Do Multivitamins Increase Appetite? The Answer and When to See a Doctor

Updated 28 October 2026 · Prices taken from Beseha product pages on that day · 6-minute read

Cheapest for adults

Totavit Multivitamin & Multimineral – 20 tablets

EGP 87

20 tablets, with iron and zinc

For women

Limitless Woman Max – 30 tablets

EGP 265

Amounts listed on the page

Syrup for kids

Mr. Bear Plus Multi-Vitamin + Iron – 160 ml

EGP 145

3.33 mg iron per 5 ml

The detail: when can appetite improve?

• If you are low in zinc: Harvard lists poor appetite and loss of taste or smell among the signs of zinc deficiency. A doctor can order a test and decide whether you need zinc.
• If there is no deficiency: nothing in these sources says vitamins increase appetite. A multivitamin gives vitamins and minerals, not fibre, and it does not replace food.
• A multivitamin is for eating less, not a cure for it: Harvard says it may help if your diet is limited or your appetite is poor and you are eating less than usual, but it cannot replace a balanced diet.
• Other symptoms with low appetite? Tiredness, breathlessness and pale skin can mean anaemia; see our signs of low iron, zinc and vitamins.

• Mood: the US National Library of Medicine says sadness, depression and grief can reduce appetite.
• Medicines: such as some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, codeine and morphine. Do not stop any medicine on your own; ask your doctor about changing the dose or drug.
• Long-term illness: such as liver or kidney disease, heart failure and an underactive thyroid.
• Pregnancy: low appetite is common in the first trimester.
• Age: decreased appetite is often seen in older adults.

What about children who eat little?

• Vitamins from 6 months to 5 years: the NHS advises a daily supplement with vitamins A, C and D for children of this age.
• One supplement only: the same source says not to give a child 2 supplements at the same time, as too much of some vitamins can be harmful.
• An “appetite” box: the Egy Totavit pack says “Appetite stimulant”, but its own product page says persistent poor appetite or slow growth needs a medical check.
• Iron and children: keep iron syrups out of children’s reach; the NHS says an iron overdose can be fatal for young children.

Multivitamins for adults

#1

25 nutrientsIron + zincCheapest for adults

Totavit Multivitamin & Multimineral – 20 tablets

The cheapest adult multivitamin here

EGP 87

EGP 4.3 per tablet · 20 tablets

• The page lists 25 nutrients per tablet, including 18 mg iron, 15 mg zinc and 400 IU vitamin D3
• One tablet a day after food, for adult men and women
• EGP 87 for 20 tablets

Heads-up: 18 mg iron is slightly above the 17 mg the NHS says is unlikely to cause harm, so ask a pharmacist if you do not need iron

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#2

A to zincOnce daily

Centrum Adults – 30 tablets

A well-known general formula for adults

EGP 265

EGP 8.8 per tablet · 30 tablets

• The pack says “Complete from A to Zinc”
• One tablet a day, best after food, per the page
• The page says it does not replace a balanced diet

Heads-up: The vitamin and mineral amounts are not on the product page, so read the pack or ask a pharmacist

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#3

26 nutrientsFor women

Limitless Woman Max – 30 tablets

A women’s formula with amounts listed

EGP 265

EGP 8.8 per tablet · 30 tablets

• The page lists the amounts: 18 mg iron, 8 mg zinc, 1,000 IU vitamin D3, 150 mcg iodine
• One tablet a day
• EGP 265 for 30 tablets

Heads-up: It has 18 mg iron and vitamin A; if you are pregnant or take another supplement, ask your doctor first

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Vitamin syrups for children

#4

10 nutrientsContains ironAmounts listed

Mr. Bear Plus Multi-Vitamin + Iron – 160 ml

A kids’ syrup with amounts listed

EGP 145

EGP 0.9 per ml · 160 ml

• The page lists the amounts per 5 ml: vitamins A, D, E, C and B vitamins, and 3.33 mg iron
• 10 ml a day after breakfast, per the page
• EGP 145 for 160 ml

Heads-up: The suitable age is not on the page, so ask a paediatrician about the dose, and do not give it with another supplement

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#5

Contains ironSyrup

Egy Totavit Iron & Vitamins Syrup – Orange

The cheapest vitamin syrup here

EGP 65

See size on product page

• The page lists iron and vitamins A, B, C, D and E with calcium, biotin and folic acid
• Pharmacy listings give 5 ml once a day after a meal; a child’s dose by age from a doctor
• EGP 65

Heads-up: The pack says “Appetite stimulant”, but the page itself says persistent poor appetite needs a medical check; the size is not stated

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Comparison table

Common mistakes

• Expecting a multivitamin to add weight: it is not food, and Harvard says it cannot replace a balanced diet; if you need to gain weight, eat more food.
• Big doses “to make it stronger”: Harvard says doses far above daily needs are not recommended and can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients or medicines.
• Two products together: if you take zinc or iron on its own plus a multivitamin, add up the amounts. The adult maximum for zinc is 40 mg a day, per Harvard.
• Ignoring the cause: poor appetite that lasts, or comes with weight loss, needs a check-up, not a box of vitamins. To choose a multivitamin for other reasons, see our multivitamin guide: benefits and how to choose.

FAQ

Read next: best imported multivitamin in Egypt and our zinc vs biotin guide.

The bottom line

A multivitamin is not an appetite booster. It helps if you really are eating little, by covering some of the vitamins, and poor appetite can be a sign of low zinc. What matters most is the cause: mood, a medicine, a long-term illness or pregnancy. If appetite has been low for a while or you are losing weight, see a doctor.

Shop multivitamins at Beseha →