PlainVitamins

Minimal and Essential

by Vital Nutrients · capsule · 180 vegetarian capsules

  • On the market (NIH)
  • UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  • DSLD label 305097
  • Serving 1 vegetarian capsule
  • 90 servings

Minimal and Essential by Vital Nutrients lists 18 ingredients, 18 with an amount per serving of 1 vegetarian capsule, such as 3.76 mg of vitamin A, 375 mg of vitamin C, 10 mcg (400 IU) of vitamin D3 and 62 mg of vitamin E. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on January 24, 2024.

What is in Minimal and Essential?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 1 vegetarian 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).

Minimal and Essential: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 305097, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Aas Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Acetateas 67% beta-carotene and 33% vitamin a acetate3.76 mg418%
Vitamin C375 mg417%Vitamin C in Minimal and Essential against 18,583 products375 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg375 mg

Higher than 79% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C (median 100 mg). Per day at the most servings: 750 mg.

Vitamin D3as Cholecalciferol10 mcg (400 IU)50%Vitamin D in Minimal and Essential against 14,175 products10 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 10 mcg to 25 mcg, the median 15 mcg.DV 20 mcgUL 100 mcg10 mcg

57% of 14,175 products listing vitamin D give more (median 15 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 20 mcg.

Vitamin Eas D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Succinate75 IU62 mg413%
Thiamineas Thiamine Hydrochloride25 mg2,083%Thiamin in Minimal and Essential against 9,830 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.5 mg to 25 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 1.2 mg25 mg

Higher than 72% of 9,830 products listing thiamin (median 5 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg.

Niacinas Niacinamide25 mg166%Niacin in Minimal and Essential against 12,413 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 13.2 mg to 48 mg, the median 20 mg.DV 16 mgUL 35 mg25 mg

Higher than 56% of 12,413 products listing niacin (median 20 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg. 1.4 times the adult UL a day.

Riboflavin25 mg1,923%Riboflavin in Minimal and Essential against 9,824 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.7 mg to 25 mg, the median 4 mg.DV 1.3 mg25 mg

Higher than 75% of 9,824 products listing riboflavin (median 4 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg.

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride25 mg1,471%Vitamin B6 in Minimal and Essential against 15,277 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 2 mg to 20 mg, the median 6 mg.DV 1.7 mgUL 100 mg25 mg

Higher than 76% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 (median 6 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg.

Folateas L-5-MethyltetrahydrofolateMetafolin340 mcg DFE85%
Vitamin B12as Methylcobalamin200 mcg8,333%Vitamin B12 in Minimal and Essential against 14,425 products200 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 36 mcg.DV 2.4 mcg200 mcg

Higher than 74% of 14,425 products listing vitamin B12 (median 36 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 400 mcg.

Biotin200 mcg667%Biotin in Minimal and Essential against 9,447 products200 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mcg to 300 mcg, the median 200 mcg.DV 30 mcg200 mcg

48% of 9,447 products listing biotin give more (median 200 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 400 mcg.

Pantothenic Acidas Calcium Pantothenate25 mg500%Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) in Minimal and Essential against 10,060 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mg to 50 mg, the median 12 mg.DV 5 mg25 mg

Higher than 61% of 10,060 products listing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) (median 12 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg.

Zincas Zinc Citrate10 mg91%Zinc in Minimal and Essential against 13,186 products10 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 5 mg to 15 mg, the median 11 mg.DV 11 mgUL 40 mg10 mg

51% of 13,186 products listing zinc give more (median 11 mg). Per day at the most servings: 20 mg.

Seleniumas Selenomethionine125 mcg227%Selenium in Minimal and Essential against 7,658 products125 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 27 mcg to 100 mcg, the median 55 mcg.DV 55 mcgUL 400 mcg125 mcg

Higher than 79% of 7,658 products listing selenium (median 55 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 250 mcg.

Copperas Copper Glycinate1 mg111%Copper in Minimal and Essential 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). Per day at the most servings: 2 mg.

Manganeseas Manganese Citrate5 mg217%Manganese in Minimal and Essential against 7,016 products5 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1 mg to 3.92 mg, the median 2 mg.DV 2.3 mgUL 11 mg5 mg

Higher than 80% of 7,016 products listing manganese (median 2 mg). Per day at the most servings: 10 mg.

Chromiumas Chromium Polynicotinate100 mcg286%Chromium in Minimal and Essential against 7,825 products100 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 45 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 100 mcg.DV 35 mcg100 mcg

47% of 7,825 products listing chromium give more (median 100 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 200 mcg.

Grape Seed Extractas Polyphenolsstandardized to a minimum of 85% polyphenols50 mgGrape in Minimal and Essential against 1,900 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 25 mg to 100 mg, the median 50 mg.50 mg

48% of 1,900 products listing grape give more (median 50 mg). Per day at the most servings: 100 mg.

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 305097 (entered January 24, 2024), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD or its label image (PDF). 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:

  • At 2 servings a day, the most its directions give, the label lists 50 mg of niacin, 1.4 times the adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level.

The NIH database records 1 to 2 servings 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 Minimal and Essential'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
Recommendations Take 1 capsule 1-2 times per day with meals, or as directed by your healthcare professional.
Warnings
Keep out of reach of children
Use only if safety seal is intact
Warning If pregnant, consult your physician before taking.
Allergens and what it does not contain
Excludes coatings, binders, gluten (wheat, rye, barley) milk/dairy (casein, whey), soy protein, egg protein, sugar. Verified by independent testing
Storage
Store sealed in a cool dry place

Source: label statements in DSLD label 305097.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Magnesium Silicate, Silica, Ascorbyl Palmitate.

How many labels does Minimal and Essential have?

11 labels are on file under this name since December 23, 2011: other sizes, label designs and reformulations. The current one leads this page.

  1. Label 305097 (current) Entered January 24, 2024 · on the market · 180 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  2. Label 271778 Entered August 23, 2022 · off the market December 17, 2021 · 90 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50211 2
  3. Label 223354 Entered June 24, 2020 · off the market December 7, 2022 · 180 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  4. Label 223296 Entered June 24, 2020 · on the market · 90 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 93465 50211 2
  5. Label 182461 Entered October 25, 2018 · off the market May 15, 2020 · 180 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  6. Label 182452 Entered October 25, 2018 · off the market May 15, 2020 · 90 vegetarian capsules · UPC 6 93465 50211 2
  7. Label 27482 Entered November 25, 2013 · off the market April 16, 2018 · 180 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  8. Label 27481 Entered November 25, 2013 · off the market April 16, 2018 · 90 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50211 2
  9. Label 6776 Entered March 23, 2012 · on the market · 90 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 2
  10. Label 6773 Entered March 23, 2012 · off the market September 13, 2013 · 180 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50221 1
  11. Label 3288 Entered December 23, 2011 · off the market September 13, 2013 · 90 capsules · UPC 6 93465 50211 2

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

Who makes it?

The label names Vital Nutrients (manufacturer), Middleton, CT. All Vital Nutrients products.

Where next?