One of the best and easiest ways to look after your health is by taking a multivitamin. But what is the best multivitamin for women?
Find out why there are different multivitamins for women and men, what to look out for when shopping for one, and 8 of the best multivitamin tablets/supplements for women.
What are women’s multivitamins?
Women’s multivitamins have been designed to nourish the female body and all of its unique micronutrient needs.
Whether that looks like a general multivitamin to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body and mind need to thrive, or one with a specific goal in mind, e.g. trying for a baby, there’s one out there to help every woman.
What are the most important vitamins for women?
But what are the most useful vitamins and minerals for women? Good question! You will find these common ingredients in most women’s multivitamins:
Vitamin D
Also known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is made by our bodies with the help of adequate sun exposure. It works to help keep your bones and teeth healthy, but many people are deficient, especially in the UK due to our lack of sun in the autumn and winter months.
Folic Acid
Women who are trying for a baby or who are already pregnant need folic acid. This B vitamin is used to make red blood cells and is also thought to lower the risk of unborn babies developing spinal defects.
Iron
Iron is very important for women, especially those who still have their period, are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women need healthy iron levels to support normal red blood cell formation and oxygen transport. Most natural sources of iron come from animal products, like red meat.
Calcium
Everyone needs calcium to support bone health, but it is especially essential for women going through / who have been through menopause. This is because aging women have a higher risk of losing bone density and developing conditions like osteoporosis.
Omega 3
Omega 3 supports your heart, vision, and brain function, making it important for everyone – especially expectant mothers.
Vitamin B2
This B vitamin, aka riboflavin, is important for your skin, nervous system and metabolic system (which converts food into energy).
What are the benefits of women's multivitamins?
Women’s multivitamins have the potential to help with a large variety of things, including:
- Support overall health and wellbeing
- Support heart health and circulation
- Maintain normal bones and teeth
- Support iron levels
- Promote better energy levels and help prevent fatigue
- Prep the body for conceiving a baby
- Support pregnant women and their unborn child
- Promote healthy hair, skin and nails
It really does depend on what your individual needs are and which product you take.
What age should a woman start taking vitamins?
In our opinion, it’s never too early to start looking after yourself.
There are multivitamins made for all stages of life, from children’s multivitamins and multivitamins for teenagers, all the way up to multivitamins for women over 50.
This means that you can always make sure your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs for every stage of life.
Is it good to take a multivitamin every day?
Yes, taking a multivitamin every day can be helpful for some people to maintain their everyday health.
While healthy diets should be the main source of your vitamins and minerals, you can think of multivitamins as a fail-safe option to keep you healthy when your diet doesn’t full meet your needs.
Women may choose to take a multivitamin every day, as they are naturally prone to low levels of vitamin D, calcium, and iron.
Periods, trying for a baby, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the menopause can all be supported by certain micronutrients
8 of the best multivitamins for women’s health
We've rounded up 8 of the best multivitamins for women to support energy, immunity and fertility, as well as hair, skin and nails.
1. Best women’s multivitamin gummy
Nature’s Way Alive! Women’s Energy – 60 Gummies
Chewy vitamins are not just for kids anymore, gummy multivitamins for adults are officially on the menu!
These Alive! multivitamin chewable gummies by Nature’s Way are made from a unique dried blend of 26 fruits and vegetables.
A good all-rounder, these vegetarian multivitamins have been designed for women of all ages who want some help with energy, immunity, fertility, and hair & skin.
These nutrient-packed gummies are flavoured with natural orange and berry, with absolutely no gluten, soya, dairy, yeast artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.
What our customers think:
Christinna – My favourite vitamins – 5/5 stars
“It is so easy to take chewable vitamins and they have a lovely taste as well.”
LayneL – They work and they taste nice! – 5/5 stars
“I was feeling very tired and low, and I think these multivitamins have really helped. They are like really nice fruity gummy sweets rather than the usual chalky tablets.”
Nature’s Way Alive! Women’s Energy – 60 Gummies
2. The best ‘general’ multivitamin for women
Holland & Barrett Ultra Woman Daily Multi – 100 Caplets
If you’re looking for a women’s multivitamin that does it all – Ultra Woman could be the one for you.
This high-potency formula contains vitamin D, calcium, iron, copper, selenium, zinc, and other vitamins and minerals women need to stay feeling and looking their best.
What our customers think:
Karen160316 – Great all-rounder! – 5/5 stars
“I’ve been using these for over a year now, great all-round product that gives me what I need.”
Deb666 – I feel that I have found THE multivitamin for me – 5/5 stars
“Although the tablet is on the large side, it is easy to take and I feel that I have found THE multi vitamin for me. I normally take iron on its own but have felt fine just taking this multi vitamin. It is definitely worth trying.”
Holland & Barrett Ultra Woman Daily Multi – 100 Caplets
3. Best multivitamin for women over 50
Vitabiotics Wellwoman 50+ 30 Tablets
As we get older, our nutritional needs change, so it only makes sense that our multivitamin should too!
