Multivitamins for women are specifically designed to help women get all the vitamins and minerals they need. Even if you eat a healthy diet, you may not be consuming all the vitamins you need every day. Taking a multivitamin can help you reach these daily goals.
We reviewed a few different multivitamins for women to help you find the best of the best. You can read our careful reviews below.
Rankings
1. Ritual Essential for Women
Ritual Essential for Women is the best multivitamin for women you can purchase. All the ingredients are completely traceable and transparent, so you’ll know exactly what you’re taking. In a world of label fraud, this is a breath of fresh air.
Furthermore, all the ingredients used in this formula are designed to work well within your body. They’re very absorbable, allowing you to get as much benefit as possible. Because of these features, it is Fitbug’s #1 multivitamin for women.
2. Performance Lab Whole-Food Women’s Multi
This multivitamin by Performance Lab is less expensive than our first pick, but it is still a solid choice for most users. This supplement provides 100% the daily recommended value for 18 different nutrients.
Plus, this is one of the few multivitamins that contains prebiotics and probiotics. These help your body absorb the nutrients in the capsules and can reduce the likelihood of negative gastrointestinal side effects
3. Centrum Silver Multivitamin for Women 50 Plus
If you’re a woman over 50, this multivitamin is the perfect option for you. It is designed to support your eyes, skin, heart, and brain – all parts that need extra support as we age.
This multivitamin is also decently inexpensive and easy to swallow.
4. Women’s Daily Multivitamin by Vimerson Health
This multivitamin is designed for all women. It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, including chromium, magnesium, and zinc. With this vitamin, you can support your immune system, heart, and blood circulation.
This multivitamin is also quite gentle on the stomach, making it perfect for those that are sensitive to medication.
5. One a Day Women’s Petites Multivitamin
This multivitamin has just about everything you need, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc. They are designed to be extra-small, making them much easier to swallow than other pills.
They are formulated to support everything from immune health to energy to bone health. If you’re worried about hard-to-swallow pills, you need to consider this multivitamin.
6. Naturelo One Daly Multivitamin for Women
With vitamins A, B, C, D3, E, and K2, this multivitamin can support your immunity, energy, and overall wellness. It is GMO-free and contains folate instead of folic acid. It is also vegetarian, with calcium from algae.
Antioxidants are also an important part of this multivitamin.
7. Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin Softgels
This multivitamin includes 22 different nutrients that are important for your daily health. They are also very inexpensive and each bottle comes with many days worth of vitamins.
They are formulated to be easily absorbed and have been verified by the USP.
8. Rainbow Light Women’s One Multivitamin
Since it includes things like vitamin C and vitamin D, this multivitamin can improve your overall health and wellbeing. It is vegetarian and gluten-free with plant-sourced enzymes.
This formula is made with pure-tested ingredients as well, so you can rest assured that it doesn’t include any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
9. OLLY The Perfect Women’s Gummy Multivitamin
This multivitamin is very inexpensive and includes everything you’d expect from a women’s multivitamin. This company’s goal is to make taking your vitamins “fun”.
We liked that this vitamin includes things like A, C, D, E, and folic acid.
10. Solimo Women’s Multivitamin
While these multivitamins are very inexpensive, there is a reason for that. They seem to be quite a bit lower quality than the other options on the market. However, they’re still a decent option for some users.
They contain everything you might expect from a multivitamin and are gluten-free.
11. Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women
This multivitamin includes both zinc and vitamin D for immune support, as well as a variety of other vitamins and minerals.
It also includes quite a bit of folic acid and iron, making it a good choice for your overall health and wellbeing. In total, it includes 23 vitamins and essential minerals.
12. Nature’s Way Alive! Women’s Multivitamin
This multivitamin is bad by any means, but it isn’t absolutely great either. It is designed to support your entire body, including your eyes, bones, skin, and immune system. It also contains no grain or artificial colors.
The high-potency B-vitamins may help you increase your energy in particular.
