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One or Many? How to Think About Your Supplement Routine

One or Many? How to Think About Your Supplement Routine

Six bottles on the counter and a nagging feeling you're forgetting something. There's a better way to think about your supplement routine.

Perform

By Citadel Health Store

• 7 min read

One or Many? How to Think About Your Supplement Routine

Demand for dietary supplements has been rising for years, and the COVID-19 pandemic gave it another push. More than half of the US population now takes them regularly, and among users, over 70% are managing more than one product daily.

For anyone who trains, that number is easy to reach. Protein, creatine, electrolytes, vitamins, probiotics, minerals. The stack multiplies quietly until there are six bottles on the counter and a nagging sense that something is being forgotten.

It's no surprise that supplement fatigue is real. And it's why more people are asking: would an all-in-one product make more sense? And most importantly, would you notice a difference?

All-in-one or stacking?

Choosing an all-in-one or stacking depends on your habits and goals. Here are some helpful questions to help you decide what suits you.

  1. Do you tend to forget your supplements? An all-in-one simplifies the habit. One product, one moment in your day, is easier to stick to than six separate bottles.
  2. Do you want full control over what you take? Stacking gives you exactly that. You
    choose each product, adjust doses, time them to your routine, and swap things in or out as your goals change.
  3. Has a doctor or specialist recommended something specific? Follow that guidance. Stacking lets you meet precise needs that a general formula may not cover.
  4. Are you watching your budget? An all-in-one can offer good value, covering multiple bases for less than buying each supplement separately.
  5. Do you have supplement fatigue? Then go for all-in-one. Having just one product daily can decrease supplement fatigue.
  6. Are you an experienced athlete or someone who knows their body well? Stacking is likely the better fit. All-in-ones are formulated for a broad audience, which means the doses may be too low for your needs, or they may include ingredients you don't want. In some cases, you end up buying an all-in-one and adding individual products on top, which is just stacking with extra steps.

What to look for in an all-in-one?

Check at least the ingredients list. How much of each vitamin, mineral, or supplement does it contain? Is it third-party tested? Are they in forms that are good for you or that your body can absorb? For example, if you have a sensitive stomach and the all-in-one has magnesium in it, you might want to check the form of magnesium. If the magnesium is in magnesium oxide form, it might not absorb so well into your body and cause even stomach problems, since magnesium oxide is usually used for relieving constipation. For example, magnesium glycinate and magnesium citrate are more absorbable and stomach-friendly forms of magnesium. The Role of Magnesium in Performance and Recovery.

Another example of correct form is the absorption, and whether the vitamin is in active or inactive form. Vitamin B, especially, is more absorbable when the form is in an active form. Moreover, some ingredients might compete with absorption, like iron and magnesium, in high doses. How To Choose the Right B Complex for Energy Support.

What about the dose of each ingredient? Is the dose meaningful, and are they enough for you or too much? Do you have to still have to add a product to get the amount you need?

Does it have an ingredient that you don’t want? For example, if you are sensitive to caffeine, you might not want to use a supplement, such as a pre-workout supplement, which has caffeine in it, or you might need to time it for the morning. How Caffeine Disrupts Sleep and Cortisol Rhythm.

Finding the right fit

There is no universal answer to whether stacking or an all-in-one is better; it comes down to your lifestyle, goals, and how well you actually stick to your routine. A perfectly designed stack that sits forgotten on the shelf does nothing for you.

If an all-in-one is the right fit for you, OneFit by FON is worth a look. Formulated at UNSW and manufactured in a TGA-approved facility in Australia, it brings together 31 ingredients in a single daily sachet with attention to bioavailable forms and clinical doses rather than just a long ingredients list.

Whether you stack or go all-in-one, the most important thing is that your supplement routine actually supports your life, not complicates it.

References:

Cepeda V., Ródenas-Munar M., Garcia S., Bouzas C., Tur J., 2025. Unlocking the Power of Magnesium: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Regarding Its Role in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Accessed 10.4.2026. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/740

Garnier C., Weakley J., Burke L., Roach G., Sargent C., Maniar N., Townshend A., Halson S.,2023, The effect of caffeine on subsequent sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Accessed 10.4.2026.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079223000205

Kennedy D., B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy - A Review. 2016. National Library of Medicine. Accessed 10.4.2026.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4772032/#sec7-nutrients-08-00068

Liu L., Tao H., Xu J., Liu L., Nahata M. 2025. Quantity, Duration, Adherence, and Reasons for Dietary Supplement Use among Adults: Results from NHANES 2011–2018. Accessed 10.4.2026.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11206876/

Rolic T., Yazdani M., Mandic S., Distane S. 2024. Iron Metabolism, Calcium, Magnesium and Trace Elements: A Review. Accessed 10.4.2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11920315/

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