Specifically designed to safeguard the nutritional needs of women aged 50+, these Well Woman multivitamin tablets could help you feel happy and healthy into your 50s and beyond.
The combination of nutrients can help with:
- The reduction of tiredness and fatigue
- Brain function
- Heart health and circulation
- Eye health
Vitabiotics Wellwoman 50+ 30 Tablets
4. Best effervescent multivitamins for women over 50
Vitaboost Multivitamin 50+ Effervescent – 20 Tablets
Don’t like taking tablets? Try these VitaBoost multivitamin effervescent tablets instead.
Expertly formulated with vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium, zinc and more, this multivitamin has been designed to meet the changing needs of those over 50s.
Simply dissolve these orange & passionfruit flavour tablets into water and enjoy this fizzy way to nourish your body. They’re vegetarian-friendly too.
What our customers think:
Janjan5 – Vitaboost Multivitamins 50 Plus – 5/5 stars
“Having a problem swallowing pills I find these effervescent tablets easy to take and appreciate that I am having my daily top up of vitamins. The taste is not too bad either.”
L Austin – Lovely taste – 5/5 stars
“Great drink to start every morning, wakes me up and sets me up for the day.”
Vitaboost Multivitamin 50+ Effervescent – 20 Tablets
5. Best multivitamin for menopause
Starpowa Menobalance Blackcurrant Flavoured Vitamin Gummies
Starpowa have designed a multivitamin for women.
Each tasty blackcurrant-flavoured gummy is full of ingredients to support your general health, including:
- Vitamins B6, B12, D3, A, E
- Copper, manganese, zinc
- Soya isoflavones, kelp and sage leaf
What our customers say:
Woman On The Edge – Great taste – 5/5 stars
“Easy way to take menopausal supplement, taste is pleasant, similar to fruit pastilles, no after taste, recommend.”
Starpowa Menobalance Blackcurrant Flavoured Vitamin Gummies
6. Best multivitamins for pregnant women
Active Iron Pregnancy Plus – 90 Capsules
A pregnancy multivitamin with a difference, this Active Iron Pregnancy formula contains 20 essential vitamins and minerals + 25mg of Active Iron to support you and your baby all through pregnancy and beyond.
It’s been designed to optimise vitamin and mineral absorption* while being non-constipating and kind on the stomach. You also get a daily dose of sustainably sourced omega 3 and active folic with up to 3x better absorption when compared to standard folic acid supplements.
*2x better absorption that standard iron tablets
What our customers think:
Mrs Dawood – Active iron pregnancy plus – 5/5 stars
“It’s a complete pack for pregnant women providing omega 3, iron and all other vitamins and minerals which are essential for mum and baby. I would like to highly recommend to all women who are pregnant to take this supplement.”
Niki G – Amazing vitamin tablets – 5/5 stars
“Best pregnancy tablets. Don’t make me feel sick and swear they give me more energy. They are a bit pricey but defo worth the splurge.”
Active Iron Pregnancy Plus – 90 Capsules
7. Best vegan multivitamins for women
Holland & Barrett Vegan High Strength Multivitamin – 60 tablets
Although this multivitamin isn’t created specifically for women, it can help vegan women to fill some of the gaps a vegan diet can sometimes leave.
Nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium and iron can be lacking in a vegan diet. That’s why this formula contains them in high doses, along with other vitamins and minerals to support your everyday health.
What our customers think:
Tallasanders – Great vegan multivitamins – 5/5 stars
“I have been taking the vegan high strength multivitamins for a while now they are brilliant my GP advised me to take a multivitamin since I went vegan and i choose These I'm glad I did.”
Health kick Mick – Peace of mine – 5/5 stars
“Happy these are high strength. I’m eating a calorie-controlled diet so wanted to make sure I continued to give my body the right nutrients. They are big but go down quickly with a glass of water and no aftertaste. Definitely recommend.”
Holland & Barrett Vegan High Strength Multivitamin – 60 tablets
8. Best multivitamins for hair, skin and nails
Starpowa Hair, Skin and Nail Vitamin Gummies – 60 Gummies
If you want a multivitamin that pays special attention to the health of your hair, skin and nails, these tasty gummies could be for you.
Starpowa hair, skin and nails gummies contain an array of micronutrients to support those parts of your body, including biotin, zinc, vitamin C and folic acid.
They’re vegan too, with a naturally sweet berry flavour.
Starpowa Hair, Skin and Nail Vitamin Gummies – 60 Gummies
Summary: Find what works best for you
With thousands of products on the market, choosing the ‘best’ supplement can be overwhelming.
The key is to consider your age, carefully assess gaps in your diet, and think about your health and lifestyle goals.
We hope this article helped you identify what you need and provided you with some of the best products for the job.
But most importantly, remember that whatever the potency of a supplement, it shouldn’t replace a healthy diet.
Last updated: 2 April 2021
