What are the key vitamins and minerals in Ensure Nutrition Shake?

1. A Clear Claim — “27 Vitamins and Minerals” Appears Repeatedly and Loudly

Multiple entries state that Ensure provides 27 vitamins and minerals, naming vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium specifically, and in some cases listing vitamins A, C, E, and K ^[1]. These claims are presented as product-level facts in therapeutic nutrition descriptions and consumer-facing materials; the repetition across ^[1] and ^[1] suggests a core marketing or formulation claim that appears stable across contexts. The analytic tone of these records frames Ensure as a “complete” multimicronutrient supplement intended to support overall nutritional needs, emphasizing broad micronutrient coverage rather than single-nutrient interventions ^[1].

2. Lab Analyses Highlight Mineral Presence but Not Always the Full List

A laboratory profiling study used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry to characterize mineral constituents in ready-to-drink supplements, including Ensure, which confirms the drink contains measurable minerals though it does not reproduce a full vitamin panel in the provided excerpt ^[2]. This source, dated February 14, 2020, offers analytical backing that minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium are present in detectable amounts, supporting product-label claims; nevertheless, the lab study’s emphasis on mineral quantification rather than vitamins leaves partial confirmation of the full “27 vitamins and minerals” claim ^[2].

3. Clinical and Practical Studies Use Ensure but Often Don’t List Nutrients

Several clinical studies and applied research projects use Ensure as a nutritional intervention — in gastric protection, dementia support, Crohn’s disease, and experimental models — yet many do not reproduce a comprehensive ingredient or nutrient list in their reporting ^{[3] [4] [6] [5]}. These studies demonstrate functional outcomes attributed to Ensure’s energy, protein, and micronutrient delivery, such as improved vitamin B12 intake in Crohn’s patients ^[5], but they assume product composition rather than documenting it, leaving readers reliant on manufacturer-sourced nutrient descriptions for detail ^{[3] [6]}.

4. Where Specific Percentages Appear, They Should Be Treated Carefully

One source asserts that an 8 fl oz serving provides 40% of the daily value for vitamin D and 25% for calcium and iron ^[1]. This specific percent-DV claim gives tangible context for the product’s potency, but it appears only in a single supplied analysis and lacks corroborating lab or regulatory documentation within these materials. Given the tendency of product descriptions to present favorable percentages, the single-source nature of this numeric claim in the dataset suggests caution: it’s plausible but would benefit from direct label scans or independent nutrient analyses ^[1].

5. Different Sources Reflect Different Agendas: Marketing vs. Research Utility

Manufacturer-style entries emphasize the comprehensive nutrient profile and therapeutic positioning of Ensure ^[1], while academic and lab studies center on functional outcomes or specific analytical methods ^{[2] [4]}. The marketing-oriented sources aim to establish Ensure as a one-stop supplement; clinical studies adopt it as a standardized intervention because of that positioning. Recognizing these divergent roles explains why some materials list nutrients explicitly and others omit the full panel: agenda drives detail ^{[1] [2]}.

6. Consensus and Gaps — What We Know and What Remains Unverified

Across the supplied analyses there is agreement that Ensure contains a broad set of vitamins and minerals and supports nutritional needs, with repeated citation of vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium, and various fat-soluble vitamins ^{[1] [2]}. What is less well-supported in this dataset is a complete, independently verified nutrient table and consistent serving-size percent daily values beyond the single claim about vitamin D and calcium/iron percentages. The evidence supports the headline but leaves detailed numerical verification outstanding ^{[1] [2]}.

7. Practical Takeaway — Use Ensure as a Broad Micronutrient Source but Check Labels for Details

For practical decision-making, treat Ensure as a multivitamin-plus-mineral liquid supplement with documented use in clinical settings and analytical confirmation of minerals, while confirming exact nutrient levels on the product label or independent lab reports when specific dosages matter. Where clinical studies report functional benefits (e.g., B12 improvement, caloric/protein support), they rely on Ensure’s comprehensive formulation rather than enumerating it, so users seeking precise nutrient quantities should consult the product packaging or third-party nutritional panels for final verification ^{[5] [2]}.

8. Final Note — Dates, Diversity and Next Steps for Verification

The dataset includes a dated mineral profiling study from February 14, 2020, and various undated product and study summaries; the mix of dated and undated sources underscores the need for more recent, independent nutrient analyses to confirm current formulations, which can change. To resolve remaining uncertainties, obtain the current product nutrition label or a recent peer-reviewed analytical report; until then, the best-supported conclusion in these materials is that Ensure offers 27 vitamins and minerals, notably vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium, but specific percent-DV claims require corroboration ^{[2] [1]}.