PlainVitamins

Optimal Start

by Seeking Health · capsule · 120 Vegetarian Capsules

  • On the market (NIH)
  • UPC 7 98295 54929 7
  • DSLD label 211058
  • Serving 2 to 4 capsules (California Residents should not exceed 2 Capsules daily); amounts per 4 capsules
  • 30 servings

Optimal Start by Seeking Health lists 23 ingredients, 23 with an amount per serving of 4 capsules, such as 450 mcg RAE of vitamin A, 250 mg of vitamin C, 99 mg of vitamin E and 50 mg of thiamine. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on January 25, 2020.

What is in Optimal Start?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 4 capsules. 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).

Optimal Start: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 211058, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Aas Retinyl PalmitateVitamin A (Form: as Retinyl Palmitate)450 mcg RAE50%
Vitamin Cas Ascorbic Acid250 mg278%Vitamin C in Optimal Start against 18,583 products250 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg250 mg

Higher than 68% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C (median 100 mg).

Vitamin Eas D-Alpha-Tocopheryl SuccinateVitamin E (Form: as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate)99 mg660%
Thiamineas Thiamine HydrochlorideThiamin (Form: as Thiamine Hydrochloride)50 mg4,167%Thiamin in Optimal Start against 9,830 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.5 mg to 25 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 1.2 mg50 mg

Higher than 82% of 9,830 products listing thiamin (median 5 mg).

Riboflavinas Riboflavin 5'-Phosphate SodiumRiboflavin (Form: as Riboflavin 5'-Phosphate Sodium)25 mg1,923%Riboflavin in Optimal Start 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).

Niacinas Inositol Hexanicotinate, Nicotinic AcidNiacin (Form: as 75% Inositol Hexanicotinate, and as 25% Nicotinic Acid)100 mg625%Niacin in Optimal Start against 12,413 products100 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 13.2 mg to 48 mg, the median 20 mg.DV 16 mgUL 35 mg100 mg

Higher than 88% of 12,413 products listing niacin (median 20 mg). 2.9 times the adult UL a day.

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxal 5-PhosphateVitamin B6 (Form: as Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate)25 mg1,471%Vitamin B6 in Optimal Start 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).

Biotin500 mcg1,667%Biotin in Optimal Start against 9,447 products500 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mcg to 300 mcg, the median 200 mcg.DV 30 mcg500 mcg

Higher than 79% of 9,447 products listing biotin (median 200 mcg).

Pantothenic Acidas D-Calcium PantothenatePantothenic Acid (Form: as D-Calcium Pantothenate)150 mg3,000%Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) in Optimal Start against 10,060 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mg to 50 mg, the median 12 mg.DV 5 mg150 mg

Higher than 93% of 10,060 products listing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) (median 12 mg).

Magnesiumas Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate, Magnesium OxideMagnesium (Form: as Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate Note: Albion, TRAACS, and Magnesium Oxide)200 mg48%Magnesium in Optimal Start against 14,003 products200 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 30 mg to 200 mg, the median 86 mg.UL 350 mgDV 420 mg200 mg

Higher than 75% of 14,003 products listing magnesium (median 86 mg).

Zincas Zinc Bisglycinate ChelateZinc (Form: as Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate Note: Albion, TRAACS)15 mg136%Zinc in Optimal Start against 13,186 products15 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 5 mg to 15 mg, the median 11 mg.DV 11 mgUL 40 mg15 mg

Higher than 56% of 13,186 products listing zinc (median 11 mg).

Seleniumas SelenoExcell High Selenium YeastSelenium (Form: as SelenoExcell High Selenium Yeast)150 mcg273%Selenium in Optimal Start against 7,658 products150 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 27 mcg to 100 mcg, the median 55 mcg.DV 55 mcgUL 400 mcg150 mcg

Higher than 80% of 7,658 products listing selenium (median 55 mcg).

Manganeseas Manganese Bisglycinate ChelateManganese (Form: as Manganese Bisglycinate Chelate Note: Albion, TRAACS)4 mg174%Manganese in Optimal Start against 7,016 products4 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1 mg to 3.92 mg, the median 2 mg.DV 2.3 mgUL 11 mg4 mg

Higher than 75% of 7,016 products listing manganese (median 2 mg).

