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2021
March
Mega Men 50 Plus by GNC Review
Mega Men 50 Plus is a multivitamin manufactured by GNC. It ranks 45 out of 52 multivitamins and earned an overall thumbs-down recommendation based on seven factors including nutrition label transparency, ingredients, dosing, claims, research rating, and ranking.
Thumbs-down
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down recommendation. This recommendation is based on the criteria listed below. To earn an overall thumbs-up recommendation, a product must earn a thumbs-up in at least four of the seven areas below. Click on a graded area for an in-depth analysis.
| Graded Area | Thumb Up or Down |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness Rating | |
| Ingredients | |
| Ingredient Dosing | |
| Claims | |
| Research Rating | |
| Nutrition Label Transparency | |
| Ranking Within Category | |
| Overall Recommendation |
Vote Statistics
1 to 5 Star Rating Votes Votes for products are cast in two ways. First, visitors can rate each product with a 1 to 5 star rating. These votes are cast on a product's rating page (this page - below).
| 1 to 5 Star Rating Votes | |
|---|---|
| Total Votes | 7 votes |
| Overall Average | 5 stars |
Add Your Vote
No email or registration required; click a button below and move on with your life!
Comparison Votes Visitors can also vote on which product works better on comparison pages. Comparison pages are a side-by-side analysis between two supplement products. The votes below illustrate whether visitors prefer Mega Men 50 Plus, or the products listed in the table below. The number next to the thumb up is how many votes Mega Men 50 Plus won; the number next to the thumb down is how many votes it lost to the other product.
| Comparison Votes | |
|---|---|
| Total Votes Won/Lost | 0 / 1 |
| vs. Womens Multivitamin 50 Plus | 0 / 1 |
Table of Contents
Mega Men 50 Plus Simple Report
Similarity Index
Mega Men 50 Plus shares at least 75% of its ingredient profile with one other product.
The Similarity Index is a measure of how closely one product matches another in terms of ingredients. A Similarity Index of 100% means the two products are made up the same ingredients. A Similarity Index of 75% means the products share 75% of their ingredients. The table below lists the products Mega Men 50 Plus shares its ingredient lineup with. Click on a product to see a side by side comparison of both products' ingredients.
Read more: What is the similarity index?
| Matching Product Name | Product Type | Similarity Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Womens Multivitamin 50 Plus by GNC | Multivitamins | 75% |
Mega Men 50 Plus Detailed Report
The detailed report provides an in-depth analysis of the product's rating. In addition to showing ratings for each area, this report also provides the required criteria for a thumbs-up in each section.
Effectiveness Rating
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-up in this category because its effectiveness rating is 1.77. A product's effectiveness rating must be at least 1.5 to receive a thumbs-up in this area. This effectiveness rating means Mega Men 50 Plus is made up of a mix of both high and low-quality ingredients and may lead to some positive results.
This category illustrates how well a product works based on what the research says about its ingredients. Researchers conduct studies on supplement ingredients to gauge effectiveness. The database grades products on how effective their ingredients are. The effectiveness rating of supplement products is evaluated on a 3 point scale: 3.0 is the most effective, 1.0 is the least effective.
Ingredients
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because it contains 0% extremely and/or moderately effective ingredients. A product must contain at least 75% extremely and/or moderately effective ingredients to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
This category rates a product's ingredient makeup. A product should contain mostly extremely and/or moderately effective ingredients with little or no ineffective ones. The database categorizes ingredients as extremely, moderately, or ineffective based on conclusions from research articles.
Mega Men 50 Plus contains:
- unrated ingredients: 14 (the database does not contain information on these ingredients)
- total ingredients: 45
The following table lists all ingredients found in this product as well as their effectiveness ratings and amounts (if listed).
| Ingredient | Effectiveness Rating |
|---|---|
| Folic Acid 400mcg | 3 out of 3 |
| Biotin 300mcg | 3 out of 3 |
| Grape Seed Extract 1mg | 3 out of 3 |
| Stinging Nettle Root Amount not listed. | 3 out of 3 |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid 25mg | 3 out of 3 |
| Turmeric 500mcg | 2.7 out of 3 |
| Cranberry Extract Amount not listed. | 2.6 out of 3 |
| Bacopa Monnieri Amount not listed. | 2.5 out of 3 |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 50mg | 2.3 out of 3 |
| Selenium 200mcg | 2 out of 3 |
| Resveratrol 1mg | 1.9 out of 3 |
| Zinc 25mg | 1.8 out of 3 |
| Astaxanthin 50mcg | 1.7 out of 3 |
| Vitamin D3 40mcg | 1.6 out of 3 |
| Magnesium 100mg | 1.6 out of 3 |
| Phosphatidylserine Amount not listed. | 1.6 out of 3 |
| Arginine 100mg | 1.6 out of 3 |
| Vitamin B6 50mg | 1.5 out of 3 |
| Vitamin E 20.1mg | 1.4 out of 3 |
| Vitamin C 300mcg | 1.3 out of 3 |
| Calcium 200mg | 1.3 out of 3 |
| Choline Bitartrate 10mg | 1.3 out of 3 |
| Boron 2mg | 1.3 out of 3 |
| Vitamin K 80mcg | 1 out of 3 |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 50mg | 1 out of 3 |
| Vitamin B12 50mcg | 1 out of 3 |
| Niacin 50mg | 1 out of 3 |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) 50mg | 1 out of 3 |
| Ginkgo Biloba Amount not listed. | 1 out of 3 |
| Vanadyl Sulfate 10mcg | 1 out of 3 |
| Vanadyl Sulfate Amount not listed. | 1 out of 3 |
| Vitamin A* | not rated |
| Iodine* | not rated |
| Copper* | not rated |
| Manganese* | not rated |
| Inositol* | not rated |
| Saw Palmetto* | not rated |
| Pumpkin Extract* | not rated |
| Silicon Dioxide* | not rated |
| Lutein* | not rated |
| Stannous Chloride* | not rated |
| Nickel* | not rated |
| Lycopene* | not rated |
| Zeaxanthin* | not rated |
| Beta-Cryptoxanthin* | not rated |
| Product Effectiveness Rating | 1.77 |
* These ingredients are not included in the Supplement Database.
