Although optional in most cases, Carnivore Diet supplements can fill the nutritional gaps that you may face. If you don’t have specific underlying health conditions, you probably won’t need supplements. However, if you have pre-existing health concerns, you can benefit from the following supplements for Carnivore Diet.
Highlights
Do You Really Need Supplements on Carnivore?
One of the best things about the Carnivore Diet is simplicity. You just need to find the right balance of macronutrients using this Carnivore Diet Macro Calculator, eat animal foods, and skip everything else to reach your health and fitness goals.
Since meat and other animal-based products can provide all the essential nutrients you need, you generally don’t have to take Carnivore Diet supplements.
However, there are certain situations where your body may lack certain vitamins, minerals, or gut-supporting compounds. This is when a mix of nutrient-rich animal foods plus supplements can give the best results.
Carnivore Diet supplements are not replacements for nutritious, animal-based foods, but they work as boosts to guarantee your long-term health.
So, let’s find out what nutrients people most commonly lack, what supplements are the best, and what benefits and possible risks supplements may involve.
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Why You May Need Carnivore Diet Supplements?
We cannot say that anyone who is on a Carnivore Diet has nutrient deficiencies, or that individuals have similar nutrient needs. It all goes back to your body’s needs, health status, history, and other personal factors.
Having said that, we should also note that since you focus on special food groups on a Carnivore Diet and avoid others, your body can receive some nutrients more than others.
It doesn’t mean that Carnivore leads to nutrient deficiencies because you can get the essential nutrients from animal-based sources allowed in Carnivore.
Yet, if you have the following condition, you need supplements more than others:
Older adults may absorb certain vitamins and minerals less than others. For example, the absorption of vitamin B12 and the synthesis of vitamin D in skin can decrease with age [1] [2] [3].
Children or adolescents have higher growth demands, so they need extra micronutrients, especially if they are not using various food sources [4] [5].
Gender-Specific Needs
Women of reproductive age need more iron and folate requirements due to menstruation. Although red meat provides heme iron, heavy menstruation may necessitate supplementation [6] [7].
Postmenopausal women need more calcium and vitamin D to improve bone health [8] [9] [10].
If you are dealing with gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis, you can use Carnivore Diet supplements that your physician prescribes. This is because these disorders can impair the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) even from animal sources [11] [12] [13].
Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) can reduce B12 and mineral absorption, increasing the need for supplementation [14] [15].
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Lifestyle Factors
Limited sun exposure increases the need for vitamin D supplementation because dietary intake alone may not be enough [16].
Athletes or those with high physical activity require additional magnesium, potassium, and electrolytes to perform well and recover faster [17] [18].
Stress or chronic illness can deplete nutrients like magnesium, zinc, or vitamin C, increasing the need for supplements [19] [20] [21].
Anemia, which includes iron deficiency, B12, or folate deficiency, is a condition where you need to take iron/B12/folate supplements [22].
Osteoporosis or low bone density increases your need for calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 supplements [23].
Kidney disease or kidney stones require monitoring of electrolytes or adjusting calcium intake.
Heart disease or high cholesterol concerns increase the need for omega-3 supplements (from fish oil), especially on a Carnivore Diet [24].
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Dietary Limitations or Food Preferences
Excluding organ meats can increase the risk of missing out on nutrients like vitamin A, copper, or CoQ10.
Excluding seafood increases the need for iodine and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA).
So, if you have any of these issues, you may need to take the following supplements on a Carnivore Diet. It is no secret that you should take supplements only if your Carnivore Doctors approve.
The most common supplements that those on a Carnivore Diet take include electrolytes, vitamin C, vitamin D + K2, iodine, and digestive and organ meat supplements [25].
Here are the positive effects of each of these Carnivore Diet supplements on your body and diet results.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium prevent Carnivore flu symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and cramps. They are also essential for athletes during the first 4 weeks of the diet.
The best options are electrolyte powders without sugar and magnesium glycinate to help sleep.