How We Ranked
As we reviewed each women’s multivitamin, we firstly considered what vitamins and minerals each multivitamin contained. These supplements are designed to help you meet many of your daily requirements, so they usually contain many different vitamins and minerals. After all, there are many different things that your body needs on a daily basis.
However, some supplements contain more things than others. In general, we ranked that that contains many vitamins and minerals above supplements that only included a few. You want to purchase as complete of a multivitamin as possible.
Secondly, we also considered the quality of vitamins and minerals. Preferably, they should come from easily absorbable sources. When different forms of the vitamin are available, we preferred the high-quality option.
For example, folic acid and folate turn into the same vitamin when eaten. However, folate is more absorbable and safer. For this reason, we preferred multivitamins that included folate over folic acid.
Thirdly, we preferred vitamins that were easy to take. Gummies and small pills were preferably over large pills. Multivitamins that you only have to take once a day were preferable to those that required you to take more than once a day. Convenience was important.
Fourthly, the price was considered. Surprisingly, the price of multivitamins varies a lot, and the quality is not always equivalent to the price. Instead, popular brands seem to be considerably more expensive than other options, even if their vitamins aren’t necessarily better.
When considering the price of each multivitamin, we looked for value for your dollar. If a particular multivitamin is expensive but contains higher quality ingredients than other options, we did not mark them down for their increased price. On the other hand, if a multivitamin as expensive with no benefit, we ranked it lower on our list.
Finally, we also took the safety of each multivitamin into account. Generally, these vitamins are pretty safe. However, we preferred those that underwent more testing. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry, and supplements are no exception.
Benefits
Multivitamins for women may decrease your chance of heart disease. A few different studies have shown a decreased chance of heart disease in those that take a multivitamin
One particular study found that women who took a multivitamin for at least three years were linked to a 35% lower chance of dying from heart disease (1). It seems this benefit is for women only, however. Studies have found that men who take a multivitamin do not have a lower or higher chance of dying from heart diseases (2).
Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found similarly promising results. It found that those who took a multivitamin were somewhat less likely to die from heart disease. This study was very large and included over 1,063,023 people (3).
Multivitamins for women may decrease your chance of cancer. There have been quite a few studies showing a decreased risk of cancer for those taking a multivitamin. However, similarly to heart disease, the evidence for this is somewhat mixed.
Some large studies have shown that there was a small decrease in mortality overall from cancer for those who took a multivitamin. However, for men who smoked, their chance of cancer increased when they took a multivitamin (3).
There seems to be some gender differences here as well, though women come out on the bad side this time. One review looked at five different, randomized studies that included over 47,000 people in all. It found that the risk of cancer for men who took multivitamins lowered by about 31%. However, women’s risk did not change when they took a multivitamin (4).
Still, another study that included women and men found that the risk of colon cancer decreased among those taking a multivitamin (5).
While the evidence for this is mixed, it seems like a multivitamin for women may decrease your chance for certain cancers.
Multivitamins for women may improve memory. Some studies have found that older women who take a multivitamin have an improved memory. One study, in particular, found that a multivitamin improved elderly women’s ability to recall memories (6). It did this by improving the neural efficiency of their brain.
Antioxidants seem to particularly help mental functioning in older adults (7). These are often found in multivitamins, which may be why they improve memory.
Multivitamins for women may improve your mood. If you take a multivitamin, you may notice an improvement in your overall mood. There have been links between both better diets and improved mood, as well as multivitamins in particular and an improved mood.
There are many vitamins found in multivitamins for women that may improve mood in particular. Folate is one of these vitamins and has been found to improve symptoms of depression (8). Zinc may also improve overall mood and may be an effective treatment for depression (9).
Multivitamins for women may improve your eye health. As you age, it is not uncommon for your eyesight to decline. Some studies have found that certain ingredients in multivitamins may improve your eyesight and reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration.
