Top-Notch Multivitamins Tailored for Women: Six Choices for 2024
The top-notch vitamin supplement specifically tailored for women offers superior-grade components to aid various life stages. Based on extensive research, our own testing, and recommendations from certified dietitians, these are the standout choices:
A brief overview of the top women's vitamins
- Best overall choice: Ritual Essential for Women 18+ Multivitamin | Jump to review
- Ideal for women aged 50 and above: Thorne Women’s Multi 50 | Jump to review
- Budget-friendly option: Nature Made Multi For Her 50+ Tablets | Jump to review
- Best vegan alternative: Persona Foundational Multivitamin | Jump to review
- Tasty chewable option: OLLY The Perfect Women's Multi Gummies | Jump to review
- Multivitamin with added iron: One A Day Women's 50+ Complete Multivitamin | Jump to review
A myriad of offerings target females across different stages of their lives, including prenatal vitamins and those formulated for athletes or older females.
The Top Vitamin Supplements for Women
In this section, we explore the top vitamin supplements for women that can be purchased online, along with our experts' and editorial testers' feedback on the products they tested.
Comparing the Top Vitamin Supplements for Women
Ritual$33
| Servings per container | Price per serving | Best for || --- | --- | --- || Ritual approximately $1.10 per serving for 30 servings. | $33 | An all-round women's vitamin || Thorne around $1.67 per serving for 30 servings. | $50 | Women aged 50 and above || Nature Made for Her around $0.16 per serving for 90 servings. | $14.99 | Lower budgets || Persona approximately $0.43 per serving for 30 servings. | Around $12 a month | Vegan-friendly females || OLLY around $0.28 per serving for 45 servings. | $12.99 | Chewable multivitamins || One A Day around $0.10 per serving for 80 servings. | $19.98 | Women seeking multivitamins with added iron |
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How were the Top Vitamin Supplements for Women Chosen?
$1.10
Medical News Today selects vitamin supplements for women that meet the following criteria:
an overall multivitamin
- Quality Ingredients: Vitamin supplements comprise safe and high-quality ingredients that are clearly labeled. They also confirm they are devoid of pesticides, heavy metals, and mold.
- Clear Dosage: All supplements clearly display the supplement dosage.
- Third-party Testing: All vitamin supplements we feature undergo third-party testing for contaminants by an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
- Transparent Third-party Certificates of Analysis: MNT selects companies that exhibit transparency by sharing a product’s certificate of analysis (COA) after receiving its third-party lab results.
Things to Consider when Choosing a Women's Multivitamin
Thorne$50
When selecting vitamin supplements for women, consider these factors:
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- Age: Some multivitamins cater to females at specific age groups. The formulas in these multivitamins contain more or less of certain vitamins and nutrients based on what females need at different stages in their lives.
- Ingredients: Certain nutrients are particularly beneficial for females. These include Vitamin B12, Folate, Calcium, Vitamin D, and Iron. They promote healthy blood cells, bones, connective tissues, hormones, immune systems, and support pregnancy.
$1.67
Expert Advice from our Dietitian:“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.”
women over 50
— Jerlyn Jones, RD
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a new vitamin or supplement, as some may interact with medication, and there may be alternative ways of obtaining essential vitamins and minerals.
Nature Made for Heraround $14.99
It is also essential to note that MNT does not evaluate the safety of vitamin supplement products before they become available for sale. Consider looking for products with independent tests from organizations such as the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), which tests products for purity.
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What Vitamins and Minerals are in Multivitamins for Women?
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According to the United States National Library of Medicine, there is no standard vitamin and mineral formula for multivitamins. The array of vitamins and minerals a person needs in their multivitamin varies based on their specific needs. For instance, pregnant women may require folic acid supplements to support fetal health.
