Looking for the best multivitamin for women over 40? You’re in the right place! Check out our ultimate guide to choosing a multivitamin.
The Top 5 Best Multivitamin Brands for Women over 40!
In this blog, I review my top brand choices for the best multivitamin for women over 40. In my functional medicine practice, I work with women daily on their nutrient needs throughout their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. As women reach their 40s, they have unique nutrient needs because of the hormone fluctuations they may experience.
The following multivitamins bridge nutritional gaps, offering critical nutrients that support hormone balance. Know that I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) through links on this page. Still, my reviews are impartial and based on years of working with women to individualize their nutrient and health needs during their 40s and beyond.
Read on to learn more about my most recommended multivitamins for women over 40. We’ll detail why they are the best choices, what you can expect to pay, and how they stand out compared to others.
Introduction to Women’s Health and Multivitamins
As women enter their 40s and beyond, their nutritional needs change. Factors like perimenopause and menopause often lead to a higher need for vital nutrients to support hormone changes. Supplements designed for women’s health are helpful here, as we often lack enough through our diets due to choices and nutrient-deficient soil.
Importance of multivitamins for Women Over 40
Multivitamins can be very important for women over 40 for many reasons, not only hormone support. Nutrient absorption lessens as we age, affecting important vitamins, like vitamin B12 and D. This can also be the case for minerals like zinc. Calcium and magnesium are needed in higher amounts as we get closer to mid-life due to the need for bone health support.
Tailored women’s health supplements ensure you get enough vitamin d, vitamin b12, zinc, calcium and magnesium. They help support bone strength, energy, and overall health. Many of the following multivitamin brands also contain herbs that help boost hormone balance.
Women entering their 40s also face significant physiological changes. Issues range from decreased nutrient absorption to metabolic shifts and lower bone density.
Metabolic Shifts, Nutrient Absorption, and Bone Density Reduction
Metabolism changes in women over 40 can heighten the risk of several health issues. These include diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Additionally, there’s a decrease in bone density, making osteoporosis more likely.
Let’s look at some key nutrients and why we need them over 40:
| Key Supplement | Benefits | Recommended Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | Reduces risks of diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and multiple sclerosis; helps balance hormones | dose to the goal of 40-80 ng/ml on blood tests; generally, 2000 IU can increase your levels by 20 ng/ml |
| Vitamin B12 | Maintains blood, energy, and brain functions | dose to blood levels 500-1300 pg/ml; typically starting with a multivitamin of 250-500 ug is best |
| Calcium | Maintains bone health | Varies, in general, over 40 we need 500-1000 mg per day in divided doses of no more than 500 mg at one time |
| Magnesium | Reduces risks of increased blood pressure and heart disease, helps balance hormones | Needs can vary from 200 mg- 800 mg or more per day; most multivitamins will have lower levels than this |
| Potassium | Reduces risk of stroke, helps control blood pressure | it’s best to have your levels checked and be sure you are in the normal range |
Best Multivitamin For Women Over 40
For women over 40, choosing an optimal women’s wellness supplement is important. With many products designed to meet the specific needs of women over 40 the choice can be overwhelming.
Thorne Women’s Multi 55+
- Designed with nutrients the body can easily absorb and formulated for individuals at low risk for iron deficiency, including men and post-menopausal women*
- Includes optimal amounts of two key minerals – calcium and magnesium – in highly absorbable chelated form
- Vitamin A promotes eye health, healthy skin, and immune function*
- Vitamin D promotes strong bones and healthy immune function*
- Zinc bisglycinate, a highly absorbable form of zinc, benefits immune function and skin health*
I love the Thorne Women’s Multi 55+. Even though it says 55+, it has all of the nutrients we mentioned at great levels, so it’s perfect for women 40+. The folate is in high doses, which is great for women with a genetic mutation called MTHFR deficiency. It also contains extra vitamin C to help with immunity and selenium to support the thyroid gland.
The dose is six tablets, though, and I recommend taking 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. it’s best to take this and all multivitamins with food. The price for this multivitamin on Amazon is $45, with a 4.3-star rating.