A study has found that taking a multivitamin containing antioxidants may help slow the progression of age-related vision loss (10). However, other studies have shown that these vitamins may not prevent the disease altogether (11). It seems like the protection is only partial in that sense.
Multivitamins may prevent other eye problems, however, such as cataracts (12). Overall, these supplements appear to support your overall eye health as you age, though they won’t necessarily help with eye problems that aren’t age-related.
Multivitamins for women are accessible to most people. Unlike other lifestyle changes, multivitamins are pretty simple and accessible to take for everyone. They do not take much of a time commitment, nor do they require much money. You can purchase a multivitamin very inexpensively off the internet, so you don’t even need to leave your home.
If you’re looking for an easy way to be healthier, multivitamins are a simple way to accomplish that. Of course, they work best when combined with other healthy lifestyle changes. However, if you’re looking for an easy place to start, this is it.
Multivitamins for women are zero-calorie. The large majority of multivitamins do not contain any calories. This means you can take them while on a diet and trying to lose weight. The only thing they add to your diet is extra vitamins and minerals, which will not make you add on weight by themselves.
Because of this, multivitamins can be used even by those on strict diets. There are many multivitamins that are gluten-free, vegetarian, and even vegan, so you should be able to take them even if you’re on a stricter diet. Most multivitamins are even keto-friendly.
Multivitamins for women come in many different types. Unlike some other, obscure vitamins, multivitamins for women come in about every form you can think of. You can find regular pills, as well as tiny pills that are designed for those who have difficulty swallowing supplements. There are also gummies of all types and flavors.
Even if you find it difficult to take other supplements, you can likely find a multivitamin in a form you can tolerate. We included a variety of different options in our reviews section, including small pills and various flavors of gummies.
Side Effects
Multivitamins for women may cause you to overdose on a certain vitamin or mineral. Too much of a good thing can be bad, especially when it comes to vitamins. Dosage is important when it comes to vitamins and minerals since you don’t want to take too much.
However, the dosage for some vitamins is different depending on what it is. For some, it is nearly impossible to take too much. For others, you can easily take enough to experience harmful side effects by eating a healthy diet and taking a multivitamin.
Water-soluble vitamins are easily dissolved in water, so your body will dispel the excess in your urine. For these vitamins, it is nearly impossible to consume too much of them. As long as you give your liver time to get the excess out of your bloodstream, you typically won’t have a problem.
Fat-soluble vitamins cannot be gotten rid of so easily, though. The excess amounts stick around and may accumulate over a long period of time. Some of these vitamins can have negative effects on your health. For example, vitamins A and D can be toxic if you take too much of them. Pregnant women, in particular, should avoid taking too much vitamin A since this can cause birth defects (13).
Multivitamins are not tailored to your specific needs. Instead, they aim to cover the nutritional gaps most people have. However, these gaps may not be the same as the gaps you have. Because of this, you may end up taking too much of a vitamin while on a multivitamin. This is particularly true if you eat nutrient-dense foods and live a healthy lifestyle. In this case, a multivitamin may be unnecessary.
Multivitamins for women are not closely regulated. There is no agency that closely regulates multivitamins for completeness or safety. Because of this, you really can’t be certain what you’re getting.
Just because something calls itself a “multivitamin” doesn’t mean it actually is. Anything can use the term “multivitamin”, which is why it is so important to check the label. You can only rely on yourself to double-check the label and ensure the supplement contains all the vitamins you want it to.
Furthermore, the manufacturing of multivitamins is not closely watched for safety. This can lead to errors that may cause health consequences. For example, one study found that vitamin D intoxication was sometimes caused by manufacturing mishaps. The company simply put too much vitamin D in their supplement – far more than was written on the label (14).
In fact, the supplement industry is notorious for fraud. A study found that many multivitamins contain higher or lower levels of some nutrients. Some didn’t even contain all the nutrients that were listed on the label. Purchasing your vitamins from a reputable source and manufacturer is vital (15).
