PlainVitamins

Life Essentials

by Pharmanex · capsule · 60 capsules

  • Off the market since October 2023 (NIH)
  • DSLD label 66363
  • Serving 1 capsule

Life Essentials by Pharmanex lists 25 ingredients, 25 with an amount per serving of 1 capsule, such as 3,500 IU of vitamin A, 70 mg of vitamin C, 200 IU (5 mcg) of vitamin D3 and 30 IU of vitamin E. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on November 21, 2016.

What is in Life Essentials?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 1 capsule. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

Life Essentials: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 66363, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Aas Beta CaroteneVitamin A (Form: as 29% Beta Carotene (Form: from Blakeslea trispora Genus: Blakeslea Species: trispora, and Vitamin A Acetate) Note: 1000 IU)3,500 IU70%Vitamin A in Life Essentials against 5,772 products3,500 IU per serving; the middle half of products list 2,000 IU to 5,000 IU, the median 4,000 IU.3,500 IU

51% of 5,772 products listing vitamin A give more (median 4,000 IU).

Vitamin Cas Ascorbic Acid70 mg117%Vitamin C in Life Essentials against 18,583 products70 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg70 mg

64% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C give more (median 100 mg).

Vitamin D3as Cholecalciferol200 IU (5 mcg)50%Vitamin D in Life Essentials against 14,175 products5 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 10 mcg to 25 mcg, the median 15 mcg.DV 20 mcgUL 100 mcg5 mcg

83% of 14,175 products listing vitamin D give more (median 15 mcg).

Vitamin Eas D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Succinate, Mixed TocopherolsVitamin E (Form: as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate, mixed Tocopherols)30 IU100%Vitamin E in Life Essentials against 6,459 products30 IU per serving; the middle half of products list 15 IU to 100 IU, the median 30 IU.30 IU

44% of 6,459 products listing vitamin E give more (median 30 IU).

Thiamineas Thiamine MononitrateThiamin (Form: as Thiamine Mononitrate)0.75 mg50%Thiamin in Life Essentials against 9,830 products0.75 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.5 mg to 25 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 1.2 mg0.75 mg

87% of 9,830 products listing thiamin give more (median 5 mg).

Riboflavinas RiboflavinRiboflavin (Form: as Riboflavin)0.85 mg50%Riboflavin in Life Essentials against 9,824 products0.85 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.7 mg to 25 mg, the median 4 mg.DV 1.3 mg0.85 mg

86% of 9,824 products listing riboflavin give more (median 4 mg).

Niacinas NiacinamideNiacin (Form: as Niacinamide)10 mg50%Niacin in Life Essentials against 12,413 products10 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 13.2 mg to 48 mg, the median 20 mg.DV 16 mgUL 35 mg10 mg

77% of 12,413 products listing niacin give more (median 20 mg).

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxine HydrochlorideVitamin B6 (Form: as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)1 mg50%Vitamin B6 in Life Essentials against 15,277 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 2 mg to 20 mg, the median 6 mg.DV 1.7 mgUL 100 mg1 mg

88% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 give more (median 6 mg).

Folateas Folic Acid200 mcg50%Folate in Life Essentials against 7,022 products200 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 200 mcg to 400 mcg, the median 400 mcg.200 mcg

71% of 7,022 products listing folate give more (median 400 mcg).

Vitamin B12as CyanocobalaminVitamin B12 (Form: as Cyanocobalamin)3 mcg50%Vitamin B12 in Life Essentials against 14,425 products3 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 36 mcg.DV 2.4 mcg3 mcg

87% of 14,425 products listing vitamin B12 give more (median 36 mcg).

Biotinas BiotinBiotin (Form: as Biotin)75 mcg25%Biotin in Life Essentials against 9,447 products75 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mcg to 300 mcg, the median 200 mcg.DV 30 mcg75 mcg

68% of 9,447 products listing biotin give more (median 200 mcg).

Pantothenic Acidas D-Calcium PantothenatePantothenic Acid (Form: as D-Calcium Pantothenate)5 mg50%Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) in Life Essentials against 10,060 products5 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mg to 50 mg, the median 12 mg.DV 5 mg5 mg

77% of 10,060 products listing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) give more (median 12 mg).

Calciumas Calcium Bisglycinate, Calcium CarbonateCalcium (Form: as Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Bisglycinate)100 mg10%Calcium in Life Essentials against 17,831 products100 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 252 mg, the median 115 mg.DV 1,300 mgUL 2,500 mg100 mg

53% of 17,831 products listing calcium give more (median 115 mg).

Ironas Iron BisglycinateIron (Form: as Iron Bisglycinate)1.5 mg8%Iron in Life Essentials against 6,910 products1.5 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.2 mg to 18 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 18 mgUL 45 mg1.5 mg

72% of 6,910 products listing iron give more (median 5 mg).