Vitamin C (Low-Dose)
Not a lot of vitamin C is found in cooked meat. Raw organs contain small amounts of vitamin C, but if it is not enough, you can use 100–200 mg daily after consulting a healthcare professional.
Vitamin D + K2
Most people are deficient in vitamin D regardless of diet. Vitamin D supplements support bones, immunity, and hormone balance, and combining it with K2 improves calcium absorption.
Iodine is needed for thyroid health, especially if you avoid seafood. Taking a small dose (150 mcg/day) usually suffices. But take it only after consulting your doctor and taking the necessary tests.
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Digestive Support (Ox Bile, Betaine HCL, Enzymes)
Digestive supplements can help people who feel heavy, bloated, or constipated after high-meat meals. Ox bile streamlines fat digestion, and Betaine HCL increases the production or secretion of stomach acid for protein breakdown.
It is no secret that organ meats are superfoods and contain various essential nutrients. But if you don’t like to eat fresh organs, you can use freeze-dried beef liver, heart, and kidney to provide natural vitamin A, B12, copper, and iron.
There are also some supplements that are not as essential as the above ones but are trending in the Carnivore Community.
If you are among the following groups, taking supplements may not be optional for you and can be necessary if your doctor prescribes:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women (They usually need folate, iodine, and DHA.)
Athletes (They usually need electrolytes, creatine, and magnesium.)
Older adults (They usually need vitamin D, calcium, and collagen.)
If you eat only muscle meat, no organs, or seafood.
It is wise to consult a healthcare professional and run a blood test every 3–6 months and check your vitamin D, thyroid, electrolytes, and B vitamins to find out if you need supplements.
Although supplements can fill the nutrient gaps, you must never consume them whenever you wish because too many supplements can cause various side effects. For example,
Eating too much liver can lead to vitamin A toxicity, which causes nausea, headaches, and even liver damage.
Excess calcium can cause kidney stones.
Random high-dose multivitamins are unnecessary and harmful.
So, if you want supplements to support your specific goals on a Carnivore Diet, you can take supplements according to the following table.
The table below shows the supplements that help you reach specific goals you follow on a Carnivore Diet:
Group
Must-Have Supplements
Nice-to-Have Supplements
Athletes
Electrolytes, magnesium, creatine
Collagen
Pregnant/Postpartum
Folate, iodine, DHA
Vitamin D/K2
Older Adults
Vitamin D, calcium, collagen
Magnesium
Busy Professionals
Electrolytes, freeze-dried organ capsules
Adaptogens (if tolerated)
Carnivores eating no organs/seafood
Multivitamin, vitamin C, magnesium
Digestive enzymes
A 4-Week Carnivore Diet Supplements Roadmap
If you are planning on taking Carnivore Diet supplements, the following 4-week plan can help you. But please don’t forget to consult your physician before taking any supplements.
The Carnivore Diet simplifies eating, but supplementation can help you fill the potential gaps and get better results. The essential supplements include electrolytes, magnesium, vitamin D, and iodine.
Please remember that every person has special needs, so you should consult a healthcare professional before taking any supplements and consider your blood test results, lifestyle needs, and underlying health concerns.
The bottom line is to eat nose-to-tail whenever possible, supplement smartly where needed, and listen to your body.
FAQs
Let’s find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Carnivore Diet supplements.
Do You Need Supplements on a Carnivore Diet?
Not always, but many people benefit from electrolytes, magnesium, and vitamin D. Those who avoid organs or seafood usually need more supplements.
What Is the Best Multivitamin for the Carnivore Diet?
Magnesium, potassium, iodine, and vitamin C, without fillers or plant-based additives.
Can You Get All Nutrients from Organ Meats?
Organs are nutrient-dense but can’t fully replace the vitamin C, magnesium, and iodine needs for everyone.
Is Collagen Necessary for a Carnivore Diet?
It is not mandatory, but it can balance muscle meat intake and support joints/skin.
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