Multivitamins for women can cause nutrient-specific side effects. Many vitamins and minerals can cause side effects. Digestive side effects are the most common. For example, high doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and vomiting (16). Folate can negatively impact the immune system if you take too much of it and may also have an effect on mental function (17).
When you take a multivitamin, you are taking many different vitamins and minerals at once. Because of this, your odds of experiencing at least one side effect from one of the vitamins is pretty high. It isn’t uncommon to experience stomach upset at the very least, especially if your supplement contains iron.
Of course, because there are so many different vitamins involved. It is hard to know which is causing the side effect or even predict which side effect you will experience.
Recommend Dosage
The dosage for each multivitamin varies because the concentration of each vitamin and mineral varies. Some multivitamins are designed to be taken in only one pill a day. In others, you might have to take two or more multivitamins a day.
You should always follow the dosage on the back of the bottle. It is designed to ensure that you consume the specified vitamins and nutrients in the nutritional information listed on the bottle. If you’re concerned about taking more than one pill a day, be sure to read the dosage information and the serving size before choosing a specific multivitamin.
There are gummies available as well. These have slightly different vitamins and minerals in most cases. For instance, most gummies do not contain iron. However, if you have a hard time swallowing pills, gummies can be very helpful. Even if the dosage is five gummies a day, most people find it way easier to take than pills.
FAQ
What is the best multivitamin for women?
We reviewed many different multivitamins for women. Out of all the ones we reviewed, we preferred the Centrum Silver Multivitamin for Women 50 Plus. Obviously, this multivitamin is designed for women who are over fifty years of age. However, for older women, it is absolutely the best multivitamin you can get. It has all the vitamins and nutrients necessary to support your eyes, heart, skin, and more.
Furthermore, this multivitamin is not very expensive in the least. One bottle contains 200 tablets, which is more than enough to last you a long time. You only need to take one tablet a day.
What should a daily multivitamin for women contain?
There are no one-size-fits-all recommendations for vitamins that women should take every day. Every person’s diet is different, which will affect your nutritional gap. Furthermore, whether or not a woman is pregnant has a significant effect on what vitamins they should take. However, there are a few general recommendations we can make.
Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium. It is also intimately linked to mood. However, most people do not get enough of it. Other vitamins that are commonly missing for people’s diets are magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, folate, and vitamin B12. Your multivitamin should preferably have these vitamins and minerals in them.
Do women’s multivitamins work?
It depends on what you’re using them for. Women’s multivitamins do fill the nutritional gaps that you might have in your diet. That is their sole purpose, and they do it very well.
This can prevent some diseases and disorders associated with nutritional gaps. However, these supplements are not a miracle pill. They are not going to cure illnesses or prevent illnesses from occurring.
How do I choose a multivitamin for women?
There are many factors you should consider when choosing a multivitamin. Preferably, the multivitamin should contain the vitamins most lacking in a women’s diet, which includes vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron. If you’re of child-bearing age, it should also contain folate, even if you aren’t planning on getting pregnant any time soon.
You should also choose a multivitamin that is tailored for your specific demographics. If you’re older, get a vitamin designed for older women. If you’re planning on getting pregnant in the next year, choose a multivitamin that can support that as well.
Is it good to take a multivitamin for women every day?
Multivitamins are usually pretty safe, so there is little reason to avoid taking them. However, they may or may not help prevent certain illnesses. The evidence for many of their benefits is mixed.
Still, they can be helpful for those who are below the scientific requirements. If you don’t eat nutrient-rich foods, you may be below the necessary requirements in many cases.
Which brand of multivitamins for women is the best?
There are quite a few good brands on the market, so you have a wide selection to choose from. Our favorite is Centrum. This brand creates a variety of different multivitamins, so you should be able to find one that fits your demographics. All of their supplements are high-quality and decently inexpensive as well.
If you’re unsure of what supplements we get, we recommend choosing the Centrum supplements that matches your demographic.
At what age should a woman start taking a multivitamin?
