Vitamin D Supply of Multivitamins Commercialized Online by Amazon in Western and Southern Europe: A Labeling Analysis

Multivitamins are commonly used by the general population, often without medical prescription. The purpose of this report is to inform on the daily vitamin D supply provided by multivitamins containing vitamin D that are commercialized online by Amazon in Western and Southern Europe. We surveyed multivitamins aimed at adults using the following marketplaces: amazon.es(®), amazon.de(®), amazon.it(®), and amazon.fr(®). We identified 199 vitamin D(3)-containing multivitamins sold by Amazon marketplaces: 77 from amazon.es(®), 73 from amazon.de(®), 33 from amazon.it(®), and 16 from amazon.fr(®). No multivitamin contained vitamin D(2). The daily vitamin D(3) supply ranged from 16 to 2000 IU: it was less than 400 IU daily in 108 (54%), 400–800 IU daily in 53 (27%), and more than 800 IU daily in the remaining 38 (19%) products. The vitamin D(3) supply of products sold by amazon.it(®) was on average higher (p < 0.05) than that of products sold by amazon.de(®), amazon.fr(®), and amazon.es(®). In conclusion, the vitamin D supply of multivitamins sold by Amazon may be insufficient, marginally sufficient, or adequate for subjects at high risk of hypovitaminosis D such as subjects 65 years or more of age, pregnant (or lactating) women, or patients on drug treatment or with an underlying disease, where a vitamin D supplementation is advocated.