The 14 Best Multivitamins For Women (2024 Guide)

The 14 Best Multivitamins For Women: Are you looking for the healthiest and best multivitamin for women? With so many options on the shelves, shopping for vitamins can be overwhelming. In this comprehensive guide, I will help you find the best vitamin for you: I’ll share what to look for in a vitamin, the pros and cons of each of the best vitamins for women, and more!

Shopping for women’s multivitamins can be confusing. Which are the most important ingredients to look for? Are certain forms of vitamins really better than others? Which brands are the best? Most importantly, do you even need to take a multivitamin?

Researching answers to these questions, sorting through the myriad of brands, and seeing which options have the criteria you need can be time-consuming and overwhelming.

That’s where my guide comes in. Working with a dietitian and my team, I researched the top multivitamins for women so you don’t have to! My team and I scoured the market high and low to determine which brands offer the most high-quality, comprehensive, and effective women’s multivitamins for every need and situation.

Below is the complete list of the best multivitamins for women, what to look for when shopping for vitamins, and common questions and answers about taking women’s multivitamins. Let’s dive in!

At A Glance: Best Multivitamins For Women

A Disclaimer & How I Chose The Best Women’s Multivitamin

As a board-certified health coach and certified nutritionist, I support supplements that are rooted in science and are evidence-based. The FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market, so I prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent third-party certifiers (USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com).

Though I may receive a commission (at no extra expense to you) if you purchase through some of the affiliate links provided, I only recommend products I’ve researched, evaluated, consulted experts on, and would feel comfortable taking or have taken myself.

As always, I only share products that are the highest quality and that can help you and your family the most. By purchasing any of these products from the links below, you help keep this blog running, so thanks for your support!

Large doses of vitamins can be harmful; you may benefit from individual vitamin supplements instead of a multivitamin. Always speak with a healthcare professional or physician about your supplementation needs before adding a vitamin or similar supplement to your diet.

The information shared in this post is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard or delay in seeking professional medical advice because of something you read here and always consult with your doctor to determine the proper administration and recommended dosage of vitamins.

All product prices are accurate at the time of this publication but are subject to change.

Our Top 14 Best Women’s Multivitamins

What Are Multivitamins? 

Multivitamins are supplements that contain an array of vitamins, minerals, and occasionally other ingredients (source). They are also referred to as “multis” or even just “vitamins.” Multivitamins come in many different forms: tablets, liquids, gummies, chews, and even injectables.

Each of the vitamins in a multivitamin has a specific function or role in the body. For more information on which vitamins benefit the body in which way, see “What Are Common Vitamins in Women’s Multivitamins?” below.

Common additives to multivitamins are essential fatty acids (Omega-3s), probiotics or prebiotics, herbs, and more. Different brands of multivitamins formulate their vitamins with varying levels of vitamins and minerals, provide different forms of vitamins, or make their vitamins from different sources, such as raw fruits and vegetables, lab-grown media, fermented foods, and synthetically produced ingredients.

The main role of multivitamins, or any supplementation, is to fill in any nutrition gaps in an otherwise healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and fish, dairy, healthy fats, and whole grains (source).

Anyone who doesn’t consume such a diet, doesn’t get the recommended dietary allowances of the individual vitamins and minerals, or has higher needs for certain nutrients, such as pregnant or lactating women, is at a higher risk for nutrient deficiency and should consider taking a multivitamin (source).

What Are The Benefits Of Multivitamins? 

The most significant benefit of multivitamin supplementation is that it can help you get the nutrients that you may not be getting from your diet alone (source 1, source 2).

Recent studies have shown that multivitamins can help prevent cognitive decline among older adults (source), improve immune system function (source), support bone health (source 1, source 2), prevent iron deficiency anemia (source), and more.

How To Know If You Need A Multivitamin  

Multivitamins can be beneficial for anyone who cannot otherwise consume a balanced and healthy diet or who has increased nutrient demands, such as the following (source):

