The 16 Best Multivitamins For Women (2022 Guide)
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Are you looking for the healthiest and best multivitamins for women on the market today? This post will help you find the best multivitamin for you!
When looking for the best multivitamin specifically designed for women, it can be confusing. What are the most important vitamins to be included in a multivitamin for women? Which brands are the best? Do you even need to take a multivitamin?
Not all multivitamins are created equal. Sorting through all the various brands, and finding answers to these questions can be time consuming and still leave you feeling bewildered and confused.
That’s where this guide comes in. I did a lot of research and found the healthiest and best multivitamins for women on the market today. Below is my quick list of the best multivitamins, prenatals, and probiotics for women and further down in the post you’ll find details about each vitamin, pros and cons of each and what to consider when finding the right one for you!
Some of the items below were given to me to review by the manufacturer or as part of an affiliate program. I may receive commissions if you make a purchase through the links provided. I only recommend products I’ve actually evaluated, I believe are the highest quality, and can do the most to help you and your family. By purchasing any of these products from the links below, you help keep this blog running, so thanks for your support!
Keep in mind that every person & situation is different, especially yours, so make sure to talk to your doctor and see how these guidelines and tips can help you. These tips are 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!
My recommendations are based on the manufacturer’s claims and ingredients list, and what I feel best giving to my own family. Your individual results may be different based on your overall diet, exercise, age, weight, family history, or pre-existing conditions.
At A Glance: Best Multivitamins For Women
Best Prenatal Multivitamins
Best Liquid Multivitamin For Women
If you have trouble swallowing large vitamins, a liquid vitamin is a good option.
What Are The Benefits Of Taking A Daily Multivitamin?
There are several benefits of taking a daily multivitamin on both your mental and physical health.
- Reduced Risk of Chronic Disease
- Improved Mood
- More Energy
- Immune Support
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Improve Memory
- Maintain Muscle Strength
Who Should Take A Daily Multivitamin? Do Women Need To Take Vitamins?
Taking a daily multivitamin is a good way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs. Even when we are doing our best to eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains it’s challenging to get the necessary daily nutrients in the food you eat on a daily basis. That’s when taking a multivitamin helps to fill in any gaps.
While anyone who Isn’t getting their daily intake of nutrients from food alone would benefit from a daily vitamin, some groups of women may benefit from a women’s multivitamin more than others. They include:
Vegan Women
A vegan diet can often be low in B vitamins and iron. Taking a daily multivitamin for women can help bridge that gap. The three best vegan women’s multivitamin we’ve found are First Day for Women, Ritual 18+ and Garden of Life Women’s Prenatal Multivitamin.
Pregnant Women and Women of Childbearing Age
Getting enough nutrients during pregnancy is essential for both mom and baby’s health. Pregnant women may benefit from taking a daily prenatal vitamin, especially due to the increased need of B vitamins (including folate/folic acid) and Iron during pregnancy. If you are planning to get pregnant, a comprehensive women’s multivitamin may help regulate your cycles and promote overall well being to get your body ready for pregnancy.
Postmenopausal Women
During menopause, women experience both hormonal shifts and different nutrient requirements (e.g. needing more calcium to help with bone density). A multivitamin for women 50+ can help supplement those needs and can help manage some menopause symptoms.
Other Diets
Women following a dairy-free, gluten-free or even vegetarian diet may need to supplement with a vitamin to ensure they’re getting all of the daily nutrients they need. Since foods like wheat, grains, and dairy all contain vitamins essential to overall health.
What Should You Look For In A Multivitamin?
There are several key nutrients that are particularly important for women’s health. When looking for a multivitamin these 10 key nutrients are essential.
Vitamin D
Improves bone health, helps to boost the immune system, fights inflammation, and helps with absorption of calcium. It also helps improve mood. Vitamin D is synthesized by our bodies when we’re exposed to sunlight, and since most people don’t live in an area that gets enough sunlight to create our daily Vitamin D requirement, supplementing with Vitamin D is important.
Magnesium
Helps reduce stress, improves sleep, balances blood sugar, and regulates muscle and nerve function. It can also aid in digestion and in building protein. There are over 10 different forms of magnesium, and everyone reacts to each form differently. I’ve found that magnesium malate is the most absorbable and has the least side effects of any form of magnesium.
