Owned by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Shancun has been in the Chinese market for a long time, establishing a production plant in Suzhou, China in 1991 and gaining brand awareness. In 2009, Shancun was acquired by another pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, and statistics from German statista showed that Shancun has become the highest-selling vitamin brand in the United States, and firmly occupies more than 30% of the multivitamin market in China.
 
Shancun has been in the Chinese market for many years, and its products can be divided into two types: OTC drugs and health foods, and there are subdivided products for the vitamin intake needs of different groups. Compared with other imported dietary supplement brands, Shancun has completed localization in China, with stable sales channels, mature reputation, and products that comply with the management regulations of the China Food and Drug Administration, which are safe and reliable.
 
In the early days, Shancun multivitamins dominated the Chinese market with OTC drugs, which can be purchased with medical insurance cards, and are divided into three parts of the world with domestic brands 21 Gold Vita and Shierkang. For example, each multivitamin tablet contains 4000 IU of vitamin A, 1000 IU of β-carotene (precursor of vitamin A), 400 IU of vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals, which are only for adults.
 
Adults have a wide range of vitamin A intake, and it is no problem to consume no more than 10,000 IU per day, but smokers need to be aware that there is evidence that regular consumption of β-carotene will increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers, and smokers are advised to consult their doctor before taking vitamins. The vitamin content of Shancun OTC multivitamin has exceeded the recommended daily intake, and it is no problem for ordinary people to use, but it is more suitable for diet, unhealthy life or some special work occasions, and consumers should consult a pharmacist first when buying and take it according to the actual situation.
 
In the early days, multivitamins were considered a medicine for malnourished and sick people in China. Unlike the Chinese market, multivitamins and mineral products are very common in Europe and the United States, and belong to "dietary supplements" (supplements), which are used to supplement the insufficient nutritional intake of daily food, and can be bought everywhere in supermarkets and street grocery stores, and the price is also very low. In 2003, SARS and other infectious diseases broke out in various parts of China, and the people's consumption demand for drugs and health products that "may" improve immunity has greatly increased. Affected by this, the sales of vitamin products have also increased a lot, and the white-collar group working in the office has become the main consumer group. At this time, Shancun also launched a health food multivitamin to promote that it can maintain body functions and is beneficial to health.
 
The content of Shancun health multivitamins is relatively low, close to the RNI (recommended intake) in the "Recommended Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents", which is more suitable for daily supplementation by the general population, but the price is higher than that of medicines. There are male and female types of health care vitamins, and there are also classified according to the age of the user, and the corresponding vitamin ratio has been adjusted, such as the female type has a higher content of folic acid, and the middle-aged and elderly vitamin A is all β-carotene type.
 
The data table of "Recommended Intake of Dietary Nutrients for Chinese Residents" shows that there is little difference between adults and middle-aged and elderly people in terms of vitamin needs, but due to the great difference in individual nutritional intake in reality, health-care vitamins designed for a certain age group and gender seem to be a bit chicken.
 
The price of 100 tablets of Shancun Multivitamin Element Tablets (OTC) is about 129 yuan, and the average daily supplement cost is 1.3 yuan, and the price of 160 tablets of Yinshancun (health food) is about 208 yuan, and the average daily supplement cost is about 2.6 yuan (two tablets per day), and the pharmaceutical multivitamin is more cost-effective. Shancun Multivitamin Tablets (OTC) has a high vitamin content per capsule, but taking one capsule a day is still within the safe range, if you are not concerned about taking unnecessary amounts of vitamins, it is recommended to choose a more cost-effective pharmaceutical multivitamin.
 
In addition to the above two types of products, Shancun also has a US version, which can be purchased through global purchase. The American version of the good is produced in Canada, and the product division is similar to the Chinese version of the health care type, the difference is that the American version pays more attention to vitamin D supplementation, the content is higher than the Chinese version, and it is added with lycopene, lutein and other plant pigments. In addition, the American version of the pill uses corn starch as the tablet excipient, and the Chinese version of the tablet uses talcum powder, which makes the American version of the tablet disintegrate faster, but in fact, the two will disintegrate within half an hour, and there is no obvious difference in absorption, and the American version of Shancun has a slight advantage in terms of price.
 
It is the easiest multivitamin to buy, backed by the internationally renowned pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which ensures that the product is of high quality and cost-effective. It is important to note that taking vitamin supplements can only prevent deficiencies caused by inadequate vitamin intake, and there is no strong evidence of other benefits for humans.