Best Multivitamins for Women: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

It’s estimated that roughly 2 billion people around the globe are at risk of vitamin deficiencies.  Essential for normal growth and overall health, vitamins and minerals are best sourced through a balanced diet. However, sometimes poor eating habits, older age, and certain medical conditions and diseases make this difficult. Multivitamins can help fill this nutrient gap and provide the essential minerals and vitamins to those who take them.

In this article, we’ll share which daily multivitamins are best suited for women and who should consider taking them. We’ll also discuss the benefits they offer to women of all ages, and things to consider when choosing the best one.

Best Multivitamins for Women

1. Best Overall: Rainbow Light Women’s One

Packed with 23 essential vitamins and minerals key to women’s health, Rainbow Light Women’s One is a well-rounded multivitamin pill. It’s great for anyone looking to increase their consumption of vitamins D, B2, B5, folate, calcium, iron, or zinc.

Good for long-term vitality, zinc provides a boost of immune support for good health. Vitamin C, D, and calcium all work to provide nutritional support for optimum bone health. Furthermore, the B vitamins increase energy production while Choline works to protect nerve cells. Women’s One also features digestive enzymes to help with breaking down foods and overall digestion.

Rainbow Light is also great for anyone wanting a whole food product because it contains organic superfoods and is non-GMO. Available to shop online, Rainbow Light products can be purchased one time or set up for auto-delivery.

2. Best for Women Under 50: Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women

Vitamin Code Women is specifically made for those in their reproductive years, providing key nutrients for premium health and well-being. Designed for active, young adult women, the multivitamin is made with raw whole foods and found in specialty health food stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts.

The multivitamin pill features a total of 23 powdered fruits and vegetables, offering powerful antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients. Since it has no synthetic fillers, binders, sweeteners, colors, additives, or artificial flavors, it’s ideal for someone who wants a truly wholesome product.

Moreover, the vegetarian capsules are keto-friendly; dairy-, gluten- and soy-free; and non-GMO, perfect for anyone sensitive to allergens or certain ingredients.

3. Best Gummy Vitamins: One a Day Women’s Vitacraves

For a multivitamin that’s easy to take and doesn’t skimp on quality, choose the One a Day Women’s Vitacraves. Specifically addressing the needs of women, the complete gummy vitamin does it all, supporting from the inside out. One a Day products are also widely available at common retailers like Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and Amazon, making them easy to shop.

Formulated with Vitamin A, C, D, E, and zinc, the multivitamin supports bone and eye health and keeps the immune system protected. It also works to provide the key vitamins and minerals for optimum skin health. Lastly, vitamins B6 and B12, along with folic acid offer the needed nutrients to support heart health.

While the gummy is flavorful and tasty, it’s surprisingly made without high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and flavors, and synthetic colors. It’s also free of dairy, egg, soy, and fish allergens so it’s safe for even those with common allergies. And at a lower price point than most multivitamins, Vitacraves is great for someone on a budget.

4. Best Vegan Multivitamin: Ritual Essentials for Women

Anyone who’s hyper-aware of what they’re putting into their body will love Ritual Essentials for Women. The vegan multivitamin not only features key nutrients essential for good health, but it also breaks down where each ingredient is from and why it was chosen. The result is an effective product for women aged 18 to 49, made specifically to fill nutrient gaps.

While Ritual Essentials for Women has just nine nutrients, it’s thoughtfully designed with a “less is more” belief. Vitamin C and Calcium are specifically left out of the mix because most adults already get enough and adding more isn’t necessary. Instead, other nutrients, like vitamin K2 and B12, are added which further support vitamin C and calcium to ensure we’re getting the full benefits of the two.

Additionally, Ritual Essentials for Women features a powerful mix of Omega-3 DHA from microalgae and the biologically active form of B12 to support brain health. Vitamin D, magnesium, and boron help maintain bone health, while vitamin E provides potent antioxidant support.

The delayed-release capsule is designed to dissolve in the small intestine, which is one of the best places to absorb nutrients. Furthermore, a unique design combines oily and dry ingredients into one capsule. This means you can take fewer pills daily and still get the nutrients you need. Lastly, a mint tab is included in every bottle to keep things fresh.

Those interested can shop Ritual Essentials online for monthly service with free shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and easy cancellation.

5. Best Value: Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin

Made with 23 key nutrients, Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin is a great choice for someone who wants a product that delivers an array of vitamins and minerals, especially iron. The multivitamin provides 100 percent daily value of iron, an essential mineral that women often don’t get enough of.

The Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin is also an excellent source of folic acid, a highly important B vitamin for women of childbearing age, because it supports healthy pregnancies. Additionally, the pill is formulated with vitamin D and calcium which support strong bones, teeth, muscle, and immune function.

Nature Made products are verified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), which assures customers the ingredients and amounts listed are correct and free of contaminants. Nationwide retailers and drug stores like Walmart and Walgreens carry Nature Made products, along with online retailers like Amazon.

Who Should Consider Taking a Multivitamin

Anyone who eats a healthy diet likely won’t benefit from a multivitamin. However, those with a nutrient deficiency should definitely consider taking a multivitamin. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the below groups are at a higher risk for a nutrient deficiency and should consider adding a multivitamin to their daily routine:

Anyone Over 50

People over the age of 50 may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food alone. For this reason, it’s recommended that those over 50 increase their intake of vitamin B12, whether through fortified, vitamin-rich foods or vitamin supplements.

