About half of American women take multivitamins every day, according to a May 2011 UPI article,"(ref. 1), and Consumer Search reports that Americans spend billions of dollars yearly on multivitamins. (ref. 2) Dr. Benjamin Caballero, nutrition professor at Johns Hopkins University, believes healthy individuals do not need daily multivitamins. He explains that vitamins and minerals from food are preferable, because scientific research has not proven that multivitamins provide nutrients comparable to fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Women at certain life stages, including pregnancy or menopause, may benefit from multivitamins suggested by their health practitioners. (ref. 3)
Women Under 50
Women's Health magazine rates One-A-Day Women's as the best multivitamin for women, because its formulation adheres more closely than other multivitamins to the Dietary Reference Intake, the most recent set of dietary recommendations, as of 2011. (ref. 4) Because iron is depleted during menstruation, some health practitioners recommend a multivitamin with extra iron for premenopausal women. One-A-Day Women's provides 18 mg of iron, 400 mcg of folic acid and 1,000 IU of vitamin D, a little higher than the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommendation, but below the safe upper limit of 4,000 IU daily. Consumer Lab approved this multivitamin, and it is one of the few tested multivitamins for which the amounts of nutrients accurately correspond with the nutrients listed on the label. (ref. 2)
CVS Pharmacy Daily Multiple for Women was successful in ConsumerLab.com's independent testing. The CVS Daily Multiple for Women contains fish ingredients and gelatin, so it is not appropriate for vegetarians. CVS Pharmacy Daily Multiple for Women also contains calcium, iron and zinc. (ref. 2)
Women Over 50 and Seniors
Centrum Silver Ultra Women's was tested by Consumer Reports and Consumer Lab, and it passed easily. Women older than 50 need additional B-12 in a multivitamin, and this multivitamin contains the recommended 25 mcg. It also provides 800 IU of vitamin D, 500 mg of calcium and no iron. Centrum Silver Ultra Women's vitamins are not vegan or vegetarian; they contain gelatin, which comes from animal protein products. (ref. 2)
Name-brand multivitamins are more expensive, although not necessarily better than store brands from Costco, Walgreen, Rite-Aid or Wal-Mart. Kirkland Signature Mature Adults 50+ Multi is a senior multivitamin that passes tests at both ConsumerReports.org and ConsumerLab.com. (ref. 2) Women and men over 50 have unique needs when it comes to their multivitamins. As you age, your body has difficulty absorbing sufficient vitamin B-12 from food. ConsumerLab.com approves this multivitamin for seniors, and it is on Consumer Reports' "Smart Pick" list. (ref. 2)
One-A-Day Women's 50+ Advantage for seniors is one of a few multivitamins that satisfy suggested daily values of vitamin D. The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends 800 IU of vitamin D for women over 70 years old, and One-A-Day Women's 50+ Advantage multivitamins contain 1,000 IU of vitamin D (ref. 5) Women's 50+ Advantage vitamins also contain 500 mg of calcium. (ref. 2)
Prenatal, Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy Plus Prenatal Multivitamins provide vitamins and minerals for women of child-bearing age and for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The National Institutes of Health recommends 600 mcg of folic acid and 27 mg of iron for pregnant women, levels that are provided by Pregnancy Plus Prenatal Multivitamins. This multivitamin's vitamin A content is in beta-carotene form, which is recommended for pregnant women. Ask your doctor if you need additional calcium, and consult with her before taking any supplements.
GNC Women's Prenatal Formula with Iron is recommended because it contains 1,000 mcg of folic acid, 600 mg of calcium and 18 mg of iron. It also has 4,500 IU of vitamin A, all of it in the beta-carotene form, which is strongly suggested for pregnant women.
Store brands can be as potent as more expensive name brands. ConsumerLab.com approved Rite Aid Prenatal Tablets with Folic Acid for pregnant women. This prenatal vitamin contains 800 mcg of folic acid and 27 mg of iron, but only 200 mg of calcium. You may need additional calcium, and you should consult with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Vegetarian and Organic
Vegetarians and vegan women have few options for multivitamins, because most vitamins, or their capsules, contain fish products and gelatin, an animal-derived product. Vegetable-based multivitamins tested and approved by ConsumerLab.com include Pure Encapsulations Multi T/D Vegetable Capsules, which do not contain any gelatin or fish products. Vegetarian and vegan vitamins tend to be costlier than other multivitamins, and Pure Encapsulations Multi is no exception. This multivitamin contains 800 IU of vitamin D and 800 mcg of folic acid, but it doesn't contain calcium or iron, both essential nutrients for women under 50, so additional supplements may be recommended by your health practitioner.
Rated by Better Nutrition magazine as one of the best supplements of 2010, New Chapter Organics for women contain 100 percent organic ingredients. These multivitamins are formulated especially for women and are made from whole foods, probiotics and natural phytonutrients. (ref. 6)
References
- Upi.com; Health News: 1 Percent of Women Meticulous on Health; May 2011
- Journal of Nutrition; Dietary Supplement Use in the United States, 2003--2006; Regan L. Bailey; February 2011
- Mayoclinic.com; Dietary Supplements: Nutrition in a Pill?; Mayo Clinic Staff; June 2010
- Office on Women's Health; Folic Acid; May 2010
- Harvard School of Public Health: Vitamin D and Health
- Better Nutrition; The Best of Supplements; 2010
Member Comments