As soon as you reach puberty. This is for a few different reasons. Firstly, the menstrual cycle can cause a woman to become deficient in certain vitamins, like iron. Taking a multivitamin that contains iron can help correct this problem as well as any other nutritional deficiencies that might develop.
Secondly, folate is essential for the development of fetuses. So essential that it is recommended you take it even if you aren’t planning on getting pregnant. Getting enough folate months before you get pregnant can prevent some brain disorders and may decrease the likelihood of autism (17).
As you get older, you’ll need to switch your multivitamin to one that is designed to support aging. This can help you age better and prevent certain health conditions associated with age.
Do multivitamins for women make you gain weight?
Not in most cases. Multivitamins usually do not have any calories in them. If they do, it is so low that you likely won’t be able to notice. If you’re taking multivitamins as the dosage indicates, you should not gain weight.
In some cases, vitamin intake may be associated with obesity, however. For example, infant formulas with high amounts of fortified vitamins are associated with heavier infants (18). Vitamin B in particular is associated with weight gain, as well as an increase in obesity and diabetes.
What is the best multivitamin for women for belly fat?
There is no magical pill that is going to make you lose belly fat. However, some may help your metabolism function at full-speed, which can help you lose weight. For example, B vitamins and vitamin D are both necessary for your metabolism to function. At the same time, though, these vitamins have also been associated with weight gain.
The evidence is currently mixed on whether they help you gain weight or lose weight. It is likely that is simply depends on who you are. Different people may have different reactions to these vitamins.
Do multivitamins for women boost your immune system?
There are some vitamins and minerals that can improve the functioning of your immune system. However, this is only true if you are currently deficient in these vitamins. If you are eating a complete, healthy diet, you’re probably getting enough of these vitamins already. Taking more is not going to help your immune system function better, but correcting nutritional gaps with a multivitamin might.
The vitamins that are most closely associated with a better functioning immune system are vitamins B6, C, and E. If a multivitamin contains these vitamins and minerals, it may help your immune system function better.
Do multivitamins for women have side effects?
Yes. Multivitamins can have side effects. Usually, these are gastrointestinal effects, such as cramps or diarrhea. Taking the vitamin with food may be able to help. You typically don’t want to take these vitamins on an empty stomach.
If taking a multivitamin causes you to end up taking too much of a particular vitamin, you may experience side effects related to that vitamin as well.
We had a complete discussion about the side effects of multivitamins above, so feel free to scroll up for more information.
Do multivitamins for women contain probiotics?
Not in most cases. Probiotics are not a vitamin or mineral. Multivitamins usually contain only vitamins and minerals, which leaves out probiotics. In most cases, it is best to get your probiotics from elsewhere. You may even be able to get away with drinking or eating foods that are high in probiotics. For example, kefir is a fermented milk product that is high in probiotics.
You are not going to get probiotics from multivitamins, however.
Do I need multivitamins for women?
The answer to this questions depends on who you are and what your lifestyle is like.
If you’re a woman of child-bearing age, it is recommended to take a multivitamin containing folate. Folate is essential for the development of fetuses. Having a deficiency is associated with many serious birth defects. Because of this, it is recommended to take a supplement even if you don’t plan on getting pregnant – just in case.
You may also benefit if you have unusually heavy periods since these can drain your body of important nutrients.
What are the benefits of multivitamins for women?
The benefits of multivitamins are actually somewhat controversial. The evidence is mixed on a lot of the benefits. For example, some studies say that multivitamins can prevent cancer, while others have not found this effect. In some cases, you may even have studies that say the complete opposite of each other (4, 5).
In all likelihood, the benefits of a multivitamin depend on who you are. Some people are going to notice significant benefits, while others aren’t going to notice many benefits at all.
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Recap
Multivitamins for women can help fill certain nutritional gaps that are common in women. However, the exact benefits of multivitamins aren’t completely known, and likely vary from person to person.
For Fitbug’s #1 recommended multivitamin for women, click here.