Calcium
Most women are calcium deficient. Women lose bone density more quickly than men, making calcium an essential nutrient for women.
Iron
Not everyone needs the same amount of iron, however iron is an essential nutrient for women. It helps increase energy, supports better brain function, and healthy red blood cells. The type of iron included in a multivitamin matters – some forms of iron can be constipating and aren’t ideal to take. All of the best multivitamins for women will include a form of iron that is easy to digest and absorb.
Folate
Not only is folic acid important to take while pregnant, but it also helps with inflammation. Pregnant women need at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily.
Vitamin B12
Helps to keep your body’s nerve and blood cells healthy. It’s also helpful for brain health and energy. As we age, we lose our ability to absorb B12 efficiently, so supplementing can help with that.
Biotin
This is a B vitamin that can help improve hair and nail health, which can be especially helpful for postpartum and postmenopausal women.
Vitamin E
This is an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation and helps with muscle tissue function in the body.
Vitamin K
Helps protect against osteoporosis, helps with the building of bones, and may also help protect against heart disease and blood clots.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These are healthy fats that help boost your immune system, and support heart health. It’s hard to get enough Omega 3 fats from diet alone, so having a multivitamin that includes omega 3s can be hugely helpful. If your multivitamin doesn’t include Omega 3’s, that’s ok! There are many Omega 3 supplements that you can take separately as well. I like Nordic Naturals Omega 3s.
Additional Nice To Have Ingredients
- Vitamin A: An antioxidant that is anti-inflammatory / helps reduce inflamation in the body.
- Vitamin B6: Can help with reducing anxiety and improving energy.
- Boron: helps promote bone health and tissue repair. It also helps to balance hormones and helps with magnesium absorption.
- Vitamin C: For immune support!
- Zinc: For healthy nails, and for immune system support.
- Selenium: An antioxidant that helps prevent heart disease and aids in healthy hair, skin and nails.
Other Things To Look For
- Has conducted third-party testing (this is essential, because nutrition supplements are not heavily regulated in the US, so you want a supplement that has been third party tested for heavy metals and any harmful substances).
- Ideally organic or at least non GMO or NSF certified
- No artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners added
- No ingredients you can’t pronounce on the nutrition label
- Bioavailable forms of vitamins (easy to absorb and utilize in the body)
What Should You Avoid In A Multivitamin?
- In most cases you don’t want a multivitamin that delivers more than 100% of any nutrient.
- Look for a multivitamin that comes from whole food sources or as close to whole food sources, rather than synthetic sources.
- Stay away from vitamins that contain food dyes, artificial sweeteners, sugars, and oils.
List Of Ingredients To Avoid
- Sorbitol
- Mannitol
- Carageenan
- Artificial flavors
- Food Dyes (FD&C Red #40 Lake, FD&C Blue #2 Lake, FD&C Yellow #6 Lake)
- Aspartame
- Mono- and Diglycerides
Details: 16 Best Multivitamins For Women In 2022
First Day Women’s Gummy Multivitamin
First Day Vitamins are made with organic fruits and veggies, are non GMO, allergen-free, gluten-free, are super low in sugar (only 2 grams per serving), and are a vegan & vegetarian friendly gummy vitamin! Most gummy vitamins use gelatin, but First Day is 100% gelatin-free. Their women’s vitamins contain 9 of the most essential nutrients most women don’t get through diet alone, in their most absorbable form (so your body can actually use them!). You can subscribe & save, or buy anytime without a subscription. This is the best women’s gummy vitamin I’ve found on the market today!
Pros
Cons
Ritual Women’s Multivitamin
I absolutely love Ritual vitamins. They are one of the few clinically-backed multivitamins for women 18-49 formulated specifically to help fill the nutrient gaps in your diet. (In a clinical trial over 12 weeks, their Essential Multivitamin for Women increased vitamin D levels by 43% with no change for placebo; and increased Omega-3 DHA by 41% with no change for placebo). Ritual takes a food-first approach to their multivitamins, giving you the exact amounts of the nutrients you need that you likely aren’t getting through your diet alone. With vegan friendly vitamin D and vegan omega-3 fatty acids, it’s the best vegan multivitamin for women I’ve found!
