Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey vs NOW Foods Vitamin A

Q: Which is better, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey or NOW Foods Vitamin A?

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 79/100 while NOW Foods Vitamin A scores 74/100 in our analysis. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is the higher-rated product overall.

Q: Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey worth the price compared to NOW Foods Vitamin A?

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 69.0/100 for value, while NOW Foods Vitamin A scores 84.0/100. NOW Foods Vitamin A delivers better value overall.

Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey and NOW Foods Vitamin A.

Last verified: 28 Mar 2026 · Based on 67 reviews

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79.0

Score Summary

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 79.0/100 vs NOW Foods Vitamin A at 74.0/100. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey wins on effectiveness, ingredient quality, side effects. NOW Foods Vitamin A is stronger on value for money.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey vs NOW Foods Vitamin A: What Does the Data Say?

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder gives 24g protein per 30g scoop from whey sources while Vitamin A 3000 mcg 100 Softgels delivers retinyl palmitate in a softgel with organic extra virgin olive oil. One comes as powder for shaking with water. The other arrives in easy-to-swallow capsules taken once daily. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder scores 79.0/100 overall and 82.0/100 on effectiveness. Vitamin A 3000 mcg 100 Softgels scores 74.0/100 overall and 78.0/100 on effectiveness.

Gym-goers after reliable post-workout muscle recovery or people on calorie-controlled high-protein diets should pick Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder at £32.89. Those with confirmed vitamin A deficiency symptoms like dry skin or night vision issues plus low liver and organ meat intake should choose Vitamin A 3000 mcg 100 Softgels at £4.83. The whey powder suits users who want high protein yield with low fat and sugar. The vitamin suits short courses of 6 to 8 weeks under dermatologist guidance for skin or mucous membrane issues. Value for money favours the vitamin at 84.0/100 against the whey's 69.0/100.

Double Rich Chocolate flavour in the whey powder tastes too sweet for some users. A few report under-filled containers or missing scoops. The vitamin carries a 10000 IU dose at the adult tolerable upper intake limit so several reviewers suggest every-other-day use to avoid accumulation. The whey mixes cleanly in a shaker. The vitamin uses olive oil to aid absorption of this fat-soluble nutrient. Both products show good results in their specific areas with the whey edging ingredient quality at 80.0/100 to 76.0/100.

How Do the Scores Compare?

Optimum Nutrition, Gold Sta...

Vitamin A, 3,000 mcg (10,00...

	Optimum Nutrition, Gold Sta... Optimum Nutrition	Vitamin A, 3,000 mcg (10,00... NOW Foods
Overall Score	79.0	74.0
Effectiveness	82.0/100 Best	78.0/100
Ingredient Quality	80.0/100 Best	76.0/100
Value for Money	69.0/100	84.0/100 Best
Side Effects	84.0/100 Best	70.0/100
Certifications	74.0/100 Best	52.0/100
Best Price	£34.00 Amazon UK →	£4.93 iHerb → Cheapest
Form	Powder	None
Dose	None	None
Third-Party Tested	✗ No	✗ No
Reviews Analysed	17	50

Optimum Nutrition, Gold Standard...

Pros

✓Outstanding mixability — dissolves cleanly in a shaker with water, consistently praised across reviews
✓High protein yield (~24g per 30g scoop) with low fat and sugar content
✓Noticeable post-workout recovery improvement reported by multiple users
✓Informed Choice certified for banned substance screening, relevant for tested athletes

Cons

✗Double Rich Chocolate flavour reported as too sweet by a subset of users
✗Occasional quality control complaints: under-filled containers, missing scoops
✗Premium brand pricing — cost-per-gram of protein higher than many comparable products
✗Isolated reports of clumping and batch-to-batch taste inconsistency

Best For

gym-goers seeking reliable post-workout muscle recovery people on calorie-controlled high-protein diets beginners wanting a well-established, easy-mixing protein powder athletes requiring a banned-substance-tested supplement

Amazon UK £34.00

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Vitamin A, 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU)...

Pros

✓Retinyl palmitate form is directly bioavailable — no beta-carotene conversion needed, which matters for people with thyroid issues or genetic conversion inefficiency
✓Multiple reviewers report visible skin improvements: reduced dryness, faster wound healing, stronger nails, less split ends — consistent across many independent reviews
✓Organic extra virgin olive oil as the carrier aids absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin
✓Small, neutral-tasting softgels that are easy to swallow — virtually no complaints about pill size or aftertaste

Cons

✗10,000 IU daily is at the adult tolerable upper intake limit — fat-soluble vitamins accumulate, and several reviewers flag this by recommending every-other-day dosing
✗Not third-party tested — no independent verification of potency or purity beyond in-house GMP
✗Not suitable for vegans or vegetarians — contains bovine gelatine capsule and fish liver oil (cod, saithe, haddock, pollock)
✗California Prop 65 warning for retinol — pregnancy and reproductive health risk; not appropriate during pregnancy

Best For

Adults with confirmed vitamin A deficiency symptoms — dry skin, night vision issues, frequent respiratory infections People with low liver and organ meat intake who need preformed retinol rather than relying on beta-carotene conversion Those taking short courses (6–8 weeks) under dermatologist guidance for skin or mucous membrane issues Anyone who needs the active retinol form and cannot rely on plant-source beta-carotene conversion

iHerb £4.93

View full review →

Score Breakdown: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey vs NOW Foods Vitamin A

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Winner 79.0/100

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is the world's best-selling protein powder, built around whey protein isolate as its primary ingredient for fast absorption and a high-purity amino acid profile.

Effectiveness

Optimum Nutritio..

82.0/100

Vitamin A, 3,000..

78.0/100

Ingredient Quality

Optimum Nutritio..

80.0/100

Vitamin A, 3,000..

76.0/100

Value for Money

Optimum Nutritio..

69.0/100

Vitamin A, 3,000..

84.0/100

Side Effects

Optimum Nutritio..

84.0/100

Vitamin A, 3,000..

70.0/100

Certifications

Optimum Nutritio..

74.0/100

Vitamin A, 3,000..

52.0/100

What are the key differences?

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is best for: gym-goers seeking reliable post-workout muscle recovery, people on calorie-controlled high-protein diets

NOW Foods Vitamin A is best for: Adults with confirmed vitamin A deficiency symptoms — dry skin, night vision issues, frequent respiratory infections, People with low liver and organ meat intake who need preformed retinol rather than relying on beta-carotene conversion

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey or NOW Foods Vitamin A? ▼

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 79.0/100 overall while NOW Foods Vitamin A scores 74.0/100. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey comes out ahead, scoring higher on effectiveness (82.0 vs 78.0). Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is best suited for gym-goers seeking reliable post-workout muscle recovery and people on calorie-controlled high-protein diets. NOW Foods Vitamin A is better for Adults with confirmed vitamin A deficiency symptoms — dry skin, night vision issues, frequent respiratory infections and People with low liver and organ meat intake who need preformed retinol rather than relying on beta-carotene conversion.

Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey worth the price compared to NOW Foods Vitamin A? ▼

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey costs £34.00 while NOW Foods Vitamin A is £4.93. For value, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 69.0/100 vs NOW Foods Vitamin A's 84.0/100. NOW Foods Vitamin A delivers better value relative to its quality.

Which has fewer side effects? ▼

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 84.0/100 for side effects (higher means fewer reported issues) while NOW Foods Vitamin A scores 70.0/100. Reviewers report fewer side effects with Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey. For certification and testing, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey scores 74.0/100 vs NOW Foods Vitamin A's 52.0/100. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.