Dr Vegan Review – vital vitamins or pointless placebo?

As with any diet, vegans can choose to eat healthy, or unhealthy, foods. But unlike other diets, as a vegan you may be missing out on a small number of vitamins and minerals, regardless of how healthily you eat. This Dr Vegan review documents my personal experience of that, which I hope you find helpful.

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Last updated: June 11, 2024

6 pouches of Dr Vegan Supplements fanned out on a brick floor with a Dr Vegan Supplement storage tin underneath to illustrate this Dr Vegan Review. The pouches are white, 3 have a dark blue banner and 3 have a mid blue banner running vertically up the pouch, with the Dr Vegan brand name. Also on the pouches are the individual names of each supplement the pouch contains

This Dr Vegan review examines the pros and cons of their wide range of dietary supplements, looks at how Dr Vegan helps you to make the right choices about which ones you need based on your lifestyle and diet, and how I have personally benefitted from taking them.

Not bothered about any of that and just looking for a discount? Well, if you’re already convinced, click through to Dr Vegan here and use voucher code: MUM30 to get an amazing, exclusive 30% discount.

Summary of this Dr Vegan Review

I have been vegan for many years and in that time, have tried more than my fair share of supplements! However, I hit some medical issues a few years ago, and one of the primary causes was a lack of Vitamin D and Iodine.

Since that time, I have used Dr Vegan supplements and have not experienced the same issues again. Whilst it is difficult to say that it’s because of these supplements, I feel confident enough that I continue to take them! You can read more about my experiences in this Dr Vegan review, but also learn why these great supplements aren’t just for vegans!

Pros

  • Cruelty-free vegan supplements that work
  • Plastic-free, home compostable packaging
  • Free online diet profiling tool
  • Easy to swallow

Cons

  • There are a lot of products to choose from

Editor’s Rating: 4.5

Dr Vegan Discount Code

Use voucher code MUM30 at checkout.


Cruelty-free vegan supplements that work

Picture of a packet of Dr Vegan 'Vegan Nights' supplements with a candlestick holder and a plant pictured at the end of a brass bed with patchwork quilt

It can be difficult, if not impossible, to assess the impact of some supplements without medical intervention to measure it. However, in 2021 I had a medical condition which, after some blood tests, identified that I was very low in Vitamin D and in Iodine, both of which were causing separate, and unpleasant symptoms. Shortly after finishing the prescribed supplements the doctor gave me, I started taking Dr Vegan’s supplements containing these nutrients. In the 2 years since then, I have had blood tests twice and my Vitamin D and iodine levels have both been excellent. It is my belief that these supplements are successful in maintaining those levels.

However, with three of the other products I have tried that are formulated for specific conditions or symptoms, I don’t have the same evidence to vouch for their efficacy, only my experience. Based on that experience, I believe they have been very effective. These products are:

I have found that taking Vegan Nights has definitely helped me to sleep better, and I feel more relaxed when I first head for bed too. I can see my sleeping heart rate on my fitbit, and when I don’t take the supplement, it is consistently higher – often above my resting heart rate – than when I do, so I have to assume the supplement has a beneficial effect.

The Dr Vegan Debloat and Detox supplement works well for me too – it’s not 100% consistent, but I have seen significant improvements. You can read my Dr Vegan Debloat and Detox review here.

I also know several people that take Dr Vegan’s MenoFriend and all have had at least some positive results, including a reduction in hot flushes and improvements in their sleeping patterns. By using a combination of ingredients including phytoestrogens, botanicals and minerals, Dr Vegan’s Menofriend apparently helps to regulate hormone activity. It certainly seems to have a very positive effect.

It is on this basis that I feel confident to judge the other Dr Vegan supplements that I’m taking. Being able to see the definite results above gives me the reassurance I need about those other supplements that have a less obvious impact.

Add to this the fact that they are developed with nutritionists using bio-available plant-based ingredients, and cruelty-free too, and it makes them the perfect purchase for vegans and non-vegans alike!


Plastic-free, home compostable packaging

Dr Vegan pouch of supplements in a sunny kitchen setting. Pouch is in the foreground on a wooden table on a place mat, in front of a fern plant and next to a champagne cork

Finally, a supplement that comes in completely plastic-free, home compostable packaging. That means no more virtually unrecyclable blister packs and half-filled plastic bottles! Until I discovered Dr Vegan, I had only ever been able to find supplements in plastic bottles, blister packs, or hugely expensive, heavy glass jars. Whilst I appreciate the thought behind using glass, the transportation and recycling cost is not really the answer our planet’s needs.

According to Dr Vegan, a lorry full of glass containers contains approximately 50% packaging whereas that is reduced to only 6% packaging with these pouches.

All Dr Vegan supplements are manufactured in the UK, packaged in home-compostable pouches and even the seals are made of starch, not plastic. And the icing on the cake is the fabulous supplement storage tin that you get free with your first order. I am really appreciative of the thought that has gone into all of the Dr Vegan packaging. Even the delivery itself arrived in an appropriately-sized cardboard box, with minimal, but very effective packaging to protect it.

This is a genuine environmental win for this UK based company, Dr Vegan. I have seen very few companies who have got this right.


Free online diet profiling tool

blurry picture of an open laptop next to a plant in a yellow plant pot. In the foreground is a pouch of Dr Vegan Brain Fuel supplements and a glass of water

I love the Dr Vegan Diet Profiling tool on their website. It takes all the guesswork out of deciding which vitamins and minerals you might need. When searching for supplements online, or even on the shelves of a health food shop, the array of different ones can be quite overwhelming, so having some guidance like this is really helpful.