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Multivitamin
- Multivitamin for Women & Men: Once-daily capsules provides vitamins A, B, C, D and E in highly bioavailable forms; CoQ10, L-5-MTHF, and ALA for antioxidant support*
- Cognitive Support Multivitamin: O.N.E. Multivitamin provides choline, inositol, lycopene, vitamin D, lutein, and zeaxanthin for overall wellness*
- Natural Color Variation: O.N.E. Multivitamin has a distinct odor/taste; moisture can create a spotted appearance that is normal and safe to use*
- Pure Encapsulations O.N.E. Vitamins: These multivitamins for men and women support healthy cognitive function, cellular health, and eye health*
- Pure Difference: What we leave out matters, too; Pure Encapsulations products are free from common allergens, artificial or unnecessary ingredients, and GMOs
Alternatively, if you prefer one capsule per day, I love the O.N.E. multivitamin by Pure Encapsulations. Though not specific to women over 40, it has all of the nutrients we need to support our hormones, metabolism, and nutrient absorption. This nutrient-packed multivitamin has thyroid supportive doses of selenium and iodine, as well as chromium and alpha lipoic acid to help boost your metabolism. The coq10 (as well as other key ingredients) can help heart, brain, and mitochondrial health.
O.N.E. multivitamin price listed on Amazon is $54 for a 2 month supply and the rating is 4.5.
Women’s Wellness Essential Prime by Metagenics
- Women's Health: Support your body during menopause and beyond with this once-daily packet; includes a patented blend of essential vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and omega-3
- Vitamins & Minerals for Women: PhytoMulti provides phytonutrients and vitamin K, magnesium, biotin, and more to support healthy aging*
- Bone Density Support*: Get bone health support with Bone Builder with Magnesium and Ostera, which helps with bone remodeling*
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Features Vitamin K and OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 500 from cold-water fish, rich in omega-3 for heart and overall health support*
- Designed by Nature, Trusted by Doctors: At Metagenics, we connect people with products that help them live healthier, happier lives
An even more complete option is Womens Wellness Essential Prime by Metagenics. Though pricey, it is not only a complete vitamin and mineral option but also offers omega-3 fatty acids, which help balance mood and hormones and reduce inflammation. This blend also offers a robust amount of phytonutrients, which help fight aging effects on women’s skin, reduce inflammation, and boost brain power and gut health. There are 30 packets offering a 30-day supply at $80 (but keep in mind this is a 30-day supply of both multivitamins and omega-three fatty acids) and has a 4.4-star rating.
D,r. Mercola Whole Food Complex Multivitamin for Women
- Our high-potency Whole-Food Complex with Added Multivitamins for Women supplies more than 2,000 mg of nutrients, including essential vitamins and minerals, for optimal nutrition levels and bioavailability potential*
- This formula also includes a unique antioxidant blend targeted for women’s health, including Cranberry Fruit for vaginal and urinary tract health and Red Clover for PMS and menopause symptoms*
- It contains more than 50 nutritional ingredients plus Dr. Mercola’s special Organic Fruit and Vegetable Blend for extra free radical-fighting antioxidant power*
- Following Dr. Mercola’s belief in providing the best quality products, this formula is GMO free
- Developed with you in mind, Dr. Mercola’s physician formulated products are only made with ingredients that meet our premium quality standards. Established in 1997, we have been a trusted source in natural health for over two decades
The multivitamin complex, branded by integrative doctor Dr. Mercola, also offers a complete multivitamin for women. Dr. Mercola Whole Food Complex Multivitamin for women has excellent levels of well-absorbed B vitamins, essential minerals, hormone-boosting antioxidants, and digestive aids. Its rating on Amazon is 4.4, and the cost for a 30-day supply is $47.
However, the downside is that the serving size is eight capsules per day, which I recommend be divided into 4 in the morning and four at night with food. It’s not necessarily a bad thing when multivitamins have a large serving size like this, as with some formulations of minerals, it’s better to spread them out over a day to mimic how we would get them from our food.
Alive! Women’s Daily Ultra Multivitamin by Nature’s Way
- Nature's Way Alive! Women's Ultra Multivitamin promotes muscle function and energy metabolism.*
- High potency complete formula including methyl B12, the active form of B12, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, biotin, and zinc.
- With 7 plant-based blends including a Cardio Blend with Hawthorn Berry, Daily Greens Blend with Spirulina, Chlorella and Barley, Hair, Skin & Nails Blend with MSM, Mushroom Defense Blend as well as a Digestive Enzyme Blend with Bromelain.
- Women take 1 tablet daily, preferably with food.
- Gluten-free. No artificial colors.
And the final choice for the best multivitamin for women over 40 is Alive! Women’s 50+ by Nature’s Way. Though not as clean of ingredients as the first four (it has some fake folate in the form of folic acid and gelatin), it does have a great blend of food-based ingredients like greens blend, fruits and vegetables blend, and an herbal mind and energy boosting blend. Be sure to choose this one not the 50+ as it has better ingredients.
