Not So Sweet Facts About Gummy Vitamins
Not So Sweet Facts About Gummy Vitamins
We all have the same experience. Our kids are picky eaters, and as adults, we hate swallowing all of those freaking pills, so we lean towards gummy vitamins over traditional supplements because they’re chewable, tastier, and don’t have that weird smell. It makes sense too. Gummy vitamins are like little treats in the morning, making us more likely to take our vitamins regularly.
While consistency is obviously important when taking any supplement, choosing the right supplement form also matters, and unfortunately, when it comes to gummies, there’s some pretty big downsides. If, for example, you take the #1 gummy multivitamin sold in natural stores like Smarty Pants, you’d also be consuming almost 5 lbs of sugar every year. That’s crazy, especially since the number one reason we take supplements is for our health, and sugar actively disables it.*
What You Need To Know About Gummy Vitamins
False health claims
Researchers found gummy-vitamin makers made false health claims — and the FDA doesn’t strictly regulate supplements.
The lack of regulation regarding the classification of gummy vitamins makes it more confusing and complicated for consumers. The FDA does not strictly regulate the safety and sale of nutritional supplements since they are classified as food products, not medicines.2
Unreliable dosage
One popular gummy multi is 60% sugar by weight — and 4 of 5 gummies fail to match their own label.*
Gummy vitamins usually contain fewer nutrients but are loaded with an insane amount of sugar, fillers, and artificial food dyes to prolong their shelf-life and give them an enticing look and taste. Their fancy packaging conceals the alarming amounts of added sugar and other unhealthy ingredients that aren’t clearly stated on the label. Going back to our example of a popular brand Smarty Pants, their women’s multivitamin has 6 grams of sugar per serving, which sounds okay on the surface, but a “serving” is only 10 grams, making the number one active ingredient (at 60%), sugar! 😳
ConsumerLab found that at least four out of five gummy supplements contained more or less than the listed ingredients on their labels. They revealed that gummies are more likely to fail the test based on their analysis. Also, chances are that the vitamin content is already degraded by the time you eat your gummy.3
How much of that “serving” is actually sugar?
Per the numbers Grace pulled — share of each serving that’s added sugar
In a 10 g “serving” of that gummy, 6 g is added sugar — the #1 active ingredient. Root'd is a sugar-free drink mix with 0g added sugar.*
Higher Risk of Overdose
They taste like candy, so it’s easy to keep eating — kids especially are prone to over-consuming them.
Gummies are obviously yummy and convenient, but these bright and colorful vitamins also have a dark side. The sweet and fruity taste of gummy vitamins tickles our taste buds and makes us want more. They're chewable and flavorful that maybe we’ll just eat another 1, 2, 3, (okay, 4) more pieces until you accidentally binge the whole bottle. Whoops! Kids are especially more prone to over-consume gummy vitamins.
5 Reasons Why Gummy Vitamins Are Not Good For You
5 not-so-sweet facts
Tap or hover each card for the why*
Tap a card to flip it
Cause Dental Cavities*
Yes — gummy vites are basically gummy bears for your teeth: sticky sugar that feeds decay.*
Are gummy vitamins bad for your teeth? YES!
Gummy vitamins can cause plaque buildup and tooth decay. The sugar in them sticks to the surface of your teeth and creates a sticky film that weakens the enamel and encourages bacteria to grow — this can lead to cavities and gum disease. Manufacturers may claim them as a nutritious treat, but gummy vites are just like gummy bears that are bad for your teeth!4
Increase Obesity Risk*
Marketed for “weight loss,” the hidden sugar can quietly push the other way.*
It's ridiculous how some brands would advertise gummy vitamins for weight loss when they're actually a gateway to increased obesity risk.