They are also completely transparent – they share sources, studies, and suppliers — their multivitamin is Made Traceable™ with the first visible supply chain of its kind. They have a separate multivitamin for women 50+ as well.
Pros
Cons
Performance Lab Women’s Multivitamin
This vitamin contains 17+ essential daily vitamins + minerals that are bioavailable and absorb easily. They are vegan, allergen-free, gluten-free, non GMO, and super clean from an ingredients standpoint. This is a great all-around vitamin! They also have an ongoing buy 3 get 1 free offer (so if you buy 3 bottles, you get 1 free!)
Pros
Cons
Raise Them Well Prenatal and Breastfeeding Multivitamin
If you’re looking for an excellent prenatal vitamin, this is it! Developed by an MD to include all of the nutrients necessary to insure healthy fetal development, these prenatal vitamins include, Vitamin K2 MK-7, Methylfolate, Methylcobolamin, and Glutathione.
Pros
Cons
Ritual Prenatal
As you’ve seen above, there are many things to love about Ritual’s vitamins. Essential Prenatal includes 12 nutrients you need to support a healthy pregnancy, in their cleanest and most absorbable forms. No more, no less. Their ingredient forms (and formulation) is unique: they include Omega-3s from algae rich in DHA and nature-identical Choline, which work together to support brain and cognition development. They use the first vegan-certified vitamin D3 from wild-harvested lichen, gentle chelated Iron, and methylated Folate. And it’s super simple: just two citrus-scented, delayed-release capsules designed to be easy on your stomach.
Pros
Cons
Garden of Life Prenatal
This organic multivitamin is fortified with iron and contains 21 essential vitamins. With a healthy dose of folate for cell development, it also contains ginger and peppermint to help with nausea.
Pros
Cons
Beli Prenatal Vitamins
Beli vitamins for women help with both fertility, and getting your body ready for pregnancy. Once pregnant, they help boost health, energy, and comfort throughout each trimester. These prenatal products are bursting with bio-available ingredients to keep women feeling healthy throughout pregnancy. Beli vitamins include optimal levels of methyl folate for healthy development and B vitamins for energy. They also include the recommended daily amount of choline, which aids in healthy neural tube development and helps to prevent birth defects.
Pros
Cons
Garden of Life Regular Once Daily
These easy to take, all in one multivitamin tablets supports your metabolism, promotes energy, supports blood and heart health, and healthy skin and nails.
Pros
Cons
Garden of Life Vitamin Code
A complete daily multivitamin made with raw whole-food ingredients to create a balanced, healthy women’s multivitamin, and probiotic. Supports breast health, reproductive health, gut health, and heart health.
Pros
Cons
Naturelo One Daily Multivitamin
Derived from plant sources this multivitamin uses organic vegetables and fruits to create a high quality supplement. With no additives and packed nutrients specifically for the needs of women such as folate. Only one capsule needed a day.
Pros
Cons
Rainbow Light Women’s One
Designed with the specific nutritional needs of women and clinically tested, Rainbow Light Women’s One supports heart health, breast health, increases bone strength, decreases your stress, and improves your energy production.
Pros
Cons
MegaFood Women’s One Daily
For women who have strict dietary guidelines this multivitamin is for everyone. Formulated to support your health and nourish your body. Supports healthy bones, replenishes iron levels during menstruation, B vitamins for improved energy.
Pros
Cons
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E Multivitamin
A comprehensive vitamin that provides minerals and other essential nutrients for both men and women. The ingredients are research-based and formulated using pure ingredients designed to deliver predictable results that benefit a wide range of people.
Pros
Cons
Mary Ruth’s Liquid Multivitamin
A liquid multivitamin that can be taken by women, men and children. Designed to help with focus, mood, strengthen hair, skin, and nails, improve digestion, and boost immunity with easy absorption.
Pros
Cons
New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily Multivitamins
A high quality multivitamin that uses fermented vitamins that are easier for the body to absorb. Contains essential vitamins, minerals, and iron. It also contains 3 blends to support stress and energy, hormones, and the immune system. They also have a wide range of other dietary supplements to support different needs (e.g. multivitamin for women 60+, multivitamin for men, vitamins for energy, stress, etc).