• Pregnant Women: Fetuses need certain vitamins, such as folic acid, to develop properly and pregnancy increases nutrient demands for vitamins and minerals, such as iron, making supplementation during pregnancy very important (source).
• Nursing Women: Though recent research has shown that not all nursing mothers need a multivitamin, many will want to talk with their doctor about continuing to take one, as there continues to be increased nutrient demand on a mother’s body during this time (source).
• Postmenopausal Women: Supplementation with certain vitamins can be very beneficial in maintaining bone health in postmenopausal women, especially those who have confirmed malabsorption issues (source).
• Confirmed Nutrient Deficiency: Whenever diet alone can not meet an individual’s recommended dietary allowances for vitamins and minerals, a multivitamin is always a good idea (source).
• On a Limited Diet: Whenever following a particular diet that limits consumption of a type of food, such as a vegan or vegetarian diet, following a low-calorie diet, or having a low appetite, it may be a good idea to discuss multivitamin or individual vitamin supplementation with your doctor, as plant-based diets and low-calorie diets can be low in vitamin B12, vitamin D3, iron, and zinc (source).
• Diagnosed Digestive Problems: Health conditions such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, alcoholism, and more can interfere with how the body digests food, limiting proper nutrient absorption (source).

If any of these criteria apply to you, consider asking your doctor about multivitamin or individual vitamin supplementation.

Who Should And Should Not Take Multivitamins? 

Smart and healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and limiting stress are the best ways to optimize your overall health and should be honestly evaluated before considering multivitamin supplementation (source).

If you are doing all of these things, but meet any of the criteria in the section above – such as being vegan, pregnant or nursing, postmenopausal, and more – you will likely want to discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider.

Suppose you do not meet any of these criteria, but still want extra assurance that you are meeting all of your vitamin and mineral requirements. In that case, some experts argue that the risks of regularly taking a multivitamin are low (source). The option to take a multivitamin or not is a personal one and one that your physician should be able to help you with as well.

What Are Common Vitamins In Women’s Multivitamins?

Several key nutrients are particularly important for women’s health. When looking for a multivitamin these 10 key nutrients are good to keep an eye out for.

Vitamin D

Improves bone health, helps to boost the immune system, fights inflammation, improves mood, and helps with absorption of calcium (source). Vitamin D can be consumed or synthesized by our bodies when we’re exposed to sunlight; since most people don’t live in an area that gets enough sunlight to create our daily Vitamin D requirement, eating vitamin D-rich foods or supplementing with Vitamin D is important (source). Good food sources of vitamin D are fatty fish, egg yolks, dairy, mushrooms, and fortified cereals (source).

Magnesium

Helps reduce stress, improves sleep, balances blood sugar and blood pressure, and regulates muscle and nerve function (source). Magnesium can also aid in digestion (source) There are over 10 different forms of magnesium, and everyone reacts to each form differently. To determine the best form for you, speak with your doctor or a dietitian. To add more magnesium to your diet, consider pumpkin seeds, leafy greens, beans, soy milk or edamame, dairy products, avocados, and bananas (source).

Calcium

Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men are, making it an important mineral for people who were born female (source). The best way to ensure adequate calcium consumption is through the diet, so many of the supplements on this list are lower in calcium. Instead, focus on getting the bulk of your calcium needs satisfied through your diet: leafy greens, almonds, dairy, soybeans, beans, and more are all great sources of calcium (source).

Iron

Iron is an essential nutrient for women aged 12-49, as these women are most likely to have an iron deficiency from losing blood during menstruation (source). There are many health benefits to iron: it helps create red blood cells which are crucial for oxygen transport within the body, supports hormone production, and more (source). Great food sources of iron include red meat, leafy green vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, and tofu (source).

Folate

Folate is one of the most important nutrients for pregnant women, as it helps to prevent major birth defects (source). Pregnant women need at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily (source), though researchers have found a connection between folate and cognitive function and heart health for women of all ages (source). Increase your folate consumption by eating dark leafy greens, beans, sunflower seeds, beans and legumes, eggs, and fortified foods (source).

Vitamin B12

This vitamin is an essential vitamin that your body needs but cannot create on its own. Vitamin B12 is used for DNA synthesis, red blood cell creation, and it also supports nerve function, making it very important to overall health and vitality (source). Vitamin B12 is most commonly found in animal or animal-derived food sources or fortified foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, dairy, shellfish, fortified cereals, and nutritional yeast (source).

People who eat a vegan or plant-based diet can be prone to vitamin B12 deficiencies (source), as so many of the best vitamin B12 sources are animal-based. If you follow such a diet, speak with your healthcare provider to determine if supplementation is necessary. Pregnant and nursing women also have elevated vitamin B12 needs (source).

Biotin

This B vitamin is most widely known for its ability to improve hair and nail health, biotin also helps metabolize food into energy, supports the nervous system, and is important for eye health (source, source). Common food sources of biotin are beef liver, eggs, salmon, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, almonds, broccoli, and dairy products (source).

