Vitamins are an essential part of health. Most people get the nutrients they need from the food they eat, but sometimes that's just not enough. A daily multivitamin has taken the mystery out of what vitamins and minerals we need on a regular basis. While there is a basic building block of nutrients for everyone, men, women, children and the elderly need different doses of different nutrients. Depending on which vitamins you are looking to supplement your diet with, there are different brands of multivitamins for you to choose from.
Men
According to the Consumer Search website, there is little difference between what men and women need in a multivitamin, with some exceptions. Men do not need as much iron as women do. GNC Mega Men multivitamin was rated the best men's multivitamin by Consumer Search. It has 100 percent or more of most of the recommended nutrients and contains 22 vitamins and minerals along with 27 other enhancements, including a fruit and vegetable blend. The serving size is 2 caplets.
Women
Unlike men, women need extra iron since iron is lost during menstruation. Women also need more folic acid, vitamin D and calcium in their diet for healthy bones and child bearing. Women's One-A-Day was rated the best by Consumer Search for accurately stating the amount of nutrients present in the pills. It also contains the least amount of lead among multivitamins for women, as tested by the FDA. One-A-Day Women's serving size is one tablet and has 21 vitamins and minerals, with many reaching the 100 percent daily value recommendation.
Children
Though the best source of nutrients comes from a balanced diet, many children do not get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone. Children should never be given adult multivitamins since their needs are different. Flintstones Gummies was reviewed as the best multivitamin for children. The children's multivitamin tested the lowest for levels of lead and did not exceed the safe upper limit for vitamin A. The serving size for Flintstones Gummies is one or two gummies, depending on the age of the child. It contains 13 vitamins and minerals.
Seniors
As stated by the National Institutes of Health on the Consumer Search website, "As we age, we lose the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food." There is little risk for iron deficiency for men and women over age 50, so most multivitamins for this age group do not contain iron. Kirkland Signature Mature Multi Adult 50+ was reviewed as the best by the Consumer Search website. This multivitamin for seniors has 25 vitamins and minerals in one tablet. It also contains 6 other ingredients promoted for health, but they do not have recommended daily values.
Considerations
Always consult your doctor before beginning any type of supplement. Never take more than the recommended dose, unless instructed by your doctor. The FDA is not required to test supplements for placement on drug store shelves, but an independent company, ConsumerLab.com, runs its own tests. According to the Consumer Search website, Consumer Reports warns about buying multivitamins without research as some tested vitamins either did not have enough or had too much of at least one nutrient.
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