Note: These ingredients are accurate as of March 29, 2021.
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Ingredient Dosing
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because 14% of its ingredients are dosed within the effective range. Seventy-five (75)% of product's ingredients must be dosed within the effective range to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
This category compares a product's ingredient dosing to effective doses found in research articles and doses used in other products. When researchers study the efficacy of supplement ingredients, they use specific doses. Manufacturers should create products with ingredient doses that fall within established effective ranges.
Mega Men 50 Plus Dosing Compared to Research
This section is a comparison of ingredient doses found in Mega Men 50 Plus to amounts used in research articles. The first column contains the name of the ingredient as well as the amount. The second column contains the range of effective doses for that ingredient. Note: not all ingredients in the database contain dosing information; only ingredients with scientific dosing information are included in this analysis.
A green checkmark is shown if the ingredient amount falls within the effective range.
A down arrow is shown if an ingredient amount is lower than the effective range.
| Ingredient & Amount | Effective Range |
|---|---|
| Vitamin D3 40mcg | 80mcg |
| Vitamin B6 50mg | 20mg |
| Arginine 100mg | 500mg |
| Boron 2mg | 10mg |
| Resveratrol 1mg | 150mg |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid 0.025g | 1.2g - 1.8g |
| Turmeric 0.0005g | 0.5g - 2g |
Mega Men 50 Plus Dosing Compared to Other Products
This section is a comparison of ingredient doses found in Mega Men 50 Plus to amounts used in other products. The first column displays the ingredient and amount. The second column displays the average amount of the ingredient found across all products in the database. The final column displays the range found across all products in the database.
An orange up or down arrow is shown if the ingredient amount is higher or lower than the average.
An equal sign is shown if the ingredient amount is equal to the average.
| Ingredient & Amount | Average | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A 2.25mg | 10mg | 0.01mg - 720mg |
| Vitamin C 0g | 0.58g | 0g - 250g |
| Vitamin D3 0.04mg | 2.05mg | 0mg - 268mg |
| Vitamin E 20.1mg | 41.6mg | 0mg - 720mg |
| Vitamin K 0.08mg | 0.15mg | 0.01mg - 1mg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 50mg | 11.63mg | 0mg - 250mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 50mg | 7.27mg | 0.12mg - 100mg |
| Vitamin B6 0.05g | 0.01g | 0g - 1.7g |
| Folic Acid 0.4mg | 0.91mg | 0.02mg - 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 0g | 0.02g | 0g - 15g |
| Biotin 0.3mg | 8.34mg | 0mg - 333mg |
| Iodine 0.15mg | 1.95mg | 0.01mg - 100mg |
| Magnesium 0.1g | 0.12g | 0g - 1g |
| Zinc 0.03g | 0.03g | 0g - 3.12g |
| Selenium 200mcg | 90mcg | 0mcg - 400mcg |
| Copper 2mg | 1.35mg | 0mg - 4mg |
| Manganese 2mg | 2.24mg | 0.32mg - 15mg |
| Niacin 50mg | 26.31mg | 0mg - 500mg |
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) 50mg | 23.54mg | 0mg - 500mg |
| Calcium 0.2g | 0.11g | 0g - 4g |
| Choline Bitartrate 0.01g | 0.47g | 0g - 2.5g |
| Inositol 0.01g | 0.34g | 0g - 2g |
| Grape Seed Extract 0g | 0.16g | 0g - 1.2g |
| Arginine 0.1g | 1.1g | 0.01g - 7.26g |
| Silicon Dioxide 4mg | 83.6mg | 2mg - 804mg |
| Boron 2mg | 31.54mg | 0mg - 200mg |
| Resveratrol 1mg | 74.39mg | 0.01mg - 500mg |
| Vanadyl Sulfate 0 | 91.99mg | 0.01mg - 750mg |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid 0.03g | 0.11g | 0g - 1g |
| Lutein 2mg | 14.78mg | 0.01mg - 200mg |
| Lycopene 1mg | 3.14mg | 0.5mg - 14mg |
| Turmeric 0g | 0.29g | 0g - 1.4g |
| Zeaxanthin 0.4mg | 3.06mg | 0.13mg - 26mg |
| Astaxanthin 0.05mg | 23.49mg | 0.05mg - 250mg |
| Beta-Cryptoxanthin 0.01mg | 2.01mg | 0.01mg - 10mg |
Claims
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because 58% of its claims are rated as either extremely or moderately effective. Seventy-five (75)% of a product's claims must be rated as extremely or moderately effective to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
The product’s effectiveness rating is an overall picture of how well a product does or doesn't work. Individual studies research an ingredient's effects on certain claims. For example: does creatine monohydrate increase strength, or does beta alanine improve running performance?