lower budgets
The Office on Women’s Health highlights that Vitamin B12, Folate, Vitamin D, Calcium, and Iron are vital nutrients for women’s health.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health mentions that a multivitamin can apply to supplements containing only a few ingredients or supplements with a diverse array of vitamins and minerals. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a multivitamin should contain the following vitamins:
Personaaround $12 a month
vitamin A: one should not exceed 5,000 international units (IU) in consumption* vitamin B1 (thiamin)*: consume at least 1.2 milligrams (mg)* *vitamin B2 (riboflavin)*: ingest 1.7 mg or more* *vitamin B3 (niacin)*: take between 14-35 mg* vitamin B6: consume between 2-100 mg* vitamin B12: intake at least 6 micrograms (mcg)* vitamin C: consume between 60-1,000 mg* vitamin D: consume at least 400 international units (IU)* vitamin E: take between 20-100 international units (IU)* *vitamin K*: take in at least 10 micrograms (mcg)
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As per the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), multivitamins should also incorporate the following minerals:
$0.43
- *chromium*: intake at least 35 micrograms (mcg)
- copper: consume between 0.5-10 milligrams (mg)
- folic acid: do not exceed 400 micrograms (mcg)
- iron: premenopausal females should consume 18 mg, whereas others should take 10 mg
- *magnesium*: consume between 50-350 milligrams (mg)
- *selenium*: consume between 20-110 micrograms (mcg)
- *zinc*: do not exceed 30 milligrams (mg)
vegans
The multivitamins’ calcium and magnesium content may be low. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises obtaining these nutrients primarily from the diet.
It is recommended to consult a doctor before consuming multivitamins.
OLLY$12.99
How multivitamins benefit women
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Balanced diets can meet most of an individual's vitamin and mineral requirements. However, multivitamins may be helpful for individuals with dietary gaps.
$0.28
According to studies, certain demographics possess a higher risk of vitamin deficiency, including:
chewable multivitamins
- older adults
- pregnant women
- individuals with lower incomes
- people with imbalanced diets
- young children
- adolescents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that folate benefits those of reproductive age and these individuals must consume an additional 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily to prevent major birth abnormalities affecting the infant’s brain or spine.
One A Day$19.98
The NIH states that adults aged 19 to 50 must consume at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium daily to maintain bone and teeth strength. For females over the age of 50, the recommended calcium intake is 1,200 mg.
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Potassium aids in promoting basic cell functioning. The NIH recommends that adult females consume at least 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium daily. This amount may increase during pregnancy.
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Who should not take a multivitamin?
multivitamins with iron
While multivitamins are widely used supplements, they may not be suitable for everyone. There is a potential for vitamins or minerals in multivitamins to interact with medications, reducing their effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects. Therefore, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional if one is already taking medication.
Males and females may benefit differently from vitamin and mineral types, quantities, and combinations. Consequently, some companies design specific formulations of supplements, vitamins, shakes, and health bars tailored to the specific needs of individuals. It is recommended to discuss these options with a doctor or healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions about multivitamins for women
Multivitamins can assist in filling nutrient gaps in otherwise healthy diets. However, individuals should strive to meet a significant portion of their vitamin and mineral needs through diet.
The most suitable multivitamin for females depends on their age and preferences. Those over 50 may require more nutrients than younger individuals.
Multivitamins are generally safe for use. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that some people may experience gastrointestinal side effects from multivitamins, and the American Cancer Society suggests that they can interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners. The NIH also mentions that vitamin A and beta carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in current or previous smokers.
It is essential to consult a doctor before taking multivitamins to determine the required amount of each vitamin and mineral and evaluate options. They should avoid consuming more than the recommended daily intake for each vitamin or mineral and discontinue use if side effects are experienced.
Multivitamin pills might be more challenging for some individuals to swallow, making multivitamin gummies a more convenient option. These may also taste better, depending on the flavor. However, multivitamin gummies may include ingredients some people prefer to avoid, such as gelatine.
Well-known brands of multivitamins include Ritual, Persona, Thorne, and Nature Made.
Summary
Multivitamins can help address nutritional deficiencies in certain individuals, such as during pregnancy. Health authorities often recommend that individuals take folic acid supplements to support fetal health.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate multivitamins, and research on their benefits is mixed.
If a person wishes to consume multivitamins, they should speak with a doctor first.
Based on the extensive research and recommendations from certified dietitians, the top-notch women's vitamin supplements offer various benefits. For instance, women aged 50 and above may benefit from Thorne Women’s Multi 50, which is specifically formulated for their needs (other women's health). Additionally, those seeking vegan-friendly vitamins can opt for Persona Foundational Multivitamin (womensvitamins).
