The best multivitamin for women offers high quality ingredients to support different stages of life. According to research, our own testing, and advice from registered dietitians, these are the top choices.
Many products are available that cater to the needs of females at every stage of life, including prenatal vitamins and those designed specifically for athletes or older females.
Here, we look at the best multivitamins for females available to buy online, including what our experts and editorial testers thought about the products they tried.
Medical News Today chose multivitamins for women that meet the following criteria:
- Ingredients: The multivitamins contain safe and high quality ingredients that are clearly labeled. They also confirm they are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and mold.
- Dosage: All products clearly state the supplement dosage.
- Third-party testing: All multivitamins we feature undergo third-party testing for contaminants by an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
- Available certificate of analysis: MNT chooses companies that demonstrate transparency and share a product’s certificate of analysis (COA) after receiving its third-party lab results.
When looking for multivitamins for females, people can consider:
- Their age: Some multivitamins will cater to females in specific age groups. The formulas in these multivitamins will contain more or less of certain vitamins and nutrients based on what people need as they age.
- Ingredients: Certain nutrients are
particularly importantTrusted Source for female bodies. These include B12, folate, calcium, vitamin D, and iron. These help support healthy blood cells, bones, connective tissues, and nerves and help with pregnancy, hormones, and the immune system.
Our expert’s advice“Most nutrient needs are met by consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein including legumes and beans, low fat dairy products, and nuts and seeds. However, if you do take a multivitamin, do not exceed the recommended intake because an excessive amount may lead to health risks.”
— Jerlyn Jones, RD
It is important to note that the
According to the
The NIH notes that the term “multivitamin” could apply to supplements with only a few ingredients or supplements containing a wide array of vitamins and minerals. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a multivitamin should contain the following vitamins:
- vitamin A: no more than 5,000 international units (IU)
- vitamin B1 (thiamin): 1.2 mg or more
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 1.7 mg or more
- vitamin B3 (niacin): 14 to 35 mg
- vitamin B6: 2 to 100 mg
- vitamin B12: 6 micrograms (mcg) or more
- vitamin C: 60 to 1,000 mg
- vitamin D: 400 international units (IU) or more
- vitamin E: 20 to 100 IU
- vitamin K: 10 mcg or more
NASM states multivitamins should also contain the following minerals:
The
A person needs to contact a doctor before taking a multivitamin.
Eating a well-balanced diet can provide most of the vitamins and minerals a person needs to maintain their health. However, multivitamins can be helpful for people with gaps in their diet.
Research from 2022 suggests that some groups of people have a higher risk of vitamin deficiency, including:
- older adults
- young children
- pregnant people
- people living in low or middle-income countries
- individuals with selective diets or those who exclude a specific food group, such as a vegan diet
- those with malabsorption disorders, such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease
- people with alcohol use disorder
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that folate benefits people of reproductive age and that these individuals need
The NIH says that adults ages 19 to 50 years need at least
Potassium helps promote basic cell functioning. The NIH states that adult females need at least
While multivitamins are popular supplements, they may not be suitable for everyone.
There is always a possibility that vitamins or minerals in multivitamins may interact with medications, making them less effective or increasing the risk of experiencing side effects. People always need to consult with a healthcare professional if they are already taking medication.
Males and females often benefit from differing vitamin and mineral types, quantities, and combinations. With this in mind, some companies develop specific formulas of supplements, vitamins, shakes, and health bars. A person should discuss their options with a doctor or healthcare professional who can help them decide, and choose the product they feel works best for them and their needs.
Multivitamins can help fill nutrient gaps in otherwise healthy diets. However, people need to aim to meet the bulk of their vitamin and mineral needs through diet.
The best multivitamin for females depends on their age and preference. People who are over 50 may need more nutrients than those under this age, for example.
Multivitamins are generally safe to take. However, the NIH writes that some people can experience gastrointestinal side effects from multivitamins, and the American Cancer Society states they can interact with certain medications, such as the blood thinner warfarin. Vitamin A and beta carotene can also increase the risk of lung cancer in current or previous smokers.
A person should always speak with a doctor before taking multivitamins to learn how much of each vitamin and mineral they need and review their options. They should not consume more than the recommended daily intake for each vitamin or mineral and stop using supplements if they experience side effects.
Multivitamin pills may be more difficult to swallow for some people, making multivitamin gummies easier to take. They may also taste nicer, depending on the flavor. However, multivitamin gummies may contain ingredients some people prefer to avoid, such as gelatine.
Popular brands of multivitamin include Ritual, Persona, Thorne, and Nature Made.
According to the Office on Women’s Health, the following vitamins are particularly important for women to take:
- folic acid (during pregnancy)
- vitamin B12
- vitamin D
- calcium
- iron
However, the top vitamins a woman should take will depend on their age and preference.
Multivitamins can help fill nutritional deficiencies for some people at different points. For instance, many health authorities suggest that individuals take folic acid supplements to support fetal health during pregnancy.
However, the FDA does not regulate multivitamins, and there is mixed research on their benefits.
If someone wishes to take multivitamins, they should speak with a doctor first.
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