Most of the time, the sweet and fruity taste of gummies comes from artificial flavorings and added sugars. Consistently eating too much sugar can make a dent in your daily calorie allowance and could lead to weight gain.5
May Trigger Acne Breakouts*
Sugar spikes insulin and oils that clog pores — and too much biotin doesn’t help either.*
Added sugar in gummy vitamins can cause an insulin spike that leads to increased production of oils and androgen hormones, which eventually clog pores, aggravate acne, and trigger inflammations. Dermatologists said that people who ingest too much sugar are often susceptible to recurring acne.6
Also, since gummy vitamins usually have unreliable dosages, they may contain fewer or more nutrients than what’s listed on their labels. For instance, some vitamin brands marketed for skin care may have higher amounts of biotin than recommended. Michele Green, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, said that an excess of biotin leads to a shortage of vitamin B5 and an overproduction of skin cells resulting in a lack of moisture in the skin, making it more vulnerable to bacteria that can cause acne.*7
Bad for Diabetics*
Their sugar content puts them off-limits for the 11.3% of Americans managing diabetes.*
Don’t fall for the sweet claims of brands selling sugar-laden gummy vitamins as dietary supplements. People with diabetes make up 11.3% of the US population, so the common question is, “Can diabetics take gummy vitamins?”. While some may say they’re safe; their sugar content placed these off limits for people with diabetes and anyone managing their sugar levels.8
Impose Danger to Heart Health*
A high-sugar diet was tied to a greater risk of dying from heart disease.*
According to a study published in 2014, a high-sugar diet was associated with a greater risk of dying from heart disease.* Excess consumption of added sugar, especially from sugary products like gummies, can increase chronic inflammation and raise blood pressure.* Diabetes, fatty liver disease, inflammation, higher blood pressure, and weight gain are all side effects of added sugar intake*— linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.9
By the numbers
What’s Better Than Gummy Vitamins?
A sugar-free drink made from modern nutrition science — the right amount of vitamins, no sugar.*
We get it. Giving in to tasty gummies is much easier than giving up your sweet cravings and way better than choking down another pill. Luckily there are new, better, healthier options like Root'd.
Root'd is a vitamin made from today’s nutrition science. A full-spectrum premium multivitamin powder + electrolytes specially formulated for the unique nutritional needs of men, women, and pregnant moms. Each packet contains just the right amount of vitamins and minerals recommended & supported by science, so you never have to worry about taking less or more than your body needs*. Side note - explore our interactive supplement facts guide and testing results for any Root’d MULTI:
Pick your Root'd
Choose your supply
Use code SUGARFREE for 15% off + free shipping on your first order
🔒 100% Love Guarantee · 25 nutrients + electrolytes · 0g added sugar
Root'd has a bit of sweetness with a little more tart, berry-forward flavor. Each packet easily dissolves in water, so it mixes well with your smoothie. We've got berry-licious and sugar-free mocktail recipes you can also try to take your drinking experience to the next level!
Use code SUGARFREE @ rootd.com for 15% off your first order and upgrade to a nutrition routine that actually works. Always free shipping, and covered under our love guarantee - if you don’t LOVE Root’d, it’s on us!
FAQs
Questions we hear most about gummy vitamins
They’re not the harmless treat they look like. The #1 gummy multi can add up to almost 5 lbs of sugar a year, and that added sugar is linked to cavities, weight gain, acne, blood-sugar problems and heart-health risks.*
More than the front of the bottle lets on. One popular women’s gummy multivitamin has 6 grams of sugar in a 10-gram serving — making sugar the #1 active ingredient at 60%.*
Often not. ConsumerLab found at least four out of five gummy supplements contained more or less than what was listed on the label — and the vitamin content may already be degraded by the time you eat it.
Their sugar content places them off-limits for people with diabetes — and for anyone managing their blood sugar. People with diabetes make up 11.3% of the US population, so it’s a real concern.*
A sugar-free option like Root'd. It’s a full-spectrum multivitamin powder + electrolytes you mix into water — with 0g added sugar and just the right amount of vitamins and minerals supported by science.*
Because they taste like candy. The sweet, fruity flavor makes you want one more… and one more — until you’ve binged the bottle. Kids are especially prone to over-consuming them.
References
- The Conversation — kids’ vitamin gummies: unhealthy, poorly regulated and exploitative. Source
- Sharecare — are dietary supplements regulated by the FDA? Source
- TIME / ConsumerLab — do gummy vitamins work? Source
- Adventure Smiles — are gummy vitamins bad for teeth? Source
- Eat This, Not That! — what happens when you take too many gummy vitamins. Source
- CureSkin — do sweets cause acne? Source
- Byrdie — can biotin cause acne? Source
- CDC — National Diabetes Statistics Report. Source
- Harvard Health — the sweet danger of sugar. Source
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