Once you have answered all the questions about your diet and lifestyle, the profiling tool will tell you exactly which products you will need. Clearly, whilst it cannot assess you with the accuracy of a blood test, it is still taking some very important information into account.

For example, it can quickly establish that as a vegan, I am unlikely to be accessing natural sources of B12 and Iodine. But it then goes on to make further assumptions based on other personal dietary and lifestyle factors. It’s very clever and means that you don’t have to identify each and every individual mineral and vitamin because Dr Vegan will simply recommend the appropriate products that are formulated to target your lifestyle.

Importantly, this tool can help anyone who is looking to assess their supplement needs, not just vegans.

I appreciate that all of this can effectively tie you into Dr Vegan products, but it is really convenient, and for as long as no-one else is really competing on the eco-friendly front, why wouldn’t you want to use them?


Easy to swallow

A dr Vegan rectangular tin, above an open hand - palm uppermost - containing 2 Dr Vegan supplement capsules. To the right of the hand is a green dish containing fresh blueberries and raspberries

I am a prize wimp when it comes to swallowing capsules and normally have to drink copious amounts of water and eat dry bread to get them past the back of my throat.

I’m not sure why, but these Dr Vegan supplements haven’t tended to give me the same problem. However, if you do struggle with them, according to Dr Vegan you can just open the capsule and add the contents to your food or drink – how simple is that?!


There are a lot of products to choose from

6 pouches of Dr Vegan Supplements fanned out on a brick floor with a Dr Vegan Supplement storage tin underneath to illustrate this Dr Vegan Review. The pouches are white, 3 have a dark blue banner and 3 have a mid blue banner running vertically up the pouch, with the Dr Vegan brand name. Also on the pouches are the individual names of each supplement the pouch contains

It might sound a bit daft, but this can be a problem. Even with the profiling tool, the choice can still be a little overwhelming, although Dr Vegan tries to make it easier by grouping together supplements that treat a certain set of symptoms or deficiencies.

However, that can reveal another issue. The profile tool may recommend a number of products for you where there is a crossover of ingredients. For example, you may get B Vitamins in your Brain Fuel supplement, but another recommended product may also contain them.

This isn’t a problem for many vitamins and minerals, but you may not want to take too much of some others. Therefore, you need to exercise a little caution when selecting your final products to purchase. That said, Dr Vegan has so much useful information on its site, plus a team of nutritionists who are available to answer your questions, so this isn’t a serious problem. Just something to be aware of.


My conclusion of this Dr Vegan Review

head and shoulders picture of Vegan Mum

Clearly, it is difficult to review the efficacy of all the supplements that you take, although I was personally able to gain confidence in the Vitamin D and Iodine supplements because of subsequent blood tests that showed my levels of those 2 elements to be excellent. And I have been able to measure the effectiveness of some of the others, simply based on my experience; I have to be conscious though that there is always the placebo effect, and I can’t completely guarantee that I’ve not succumbed to that.

However, placebo or not, Dr Vegan’s ‘Vegan Nights’ supplement has had a noticeably positive impact on my sleep patterns and I have also had great results using Dr Vegan’s Debloat and Detox supplement.

For the rest, you have to rely on the integrity, research and values of the brand that you are buying from. Having evidence that some of the supplements work obviously helps with that reassurance. The fact that Dr Vegan has a team of nutritionists, uses only high quality, plant-based ingredients, and demonstrates through its actions a genuine commitment to the planet, also reinforces my confidence in them.

I have been very impressed with my Dr Vegan supplements and have a number of them now on subscription, which helps reduce the cost (you also get free delivery which is great).

I really feel that in choosing this product I am not only benefiting my health, but also the health of the planet – all without compromising my personal vegan, cruelty-free values.


Where can you buy Dr Vegan supplements?

Corner of Dr Vegan delivery box with their brand strapline of Better Me, Better Planet to support this Dr Vegan review

To access their full range and benefit from generous discounts and offers, I’d suggest buying directly from Dr Vegan, although they are also available from Amazon. Select one of the buttons below to find out more.

If you shop direct using this link, don’t forget to use discount code MUM30 at checkout.


I hope you have found this Dr Vegan review helpful. I have also trialled and reviewed other Dr Vegan products which you may find helpful:

Dr Vegan’s Debloat and Detox supplement

Dr Vegan HeartPro review

You can also find out about:


FAQs

What vitamins do vegans miss out on?

It can depend on the healthiness and range of an individual and their diet. So, assuming a vegan is consuming a varied diet containing protein, legumes, grains and fresh fruit and vegetables, they may still need the following:

  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin D3
  • Iodine
  • Selenium
  • Omega 3

Try Dr Vegan’s Daily Multi-Vitamin supplement, together with their Omega 3 capsules to cover all these requirements.

It’s important to say that individuals vary and you should always consider taking the advice of a nutritional professional if in any doubt.

You can also take a look at the NHS vegan diet advice.

Is Dr Vegan trustworthy?

With a large, unregulated dietary supplements industry, it can be difficult to know who to trust.

My research shows that Dr Vegan is a UK based company, staffed by registered nutritionists, and a UK GP with a particular interest in lifestyle medicines, amongst many other specialists on the team.

It appears to hold genuine values relating to wellbeing and the health of both people and the planet, and from what I have experienced personally, they offer good service and products that work.

Where can I get more information?

Dr Vegan has a useful FAQ page.

You can also read more about my experience with Dr Vegan Review of their Debloat and Detox supplement.

A side on photo of Penny of Vegan Mum blog

Penny Barkas


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