Best Supplements for Vegans: the truly relevant nutrients

A plant-based diet has many advantages – for animals, the environment and often for one's own well-being too. But a few nutrients deserve special attention among vegans, because they occur predominantly or exclusively in animal foods. Anyone who knows this and counteracts it specifically can be excellently supplied on a purely plant-based diet – that is not a question of luck but of planning. In this guide we look honestly at which nutrients are in focus on a vegan diet, what the EU allows in terms of assessed statements, and which Scheunengut products are suitable for closing typical gaps. No dogma, no fear – just orientation for a good decision. Because a plant-based diet is not a renunciation of good supply, but simply a question of the right planning, and it is precisely here that this guide wants to help you concretely, without unsettling you with half-knowledge or unnecessary panic.

What matters for the goal of vegans

These nutrients are in focus on a plant-based diet – each with the officially authorised statements, so that you know what is covered and what is not:

• Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, to normal oxygen transport in the body and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Plant-based iron tends to be absorbed less well, which is why vegans should pay particular attention to it.
• Vitamin C increases iron absorption and contributes to the reduction of tiredness.
• Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal muscle function and to the maintenance of normal bones.
• Vitamin K2 contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
• Iodine contributes to normal thyroid function and to normal cognitive function – on a vegan diet without iodised salt it quickly becomes scarce.

Don't forget: vitamin B12 and, depending on diet, omega-3 (DHA/EPA) are also among the classic vegan attention-nutrients. B12 is even considered the nutrient that one should practically always supplement on a purely plant-based diet, because it occurs in appreciable amounts only in animal foods. Also pay attention to the explicit labelling “vegan” on every product, because capsule shells, coatings or carriers are not automatically plant-based in every preparation – it's worth a look at the fine print here.

It helps to think of the vegan attention-nutrients roughly in two groups. The first group concerns practically all vegans permanently: vitamin B12 comes first here, because it is simply not sufficiently available on a purely plant-based diet. The second group depends more strongly on your specific diet and lifestyle – such as iron, iodine, zinc or omega-3. Anyone who eats plenty of whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds and uses iodised salt is already reasonably well supplied with many of these nutrients. That is precisely why an occasional blood test is so valuable: it shows you which group needs attention in your case, rather than you supplementing everything at once across the board and at expense. Absorption also plays a role – some nutrients compete with each other, which is why spreading them over the day can be more sensible than a single large dose.

Our product recommendations

The following products address the most important vegan attention-nutrients: iron, vitamin D and iodine.

Iron bisglycinate + natural vitamin C

Iron is one of the most important nutrients for vegans, and tolerability often decides whether one takes a preparation permanently. This product relies on well-tolerated iron bisglycinate – a form bound to an amino acid – and combines it with natural vitamin C, which increases iron absorption. Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells, to normal oxygen transport and to the reduction of tiredness – exactly the points that count especially on a plant-based diet. The combination of both is no coincidence, but deliberately sensible.

View iron bisglycinate + vitamin C

Vitamin D3 Depot + K2Pure®

Especially in the dark months, vitamin D becomes scarce for many people – regardless of the form of diet, but particularly relevant for vegans without fortified foods. This depot provides 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 per tablet, combined with K2 in tested quality. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal muscle function and to the maintenance of normal bones; vitamin K2 contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. With 180 tablets it is a particularly long-lasting supply.

View Vitamin D3 + K2

Thyroid Intenso – iodine-selenium complex with thyme

Without fish, dairy products and iodised table salt, iodine can quickly become scarce on a vegan diet – an often overlooked topic. This complex provides iodine, which contributes to normal thyroid function and to normal cognitive function, supplemented with selenium for thyroid function and traditionally used thyme. A practical way to keep an eye on iodine supply in a targeted and measured manner, rather than leaving it to chance.

View Thyroid Intenso

These three products cover the nutrients that most frequently need attention on a vegan diet: iron, vitamin D and iodine. For vitamin B12 you should additionally plan a separate, explicitly vegan preparation, since it is among the indispensable building blocks of a plant-based diet. Which combination ultimately suits you depends on your blood values and your meal plan – the selection here is meant as orientation, not as a rigid rule that applies the same to everyone.

Fundamentals first

A well-planned vegan diet is the basis on which supplementation only becomes sensible – that is the honest order. Rely on pulses, whole grains, nuts, seeds and plenty of vegetables, consciously combine iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources such as peppers or citrus fruits, and use plant drinks fortified with calcium and iodine if they suit you. A vitamin B12 preparation is considered standard on a purely plant-based diet and should not be missing from any vegan routine. Have your values – such as iron, ferritin, vitamin D and B12 – checked medically on occasion, rather than supplementing blindly. That way you specifically supplement exactly what you really lack, and avoid both gaps and unnecessary overdosing.

For getting started, a pragmatic plan pays off: first secure vitamin B12 as a fixed part of your vegan routine, because the need is clearest here. Then have your values checked on occasion and subsequently supplement in a targeted way what turns out to be scarce – frequently iron, vitamin D or iodine. That way you avoid both mistakes that are typical on a plant-based diet: on the one hand the careless ignoring of critical nutrients, on the other the aimless buying of all sorts of things out of a bad conscience. Living vegan is well plannable today, and with a little knowledge and the right supplements you are all-round soundly supplied. The products are tools in this – the diet itself remains the foundation on which everything is built. Anyone who internalises this order makes calmer and wiser decisions and lets neither fear marketing nor exaggerated promises of salvation throw them off course.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are all the products mentioned vegan?

Always pay attention to the explicit labelling and the ingredient list of the respective product, because capsule shells and carriers differ from preparation to preparation. Don't rely on the name alone, but check the details directly on the product page.

Which nutrient is most important on a vegan diet?

Vitamin B12 is considered the nutrient that one should practically always supplement on a purely plant-based diet. In addition, iron, vitamin D, iodine and omega-3 deserve special attention, because they occur predominantly in animal foods.

Why is vitamin C important with plant-based iron?

Plant-based iron is absorbed less well by the body than animal iron. Vitamin C increases iron absorption, which is why the combination of both is particularly sensible for vegans – in the preparation as on the plate.

Should I simply supplement everything as a precaution?

No. It is more sensible to have your supply – for example iron, vitamin D and B12 – checked medically on occasion and to specifically supplement what you actually lack, rather than reaching for everything across the board.

Is sunlight enough for my vitamin D needs?

In summer, sunlight contributes a lot, but in the dark months vitamin D becomes scarce for many people in our latitudes – regardless of the form of diet. A preparation can specifically close this seasonal gap, especially if you spend a lot of time indoors or live in the more northerly regions, where the sun stands particularly low in winter.

Note: Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet or for medical treatment. If you have persistent complaints, are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, please talk to your doctor beforehand.