Iodineas Potassium IodideIodine (Form: as Potassium Iodide)37.5 mcg25%Iodine in Life Essentials against 6,382 products37.5 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 75 mcg to 150 mcg, the median 150 mcg.DV 150 mcgUL 1,100 mcg37.5 mcg

90% of 6,382 products listing iodine give more (median 150 mcg).

Magnesiumas Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium OxideMagnesium (Form: as Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide)50 mg13%Magnesium in Life Essentials against 14,003 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 30 mg to 200 mg, the median 86 mg.UL 350 mgDV 420 mg50 mg

59% of 14,003 products listing magnesium give more (median 86 mg).

Zincas Zinc BisglycinateZinc (Form: as Zinc Bisglycinate)7.5 mg50%Zinc in Life Essentials against 13,186 products7.5 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 5 mg to 15 mg, the median 11 mg.DV 11 mgUL 40 mg7.5 mg

63% of 13,186 products listing zinc give more (median 11 mg).

Seleniumas L-SelenomethionineSelenium (Form: as L-Selenomethionine)17.5 mcg25%Selenium in Life Essentials against 7,658 products17.5 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 27 mcg to 100 mcg, the median 55 mcg.DV 55 mcgUL 400 mcg17.5 mcg

89% of 7,658 products listing selenium give more (median 55 mcg).

Copperas Copper BisglycinateCopper (Form: as Copper Bisglycinate)1 mg50%Copper in Life Essentials against 6,468 products1 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 0.5 mg to 2 mg, the median 1 mg.DV 0.9 mgUL 10 mg1 mg

40% of 6,468 products listing copper give more (median 1 mg).

Manganeseas Manganese BisglycinateManganese (Form: as Manganese Bisglycinate)1.75 mg88%Manganese in Life Essentials against 7,016 products1.75 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1 mg to 3.92 mg, the median 2 mg.DV 2.3 mgUL 11 mg1.75 mg

63% of 7,016 products listing manganese give more (median 2 mg).

Chromiumas Chromium Nicotinate GlycinateChromium (Form: as Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate)60 mcg50%Chromium in Life Essentials against 7,825 products60 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 45 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 100 mcg.DV 35 mcg60 mcg

61% of 7,825 products listing chromium give more (median 100 mcg).

Molybdenumas Molybdenum GlycinateMolybdenum (Form: as Molybdenum Glycinate)37.5 mcg50%Molybdenum in Life Essentials against 4,390 products37.5 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 25 mcg to 75 mcg, the median 50 mcg.DV 45 mcgUL 2,000 mcg37.5 mcg

65% of 4,390 products listing molybdenum give more (median 50 mcg).

Potassiumas Potassium ChloridePotassium (Form: as Potassium Chloride)40 mg1%Potassium in Life Essentials against 11,614 products40 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 190 mg, the median 99 mg.DV 4,700 mg40 mg

79% of 11,614 products listing potassium give more (median 99 mg).

Horsetail extract75 mgHorsetail in Life Essentials against 519 products75 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 20 mg to 200 mg, the median 67 mg.75 mg

Higher than 51% of 519 products listing horsetail (median 67 mg).

Boronas Boron CitrateBoron (Form: as Boron Citrate)0.5 mgBoron in Life Essentials against 3,339 products0.5 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 0.3 mg to 2 mg, the median 1 mg.UL 20 mg0.5 mg

65% of 3,339 products listing boron give more (median 1 mg).

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 66363 (entered November 21, 2016), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • 88% of the 15,277 products that print an amount of vitamin B6 list more than its 1 mg of vitamin B6 (median 6 mg).
  • 90% of the 6,382 products that print an amount of iodine list more than its 37.5 mcg of iodine (median 150 mcg).

The NIH database records one serving a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

The products whose ingredient lists overlap most with Life Essentials's, rare ingredients counting for more.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
Directions for use: Two capsules daily: Take one (1) capsule with eight (8) ounces of liquid with your morning and evening meals.
Warnings
Warnings: Keep out of reach of children.
Consult a physician prior to use if pregnant or lactating, or using prescription medication.
Discontinue 2 weeks prior to and after surgery. Discontinue use and consult a physician if any adverse reactions occur. Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing.
Allergens and what it does not contain
Guarantee: No added sugar, salt, wheat, yeast, or dairy products.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 66363.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Croscarmellose Sodium.

Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): S Quality.

How many labels does Life Essentials have?

3 labels are on file under this name since November 25, 2013: other sizes, label designs and reformulations. The current one leads this page.

  1. Label 66363 (current) Entered November 21, 2016 · off the market October 16, 2023 · 60 capsules
  2. Label 46072 Entered July 24, 2015 · off the market September 27, 2016 · 60 capsules
  3. Label 27791 Entered November 25, 2013 · off the market May 14, 2015 · 60 capsules

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names NSE Products, Inc. (distributor), Provo, UT. All Pharmanex products.

Where next?