A 2026 JAMA study tracking 27,000 adults found no health outcome difference between premium supplements like AG1 and basic multivitamins after five years. The research raises questions about whether AG1’s $99 monthly price tag delivers value beyond what a $10 multivitamin provides.
What the JAMA Study Actually Found
The five-year study compared three groups: those taking premium all-in-one supplements like AG1, those using basic multivitamins, and those taking no supplements. Health outcomes were essentially identical between the premium and basic groups. Biomarkers like vitamin D levels, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators showed no meaningful differences.
The study estimated that actual absorption may drop to 30-40% of labeled amounts in complex blends with 75-plus ingredients. When so many nutrients compete for the same absorption pathways, they create a bottleneck. A targeted supplement with fewer ingredients avoids this problem entirely.
This doesn’t mean AG1 is harmful. Some people genuinely notice improved energy or digestion. But for most participants, a $10-per-month multivitamin performed just as well as the $99 alternative.
What Nutritionists Actually Recommend
78% of surveyed nutritionists do not recommend AG1 or similar greens powders to their clients, according to a 2025 poll from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That’s a striking disconnect from the brand’s cultural presence.
Most registered dietitians suggest a simpler framework: start with whole foods, which absorb 2-3 times more effectively than synthetic forms. Get blood work done to identify actual deficiencies rather than guessing. Then supplement targeted gaps like vitamin D, B12, and magnesium for typically $15-30 per month total.
AG1 costs about $1,188 yearly. That same amount could cover quarterly blood panels at $400, targeted supplements at $200, a meaningful bump in your organic produce budget, and still leave $300 remaining.