As people age even more, they may have trouble chewing or swallowing food, which can also lead to poor food intake and an increased risk of nutrient deficiencies.

Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, it’s important for women to get enough folate, a B vitamin. Proper levels of folate help lower the risk of certain birth defects in babies like spina bifida or anencephaly. In order for the folate to be effective, women should start taking it during the first couple of weeks of conception.

However, since many pregnancies are unplanned, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women of childbearing age ensure they get enough folic acid daily, whether planning to get pregnant or not. Folic acid, along with other key nutrients for pregnancy, can be found in prenatal multivitamins.

Those With Malabsorption Syndrome

Certain medical conditions can affect a person’s digestion, increasing the risk of poor absorption of nutrients. For example, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and cystic fibrosis all cause defects in the digestion and absorption process. Any surgery, like a gastric bypass for example, that removes parts of the digestive organs can have an adverse effect on absorption as well.

Additionally, any illnesses that cause diarrhea or vomiting also can potentially prevent nutrients from being absorbed.

Anyone With a Limited or Poor Diet

A well-balanced, healthy diet is the best way to get the proper amount of nutrients and vitamins. Anyone who has poor eating habits, or is unable to eat certain foods due to allergies or preference, will likely suffer from a nutritional gap. These people should consider adding a multivitamin supplement to their diet to make up for lost vitamins and minerals.

How to Choose a Multivitamin

According to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, there are a couple of key things to consider when looking for a multivitamin that’s right for you:

• Check the Daily Value (DV): Multivitamins will display the Daily Value, which is the level of nutrients and vitamins in the product in relation to a diet of 2,000 calories. Try to find one with as close to 100 percent of the DV for the listed vitamins. This will help you reach the daily intake of nutrients you’re missing from your diet.
• Look for your specific needs: There are many multivitamins made for an array of different needs, from body types to hormonal functions. For women, supplements typically include things like biotin, which helps skin hair and nails, and calcium, since women can begin losing bone density in their twenties.
• Consider whole-food vitamins: Organic and whole food-based multivitamins are free of chemicals and additives, which the body has a harder time processing. And since whole food vitamins are made from real fruits and vegetables, the body can more easily absorb the nutrients when compared to synthetic supplements.
• Look for an industry seal: Various industry seals can let you know whether the vitamins have been tested for contamination and will properly dissolve in the body. Example seals to be on the lookout for include U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP), NSF International, ConsumerLab.com, and UL.

FAQs

What vitamins should I take at night?

Typically it’s best to take multivitamins and B vitamins in the morning as they can stimulate brain function and metabolism. Certain minerals like magnesium though are more conducive to being taken at night because it activates the parasympathetic system, which relaxes the brain and body.

More important than time of day for determining when to take vitamins, is your eating schedule. Fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A, D, E, and K, should be taken right after meals because they are best absorbed after eating. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, like vitamin B12, C, folic acid, and other B vitamins, are best absorbed on an empty stomach and should be taken first thing in the morning.

What vitamin helps the eyes?

Vitamin A and C can both provide nutrients to slow cataracts and help with macular degeneration. Likewise, vitamin E also works as an antioxidant against the two as well. You can find these essential vitamins in various foods like carrots, oranges, kiwis, strawberries, broccoli, peppers, and dried apricots. Nuts, including almonds, peanuts, and pine nuts, are also a great source of these necessary vitamins.

Can I take zinc and vitamin C together?

Zinc and vitamin C both support immune health. Zinc specifically helps heal wounds and metabolic functions, while vitamin C aids in the formation of collagen and is a powerful antioxidant. Since the two are in support of each other, it is safe to take them together.

Oftentimes, the two are used to fight off the first signs of the common cold. A study by Bayer Consumer Care Ltd suggests that when pairing zinc and vitamin C together, relief of symptoms is quick and safe, and may present a successful way to fight off the common cold.

Does vitamin D affect sleep?

It has been suggested by various studies that a deficiency of vitamin D is associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders. Regardless, getting enough vitamin D is essential to bone, teeth, and muscle health and it’s an important vitamin for sleep and overall well-being.

In addition to supplements, there are a couple of natural sources from where we can get vitamin D from. Dietary sources include salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and other fatty fishes. Fortified dairy, like cow’s milk, and dairy alternatives are also a great source.

The strongest source of the vitamin, however, is through sun exposure on uncovered skin. Some experts recommend between five and 30 minutes of sun exposure daily for sufficient vitamin D synthesis. It’s important to note that many factors like season, cloud cover, skin melanin content, and sunscreen can affect this.

How do I choose a good multivitamin?

A good multivitamin is one that’s best for you and your specific needs. Depending on what nutrients you may be lacking in, you’ll want to find a multivitamin with a daily value as close to 100 percent as possible for those specific vitamins and minerals. And a whole-food multivitamin will be easier for your body to absorb and process.

Additionally, look for one that’s made for your needs because these will include essential nutrients specific to you. Multivitamins and dietary supplements are offered in a variety of formulas for men, women, seniors, pregnant women, athletes, and hormone imbalances.

Conclusion

Multivitamins and dietary supplements can’t replace a well-balanced diet but they can help fill nutritional gaps. Common in people with allergies, certain medical conditions, or those over 50, nutritional gaps can lead to nutrient deficiencies and poor health. To combat this, a multivitamin specific to your needs is a great solution.

To reap the full benefits, look for a multivitamin made with whole foods so your body is more easily able to absorb the nutrients. This will ensure you’re getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals to support overall good health.