This is an excellent choice for women on a tighter budget, as it is $13 for a 30-day supply, and it has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon.
| Brand | Rating | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature’s Way Alive! 50+ | 4.6 stars | $12.57 (30 day supply) | Greens and fruits and vegetable-based food blend, herbal hormone and energy balancing blend, only one capsule daily. |
| Dr. Mercola Whole Food Complex Multivitamin for Women | 4.4 stars | $47 (30 day supply) | Well-absorbed B vitamins, essential minerals, hormone-boosting antioxidants and digestive aids for gut health. |
| Thorne Women’s Multivitamin 50+ | 4.3 stars | $45 (30 day supply) | High dose folate for hormone balance and to support those with the MTHFR mutation, extra vitamin C to help with immunity, and selenium to support the thyroid gland |
| O.N.E. Multivitamin by Pure Encapsulations | 4.5 stars | $54 (60 day supply) | Excellent formulation and dosing of well-absorbed vitamins and minerals packed into one capsule per day. Brain and heart-boosting levels of coq10. Thyroid-supportive iodine and selenium. ALA and Chromium to support your metabolism. |
| Women’s Wellness Essential Prime by Metagenics | 4.4 stars | $80 (30 day supply but 30 days of both a multivitamin and a high dose omega 3 supplement) | Anti-inflammatory, gut, mood, and hormone-boosting nutrients in convenient daily packets. Both multivitamins and omega-3 fatty acids are in each packet. |
What to Look for in a Multivitamin for Women over 40
In summary, important nutrients to look for in a woman’s multivitamin are:
- Calcium- women 40+ should get 500-1000 mg per day of calcium, but this can vary and be less or more depending on risks for osteoporosis. It is difficult to find calcium at this level in a multivitamin but choosing one with higher levels of calcium is helpful.
- Magnesium- Magnesium needs can be less than or equal to 200-800 or more milligrams. Again, you won’t typically find this high of a milligram dosage in your multivitamin, which is good. Magnesium can cause loose stools if the dose is too high for your individual needs.
- Vitamin B12- Look for hydroxy or methyl forms of cobalamin (the proper name of vitamin b12). These are better absorbed and healthier formulations.
- Folate- It’s best to choose a multivitamin that has 200-800 or more micrograms of folate and mostly in the form of folate vs synthetic folic acid. This is because many women have at least one copy of the MTHFR gene mutation, and also because this form is the natural form of folate. Folate is a B Vitamin needed for vaginal and cervical health and detoxification support, as well as estrogen metabolism.
- Antioxidant- antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E can help boost immunity and balance hormones as well as mitigate some signs of aging in the brain and body.
- Selenium—A multivitamin is even more helpful when it contains 75-150 ug of selenium. Selenium is a thyroid-boosting mineral that is helpful for women in perimenopause and menopause who are struggling with sub-optimal thyroid function and adrenal challenges.
- Vitamin D- Many women are deficient in vitamin D. Before choosing a supplement it’s ideal to have your vitamin D levels checked. After checking your vitamin D levels with your provider choose a dose to get you to the goal of 40-80 ng/ml on blood tests; generally, 2000 IU can increase your levels by 20 ng/ml.
Conclusion
As women reach their 40s and beyond, selecting the ideal multivitamin becomes more crucial. The body’s ability to absorb nutrients diminishes over time, alongside collagen loss that initiates in the 30s and hormone imbalances that can start in the mid to late 30s. Thus, targeted supplements profoundly influence women’s health and energy.
Ultimately, arming women above 40 with supplements that meet their health requirements does more than uphold good health; it elevates their immunity and gut health and gives their brains, bones, and energy a boost. Skillful multivitamin selection enables women to strategize against the all too common mineral deficiencies in our soil, as well as the extra strain that our environment and hormone changes put on our bodies. The right multivitamin, whether for strengthening bones, enhancing energy, or maintaining hormonal equilibrium, plays a pivotal role in women’s ongoing wellness as they age.
You may also like:
Understanding Brain Fog During Perimenopause: Your Ultimate Guide to Mental Clarity
Perimenopause Test at Home – 5 Points to Consider
21 Insanely Helpful Natural Supplements for Perimenopause
Dr. Shelley Meyer is a board-certified family physician and Institute of Functional Medicine-certified functional medicine physician, as well as a Registered Dietitian. She is passionate about helping women navigate the roller coaster of perimenopause and postmenopause. She has her own Functional Medicine Practice in Denver, Colorado.
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