Most Alive! multivitamins aren't vegan. Tablets and softgels have used gelatin, and the gummies use beeswax or vitamin D3 from lanolin. The exception is the Alive! Max Potency liquid multivitamin, which Nature's Way lists as vegan.
Supplement formulas change often. Use the vegan filter on Nature's Way's own product list to confirm.
Alive! vitamins are marketed around fruit and vegetable powders, so many people assume they're plant-based. Most of the range isn't, because of what holds the tablets and gummies together and how the vitamin D is made.
The three ingredients to check
- Gelatin: used in many tablets, softgels and some gummies. Not vegan or vegetarian.
- Beeswax: used to coat gummies made without gelatin. Vegetarian but not vegan.
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): usually made from lanolin in sheep's wool. Nature's Way has confirmed its D3 comes from lanolin.
Some Women's formulas also used carmine, a red color made from insects.
Which Alive! products are vegan?
| Product group | Status | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Max Potency liquid multivitamin | Vegan | Labeled vegan; uses flax and sunflower seed omega blend. |
| Tablet and softgel multivitamins (Ultra Potency, Max3, Once Daily, Men's and Women's) | Not vegan | Gelatin in our 2023 check. |
| Gummy multivitamins (Men's, Women's, Kids, Teen, Prenatal, Hair Skin & Nails) | Vegetarian only | Beeswax and/or lanolin-based D3. |
| Calcium + D3 gummies | Vegetarian only | Lanolin-based D3. |
Other ingredients you might wonder about
| Ingredient | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pectin | Vegan | Fruit-based gelling agent used instead of gelatin. |
| Stearic acid, magnesium stearate, glycerin | Grey area | Can be animal or plant-based. Nature's Way has said some come from palm oil. |
| Choline bitartrate | Vegan | Synthetic. |
| Vitamin D2 | Vegan | Made from fungi or yeast. |
Finding a vegan multivitamin
Nature's Way's product list can be filtered to show only vegan products. Outside that range, look for a vegan label, vitamin D2 or lichen-based D3, and vegetable capsules.
Common animal-derived ingredients in supplements
| Ingredient | Where it's found | Vegan alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Gelatin | Softgels and capsules | Cellulose (HPMC) or pullulan capsules |
| Vitamin D3 (from lanolin) | Multivitamins, D supplements | Vitamin D2, or D3 from lichen |
| Fish oil | Omega-3 supplements | Algae oil |
| Shellac, beeswax | Tablet coatings | Carnauba wax, plant coatings |
| Carmine | Red and pink coatings | Synthetic or plant colors |
| Lactose | Tablet filler | Plant starches |
This page only looks at whether ingredients come from animals. It isn't advice on which supplements to take; for that, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian.
The bottom line
Check every Alive! product individually: some use gelatin, D3 from lanolin or coatings from animals. Look for a vegan label or the specific ingredients above.
FAQ
Is the Alive! Max Potency liquid vegan?
Are Alive! gummies vegan?
How do I find a vegan multivitamin?
Is choline vegan?
How do I know if a supplement is vegan?
Is vitamin D3 in supplements vegan?
Keep checking
Sources and how we checked
We reviewed the product information below in October 2026. The product-by-product groupings come from our original December 2023 check of Nature's Way's ingredient lists. Supplement formulas change, so confirm the current label.
Spotted a recipe change? Tell us and we'll re-check.