Chromiumas Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate ChelateChromium (Form: as Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate Note: Albion, TRAACS)150 mcg429%Chromium in Optimal Start against 7,825 products150 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 45 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 100 mcg.DV 35 mcg150 mcg

Higher than 69% of 7,825 products listing chromium (median 100 mcg).

Molybdenumas Molybdenum Glycinate ChelateMolybdenum (Form: as Molybdenum Glycinate Chelate Note: Albion, TRAACS)75 mcg167%Molybdenum in Optimal Start against 4,390 products75 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 25 mcg to 75 mcg, the median 50 mcg.DV 45 mcgUL 2,000 mcg75 mcg

Higher than 62% of 4,390 products listing molybdenum (median 50 mcg).

Potassiumas Potassium Glycinate ComplexPotassium (Form: as Potassium Glycinate Complex Note: Albion, TRAACS)99 mg2%Potassium in Optimal Start against 11,614 products99 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 190 mg, the median 99 mg.DV 4,700 mg99 mg

49% of 11,614 products listing potassium give more (median 99 mg).

Ashwagandha extractas WithanolidesAshwagandha extract (Form: 5% Withanolides) (Alt. Name: KSM-66) PlantPart: root Genus: Withania Species: somnifera150 mgAshwagandha in Optimal Start against 1,646 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 125 mg to 500 mg, the median 250 mg.150 mg

61% of 1,646 products listing ashwagandha give more (median 250 mg).

Siberian Ginseng extract150 mgEleuthero in Optimal Start against 726 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 200 mg, the median 100 mg.150 mg

Higher than 67% of 726 products listing eleuthero (median 100 mg).

American Ginseng150 mgAmerican Ginseng in Optimal Start against 235 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 75 mg to 425 mg, the median 200 mg.150 mg

51% of 235 products listing american ginseng give more (median 200 mg).

Coenzyme Q10as UbidecarenoneCoenzyme Q10 (Form: as Ubidecarenone)50 mgCoenzyme Q-10 in Optimal Start against 2,922 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 30 mg to 100 mg, the median 60 mg.50 mg

53% of 2,922 products listing coenzyme Q-10 give more (median 60 mg).

Shilajit extractas Fulvic AcidShilajit extract (Form: 50% Fulvic Acid) Genus: Asphaltum Species: punjabinum Note: mineral extract50 mgShilajit in Optimal Start against 196 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 500 mg, the median 250 mg.50 mg

89% of 196 products listing shilajit give more (median 250 mg).

Mixed Tocopherols9 mg
Boronas Bororganic GlycineBoron (Form: as Bororganic Glycine Note: Albion, TRAACS)750 mcgBoron in Optimal Start against 3,339 products0.75 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 0.3 mg to 2 mg, the median 1 mg.UL 20 mg0.75 mg

62% of 3,339 products listing boron give more (median 1 mg).

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 211058 (entered January 25, 2020), 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:

  • At 1 serving a day, the most its directions give, the label lists 100 mg of niacin, 2.9 times the adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level.
  • Its 150 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is higher than 93% of the 10,060 pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) products that print an amount; 557 list more.
  • 89% of the 196 products that print an amount of shilajit list more than its 50 mg of shilajit (median 250 mg).

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 Optimal Start'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
Suggested Use: Take 4 capsules daily with food or use as directed by your healthcare professional. California residents should not exceed 2 capsules daily. May be taken in divided doses if desired. Do not take within 5 hours of bedtime as it may interfere with sleep.
Warnings
Children and pregnant or lactating women should consult their healthcare professional prior to use.
Do not use if tamper seal is damaged.
Storage: Keep closed in a cool, dry place out of reach by children.
Servings Per Container: 30 (California Residents: 60)
Allergens and what it does not contain
Does Not Contain: Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, artificial flavors, or artificial colors.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 211058.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: HPMC, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil, L-Leucine, Silica.

How many labels does Optimal Start have?

2 labels are on file under this name since June 25, 2018: other sizes, label designs and reformulations. The current one leads this page.

  1. Label 211058 (current) Entered January 25, 2020 · on the market · 120 Vegetarian Capsules · UPC 7 98295 54929 7
  2. Label 174759 Entered June 25, 2018 · off the market March 4, 2019 · 120 vegetarian capsules · UPC 7 98295 54929 7

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

Who makes it?

The label names Seeking Health (distributor), Bellingham, WA. All Seeking Health products.

Where next?