Vitamin E

This vitamin supports eye health and vision, immune system function, skin health, brain function, and more (source). Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body, playing a part in preventing and combatting oxidative stress, cancer, cataracts, and more (source). Sunflower seeds, peanut butter, red bell pepper, pumpkin, wheat germ oil, and leafy greens are all great sources of vitamin E (source).

Vitamin K

Usually a lesser-known nutrient, vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and bone development (source). There are two main types of vitamin K, one of which can be made by the body and the other which needs to be ingested or consumed (source). Great ways to increase your vitamin K consumption is by reaching for foods such as broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens, soybeans, brussels sprouts, bean sprouts, rhubarb, and avocado (source).

Vitamin A

This vitamin is an essential nutrient for immune system function, reproduction processes, healthy growth, and development (source). Dietary sources rich in vitamin A are fatty fish, organ meats, leafy green vegetables, apricots, mangos, dairy products, eggs, and fortified cereals (source).

Vitamin C

When it comes to boosting the body’s immune system and healing process and forming body tissues such as blood vessels, cartilage, and muscle, vitamin C is a star player (source). The foods highest in vitamin C are citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and potatoes (source).

Vitamin B6

Also known as pyridoxine, vitamin B6 is key in helping the body utilize and store energy from food and in forming hemoglobin the protein in red blood cells delivers oxygen to bodily tissues (source, source). To ensure you are getting adequate vitamin B6 from your diet, eat poultry, chickpeas, bananas, tuna, salmon, potatoes, cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and bulgur (source).

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These healthy and essential fatty acids are likely to support heart and brain health, improve mood, reduce bodily inflammation, and more (source). Good sources of omega-3s are fatty fish, hemp seeds, chia seeds, soybean oil, and canola oil (source). If you don’t have many of these foods in your diet, it could be a good idea to discuss supplementation with your doctor.

Some of the multivitamins listed in this guide contain omega-3s, but not all. If the one you choose does not have them, consider taking an omega-3 single supplement, such as Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega.

Additional Vitamins & Minerals

Multivitamins also often contain additional vitamins and minerals in varying amounts: thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, iodine, manganese, copper, selenium, and zinc.

What Should You Look For When Choosing A Multivitamin? 

Unfortunately, multivitamins are not evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so there are a few important factors to look for when shopping for vitamins. They are:

• Third-Party Testing: This means that an independent organization, such as NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab.com, has tested and reviewed the vitamins for purity, safety, quality, product labeling accuracy, and performance (source).
• Non-GMO: Genetically modified ingredients, or GMOs, are considered to be best to avoid, if not harmful, for good health (source). GMOs can be resistant to certain antibiotics, potentially causing antibiotic resistance in the body if consumed (source).
• Bioavailable Forms of Vitamins: Bioavailability is how easily the body can absorb and use a nutrient (source). When it comes to women’s multivitamins, look for the following bioavailable forms: vitamin B12 (goal form: Methylcobalamin), folate (goal form: L-methylfolate), and vitamin D3 (goal form: cholecalciferol; source).

Ingredients To Avoid

When it comes to vitamins, there are a handful of less-than-ideal ingredients. Here is what to watch out for:

• Artificial Ingredients: The jury is out on whether or not artificial ingredients are harmful to the body or not (source). However, it’s never a bad idea to avoid any artificial ingredients such as flavors, sweeteners, or colors by choosing a vitamin with natural ingredients instead. Common artificial sweeteners are aspartame, sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol. Choose natural sweeteners such as cane sugar, glucose syrup, or monkfruit instead.
• Carrageenan: Though this derivative of seaweed is approved for consumption and use by the FDA, many scientists believe that it is best to avoid it. They believe that carrageenan can create inflammation in the digestive system and may even be connected to colon cancer (source).
• Food Dyes: Studies show that all of the US-approved food dyes (FD&C Red #40 Lake, FD&C Blue #2 Lake, FD&C Yellow #6 Lake) pose health concerns in some form. Many of the dyes have carcinogenic properties and others are known to create hypersensitivity reactions (source).

FAQs 

Final Thoughts 

I hope that this list of the best vitamins for women helped you find a great vitamin that meets all of your needs. Whether you are looking for a supplement with probiotics or omega-3s or a vegan-friendly supplement that doesn’t come in pill form, there is sure to be a high-quality option for you.

All of the vitamins on this list provide key essential nutrients that most women need, so taking one of these high-quality vitamins can be beneficial for your health. Always be sure to consult your doctor before starting any supplement program, as they will be able to guide you to the best option for you.