Pros
Cons
Ritual For Women 50+
Designed for the needs of women post-menopause, these vitamins provide support for brain health / cognitive function, bone health, heart health, and normal muscle function. The main difference between this vitamin and the Women 18+ version is that the Essential 50+ has more magnesium, and more of Vitamins K2, B12, and E. It doesn’t contain iron and has less folate than the 18+ version. It has a fully transparent supply chain and is vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and non GMO!
Pros
Cons
Check Out These Other Vitamin Guides!
- The Best Adult Vitamins to Support Immunity
- The Healthiest Children’s Vitamins
- The 5 Best Kids Probiotics
- Beli Vitamins Review
- The Best Vitamins For Teens
- First Day Vitamins Review
Final Thoughts
Taking a multivitamin daily can have numerous benefits for your health. But it’s important to consult with your doctor before starting any supplement program.
With all dietary supplements, there are different considerations when finding the best one for you. Some people may not want to swallow pills, in which case a gummy vitamin or liquid multivitamin for women is the way to go. Or you may need a more comprehensive or less comprehensive vitamin. All of the vitamins on this list are high quality and will provide the key essential nutrients that most women need – so I hope this list helps you find a multivitamin that is right for you!
Thank you for this guide! What do you think about getting your multivitamins from sources like athletic greens vs a pill supplement? Also, what is your opinion about ritual and it not being as comprehensive as other vitamins? I really like ritual for the reasons you mention above, but even though I eat a pretty good diet, who knows if I need more than what it gives me…
Thanks for your input!
Hi Komal! Thanks for reaching out! You can certainly get your vitamins from a source like a greens powder instead of a pill supplement – as long as you’re able to use the greens powder on a daily basis, and the greens powder has a combination of multivitamins, you should be fine. For Ritual – it really is meant to be a food-gap supplement – so if you’re eating a really well balanced diet (good sources of protein and whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies), and you’re not deficient in any critical vitamins (like iron/ferritin or Vitamin D – based on blood tests) – you should be fine to use Ritual. Hope that helps!
What do you recommend for women with Mthfr gene mutation double copy. Also is copper in vitamins a good thing?
Hi Shana! If you have both copies of the MTHFR mutation, you should consult your doctor on which multivitamin is the best for you. You’ll need methylated B vitamins, but even the amounts of the B vitamins can vary depending on how severe your mutation is. Regarding copper in vitamins, copper is an essential mineral that we all need, but depending on your diet you may already be getting enough copper from your diet itself. So I’d say copper is mostly helpful in vitamins for people that aren’t eating copper rich foods.
Hello! I am looking for a good high quality multivitamin that doesn’t contain iron. I already take extra vitamin c, d, and zinc supplements daily. I just need a good multivitamin to add to my regimen. Looking for something for me and my husband. Thanks so much!
Hi Kimberly! I’d recommend Thorne– it’s a super high quality multivitamin, very comprehensive, and doesn’t contain iron! Hope that helps!
Hi, what do you recommend I am 40 have low metabolism, anemia ( I would like a good individual iron supplements) and high estrogen.
Hi Jyoti! I would probably recommend Ritual for a multivitamin, and this liquid iron supplement from Gaia. Hope that helps!
What about vitafusion for women the gummies
Hi Lacy! They’re ok but they have 3 grams of sugar per serving, they contain gelatin (so they’re not vegetarian friendly), and they don’t have the best forms of each vitamin (e.g. the vitamin forms they contain aren’t as easily absorbed by the body). I’d recommend one of the other vitamins on my list instead!
Hello is there a vitamin comparable to the mykind garden of life women’s 55 plus?
I purchased twice but now can no longer locate and need to find something else
Hi Julie! Yes! I’d recommend Ritual for Women 50+ – it’s a super high quality vitamin comparable to Garden of Life. Hope that helps!
Hi Anjali,
Which brand do you recommend for a B12 or B Complex for adults?
Thanks,
Tina
Hi Tina! I like Thorne Basic B! It contains all of the active forms of B vitamins for maximum absorption!
My doctor recommended for me to take Vit C and Zinc, what brand would recommend? Thank you
Hi Mari! I’d actually recommend using the Garden of Life Prenatal which includes a healthy dose of both Vitamin C and Zinc! If you need an extra dose of Vitamin C, I’d recommend Liposomal Vitamin C. Hope that helps!