it costs R18.33 a day, six times Tony Ferguson. The amino acids are a token amount next to a single meal's protein. It contains sulfite and soy. Nothing on the label we could read justifies the price for an athlete; Dis-Chem Gold Supreme Active costs R3.33 a day and publishes its doses.

Strengths

  • Established sports brand
  • Sold at Dis-Chem

Trade-offs

  • R18.33 a day, the most expensive here
  • Amounts not listed on the retailer page
  • Contains sulfite and soy

Can you take too much? Safety and interactions

Multivitamins near 100% of daily needs are low risk. Problems come from stacking: a multivitamin plus a separate vitamin D, a B-complex and fortified foods can exceed upper limits for vitamin D, vitamin A or B6. Keep iron-containing products away from young children, because accidental iron overdose is a known poisoning risk. Under-18s should get nutrients from food and use a multivitamin only on a doctor's or dietitian's advice. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you take warfarin (vitamin K), levothyroxine or certain antibiotics (iron and zinc reduce absorption), are pregnant, or have kidney disease. A multivitamin does not treat fatigue: if you are tired all the time, ask for a blood test rather than buying iron.

Multivitamins for athletes and tested sport

Athletes rarely need a multivitamin if they eat enough. The common deficiencies in sport are specific, such as iron in female endurance runners or vitamin D in indoor athletes, and are better found with a blood test and treated with a single nutrient. For drug-tested athletes, including schoolboy rugby and cricket players, SAIDS applies strict liability to any product, and none of the multivitamins here showed third-party sport certification on the pages we read. Dis-Chem Gold and other house-brand products carry SAHPRA's standard statement that unregistered complementary medicines have not been evaluated for quality, safety or intended use.

How we compared

  1. We priced 7 multivitamins sold in South Africa (Dis-Chem Living Fit and Faithful to Nature) on 27 October 2026, recording retailer, URL and date.
  2. We calculated cost per day using the label's daily dose: price ÷ (units in pack ÷ units per day).
  3. Ranking criterion, stated openly: first, whether daily amounts are published; second, whether doses are close to daily needs without exceeding EFSA upper limits, and whether iron suits the target user; third, cost per day.
  4. Upper limits follow EFSA's 2023 opinions on vitamin B6 and vitamin D. Evidence follows the AIS framework and the COSMOS trial.
  5. ATP Fitness, a featured partner of Healthnews24, sells no multivitamin and is not included. Rankings follow our published method.

Which should you choose?

Best value with full label

Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active: R3.33 a day, one softgel, doses published.

Menstruating woman

Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman: Iron 9 mg and folate 400 µg a day for R4.43.

Man or post-menopausal woman

Viridian High Five: Only 1 mg iron; check your total B6 intake.

Absolute lowest cost

Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral: R3.03 a day; read the insert for amounts.

Pregnant or planning pregnancy

A prenatal product chosen with your doctor: General multivitamins are not designed for pregnancy.

Varied diet, no symptoms

None: Spend the money on food; test before treating fatigue.

When it is not worth it

Sports-branded multis at R18 a day

MuscleTech Platinum costs six times Tony Ferguson and hides its amounts.

Mega-dose formulas

Doses far above daily needs add cost and can breach upper limits once you count fortified foods.

A multivitamin for tiredness

Persistent fatigue needs a blood test; iron or B12 deficiency needs targeted treatment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best multivitamin in South Africa?

On published doses and price, Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active ranks first as of October 2026: one softgel a day with D3 200 IU, iron 10 mg, vitamin C 60 mg and B12 10 µg, for R3.33 a day. Dis-Chem Gold For Woman suits menstruating women; Viridian High Five suits people who do not need iron.

What is the cheapest multivitamin per day?

Tony Ferguson Multivitamin Mineral Complex at R181.99 for 60 tablets (Dis-Chem Living Fit) costs R3.03 a day, the lowest we found. Its amounts are only in the package insert. Dis-Chem Gold Supreme Active is next at R3.33 a day, with doses published.

Do multivitamins work?

They fill gaps in a poor or restricted diet, but large trials show little effect on major disease outcomes in well-nourished people, and they do not improve sports performance. The COSMOS trial found a small memory benefit in older adults. The AIS rates multivitamins Group B.

Should my multivitamin contain iron?

Menstruating women, vegetarians and endurance runners may benefit from some iron. Most men and post-menopausal women do not need it, and unnecessary iron can cause harm. Take a separate iron supplement only after a blood test and medical advice.

Can you take too many vitamins?

Yes, if you stack products. EFSA set the adult upper limit for vitamin B6 at 12 mg a day and vitamin D at 100 µg (4 000 IU) a day. Add up your multivitamin, any single vitamins and fortified foods. Viridian High Five alone gives 25 mg B6.

Are Dis-Chem and Clicks house-brand vitamins any good?

On label transparency they can be among the best: Dis-Chem Gold publishes per-capsule doses on its pages and costs R3.33–R4.43 a day. Like most supplements in South Africa, they carry SAHPRA's statement that they have not been evaluated, because complementary medicine registration has not started.

Sources

  1. COSMOS trial: multivitamin supplementation and cognitive function in older adults (Am J Clin Nutr 2024)
  2. Australian Institute of Sport Supplement Framework: Group B
  3. EFSA 2023, Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin B6 (EFSA Journal)
  4. EFSA 2023, Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin D (EFSA Journal)
  5. Endocrine Society 2024: healthy adults should take the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D
  6. ConfectioneryNews (Oct 2003): South African fortification becomes law
  7. Sim et al. 2019, Iron considerations for the athlete: a narrative review (Eur J Appl Physiol)
  8. Spotlight (14 Aug 2026): are complementary medicines effectively regulated in South Africa?
  9. SAIDS: supplements and their risks
  10. Dis-Chem Living Fit: Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin Supreme Active 60
  11. Dis-Chem Living Fit: Dis-Chem Gold Multivitamin For Woman 60
  12. Faithful to Nature: Viridian High Five Multivitamin and Mineral 90
  13. Faithful to Nature: Solgar Formula VM-2000 60

Educational information only, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease.

Cite this page: Healthnews24, “Best Multivitamin in South Africa 2026: 7 Products Compared”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/best/best-multivitamin-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /best/best-multivitamin-south-africa.md