21st Century
21st Century supplements from Tempe, Arizona: single vitamins, mineral tablets, fish oil softgels and gummies. We explain which forms the brand does well, how the doses compare with UK guidance and who the range suits.Read more →
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What 21st Century supplements offer, and how to choose
A large American maker of everyday supplements
21st Century HealthCare was founded in 1991 and makes its supplements in Tempe, Arizona. Sourcing, production, testing and packing run as one operation, and the products are sold in more than 50 countries. The range is deliberately broad: single vitamins such as B-12 and vitamin C, mineral tablets like potassium gluconate, multivitamin tablets, fish oil softgels, gummies and herbal teas. Everything is made under current Good Manufacturing Practices, the rules that set how a supplement is produced, tested and labelled.
The idea behind the brand is plain: familiar nutrients at familiar doses, at a low price per tablet. That is also where the Compare and Save line comes from, formulas built to match well-known national brands. You will not find unusual delivery systems here. You will find large bottle counts, which keeps a daily habit affordable. Next to the other brands we carry, it covers the practical, budget-conscious end of the shelf.
The form changes what you get
Three formats dominate the range, and they are not interchangeable. Tablets are the cheapest per dose and suit bulky minerals such as calcium and potassium. Softgels hold oils, which is why the fish oil softgels and vitamin E sit in that group: those nutrients dissolve in fat, not water. Gummies and chewables help if tablets are hard to swallow, but they carry sugar or sweeteners and usually hold lower doses.
Read the label rather than the front of the bottle. American labels often use mcg and IU, while UK products use µg. Ten micrograms of vitamin D and 400 IU are the same amount. If swallowing is the sticking point, our wider Gummies selection is worth comparing on dose per serving.
Doses here often follow American conventions. Some products give several times the UK reference intake. For water-soluble vitamins such as C that is rarely an issue. For vitamin A, iron and zinc it is worth checking, because more is not better over time. If you already take a multivitamin, add up the overlap before you add a single nutrient. That one habit prevents most accidental double dosing.
Why we stock 21st Century at BONO
We judge a brand on three things: the form, the dose and whether the combinations make sense. 21st Century earns its place by doing the simple things consistently, with straightforward single-nutrient tablets at everyday doses and softgels for the nutrients that belong in oil. We buy directly from the brand, so what arrives is authentic, and our compliance team checks every product before it goes live. We also test ourselves and have independent labs spot-check batches. For specialised forms we carry other brands. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who this range suits
It fits you if you want to cover a known gap without paying for a premium formula: a daily B-12, extra vitamin C through winter, calcium with vitamin D. It fits you less well if you need vegan-only capsules, because several softgels use gelatin, or if you are after high-dose specialist forms. Check the label per product. And give it time. Nutrient levels move slowly, so judge a supplement after two to three months of steady use.
Frequently asked questions
Who is behind the 21st Century brand?
21st Century HealthCare is an American supplement maker, founded in 1991 and based in Tempe, Arizona. It runs sourcing, manufacturing, testing, packing and distribution itself, which is one reason the price per tablet stays low. The products are sold in more than 50 countries. Manufacturing follows current Good Manufacturing Practices, the standard set of rules for how supplements are produced and labelled.
What kind of supplements does the range include?
The range covers everyday nutrition rather than niche formulas. You will find single vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin E and B-12, mineral tablets including calcium, potassium and zinc, daily multivitamins, fish oil softgels, prenatal tablets, gummies and herbal teas. Bottle counts are usually high, from 60 up to several hundred tablets, which suits a nutrient you plan to take for months rather than weeks.
Which form should I choose: tablets, softgels or gummies?
It depends on the nutrient and on how easily you swallow things. Oils only work in softgels. Bulky minerals are cheapest as tablets. Gummies solve a swallowing problem but usually give less per serving.
| Form | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tablet | Minerals, single vitamins | Lowest cost per dose |
| Softgel | Fish oil, vitamin E | Often gelatin based |
| Chewable | Vitamin C, children | May contain sweeteners |
| Gummy | Tablet avoiders | Lower dose per serving |
How do the doses compare with UK daily amounts?
Many products in the range are dosed to American conventions, so they can sit well above the UK reference amounts for adults. That is normal for water-soluble vitamins, but useful context when you stack products. The table shows the amounts the NHS gives for adults aged 19 to 64.
| Nutrient | Daily amount (adults 19 to 64) |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 40mg |
| Vitamin D | 10µg (400 IU) |
| Calcium | 700mg |
| Iron | 8.7mg men, 14.8mg women |
| Zinc | 9.5mg men, 7mg women |
Are 21st Century products suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
Some are, many are not, so check each label. Softgels are the main issue: fish oil and vitamin E softgels commonly use a gelatin shell, which is animal derived. Fish oil itself is not vegetarian either. Plain tablets are more often suitable, but they can still contain gelatin, lactose or beeswax as a coating. If you eat plant based only, read the ingredient list at the bottom of the label, not just the nutrient panel.
What does Compare and Save mean on the packaging?
It marks products built to match a well-known national brand formula, so you can compare the nutrient panel side by side and pay less. The claim is about the formula, not about a licence or partnership with that brand. In practice it means you should read the two panels yourself. Check the nutrient amounts, the form used, and the number of tablets per bottle before deciding which is genuinely better value.
How long should I take a supplement before judging it?
Longer than most people expect. A supplement fills a gap in your intake, and your body's stores change slowly. For everyday nutrients, judge after two to three months of consistent daily use rather than after a fortnight. Missing days is the most common reason people conclude nothing happened. If you take something for a specific reason, a blood test through your GP before and after gives you a far better answer than how you feel.
What should I check if I am pregnant or trying to conceive?
Talk to your midwife or GP first, and read labels closely. UK guidance advises against supplements containing vitamin A as retinol during pregnancy, because high intakes can harm the baby, so a general multivitamin is not automatically suitable. Pregnancy specific formulas are built around that. NHS advice is 400µg folic acid daily until week twelve and 10µg vitamin D year round. Also check whether a fish oil is from body oil rather than liver oil, since liver oils carry vitamin A.