The Supplement Database compiles the conclusions of these studies, and based on a product's ingredient makeup, calculates how well a product does on various claims. The claims below are organized by effectiveness (extremely, moderately, ineffective).
Mega Men 50 Plus is extremely effective at:
Mega Men 50 Plus is moderately effective at:
- lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
- decrease stress
- improve memory
- lower total cholesterol levels
- improve high-intensity interval training (HIIT) performance
- improve focus
- improve immune function
- improve sprint performance
- increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels
- improve cognitive ability
- improve recovery
- improve sports performance
- lower blood pressure
- decrease fatigue
- increase testosterone
- increase weight loss
- improve mood
- improve cycling performance
- increase bone density
Mega Men 50 Plus is ineffective at:
- reduce muscle damage
- increase fat burning
- decrease body fat
- decrease cortisol levels
- increase levels of growth hormone
- reduce muscle soreness
- increase strength
- reduce severity of the common cold
- increase levels of growth hormone releasing hormone
- reduce duration of the common cold
- improve cardiovascular endurance
- improve insulin sensitivity
- increase muscle mass
- improve moood
- improve cycling sprint performance
- improve muscular endurance
- improve swimming performance
- improve running performance
Research Rating
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because its research rating is 22. A product's research rating must be at least 60 to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
A research rating of 22 means there is an insufficient amount of research on the product's ingredients to ensure its effectiveness rating is valid.
The research rating is a measure of how much research has been conducted on a product's ingredient makeup. Manufacturers often rely on ingredients without adequate research backing. They may do this to compete with other products that are already using poorly researched ingredients. They may also only use a very small amount of cherry-picked research as a poor justification to use certain ingredients.
The amount of research contained in the database on a product's ingredients determines its research rating. Products with higher ratings are made up of thoroughly researched ingredients.
Nutrition Label and Ingredient Transparency
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because it discloses 78% of its ingredient amounts. A product must disclose all ingredient amounts to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
Nutrition label transparency refers to how many ingredients are listed with amounts on the product label. Many supplement manufacturers hide ingredient amounts under the guise of great-sounding proprietary blends such as "Maximum Muscular Size Enhancer" or "Anabolic Cell Strength Matrix."
When manufacturers use proprietary blends, they can hide ingredient amounts making it difficult for consumers to know whether a product is effective.
Mega Men 50 Plus contains:
- total ingredients: 45
- ingredients with amounts listed: 35
- ingredients without amounts listed: 10
- percent of ingredient amounts disclosed: 78%
Product Label
The label below was generated from the information contained in the database about the product's ingredients and amounts. Actual product labels may differ in appearance.
Ranking Within Category
Mega Men 50 Plus earned a thumbs-down in this category because it ranks 45 out of 52 in the multivitamin category (bottom third). A product must be ranked in the top two-thirds of its category to receive a thumbs-up in this area.
Mega Men 50 Plus ranks 45 out of 52 in the Multivitamins category and 4,905 out of 5,309 in the entire database. The table below lists comparisons with similarly ranked multivitamin. Click on a link for an in-depth comparison between the two.
Mega Men 50 Plus vs Other GNC Multivitamins
Manufacturers often create multiple products within the same category. These products are sometimes similar but marketed to different consumers with varying prices. The following table allows you to compare Mega Men 50 Plus against its sister products; products manufactured by GNC within the multivitamins category.
See more comparisons: Is Mega Men 50 Plus the best multivitamin?
Summary
| Graded Area | Reason |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness Rating | rating is greater or equal to the required 1.5 |
| Ingredients | less than 75% of ingredients are rated as effective |
| Ingredient Dosing | less than 75% of ingredients are dosed properly |
| Claims | less than 75% of claims are rated as effective |
| Research Rating | research rating is lower than the required 60 |
| Nutrition Label Transparency | does not disclose all ingredient amounts on label |
| Ranking Within Category | ranks in the bottom third of category |
| Overall Recommendation | received a thumbs down in the majority of areas |
Comments (1)
I had more energy the next day, I could literally feel the difference
December 23, 2021