Best Multivitamins for Women of 2023, According to a Dietitian

Summary of Our Picks

• Best overall: New Chapter Women’s Multivitamin + Immune Support
• Best budget pick: Nature Made Multi For Her
• Best vegan: Future Kind Essential for Vegans
• Best gummy: SmartyPants Women’s Formula Gummies
• Best prenatal: Thorne Basic Prenatal
• Best for women over 55: MegaFood Multi for Women 55+
• Best subscription: Ritual Essential for Women

What Is a Multivitamin?

Before we dive into our selections, let’s briefly review what multivitamins are and why people take them.

Multivitamins are supplements that provide a combination of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients (such as probiotics or herbs) intended to provide additional health benefits.

There is no universal standard on what constitutes a multivitamin, so the ingredients can vary significantly.

A multivitamin typically contains between 10–20 ingredients in varying amounts. They can be found in several forms, such as a capsule, chewable, gummy, or liquid.

Multivitamins are one of the most popular supplements used worldwide, especially among women. It is estimated that about 1/3 of the population takes at least one multivitamin supplement, and out of those people, women are more likely. (1)

The top 3 most common reasons people take multivitamins are: (2)

• To fill nutrition gaps in the diet
• To promote health and wellness
• For chronic disease prevention

Depending on your diet choices, schedule, and family life, it may not always be easy to meet 100% of your vitamin and mineral needs through diet alone.

For this reason, many people may choose to take a multivitamin to ensure they’re meeting their nutrient requirements, or as a complement to their diet.

Even though multivitamin use is widespread, the research on their benefits without a true nutrient deficiency is unclear. However, in terms of poor diet or deficiency, the benefits may be more significant.

Either way, many multivitamin users still report improvements in their health.

For example, a 2020 study revealed that those taking a multivitamin supplement self-reported better overall health, despite the fact that they did not experience any visible clinical benefits from taking them. (3)

There are literally hundreds of different multivitamin options to choose from. If you suspect you have a deficiency or just want to supplement your diet with a multivitamin, this article includes some good options for your consideration.

Remember to always consult with your doctor before starting a new supplement to determine your individual needs.

Best Overall: New Chapter Women’s Multivitamin + Immune Support

Best Overall Multivitamin for Women

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Pros

• Reputable brand
• Contains other beneficial superfoods
• 60-day return policy

Cons

• Low in iron
• No official third-party seal

New Chapter is a well-respected, whole foods supplement company. It is one of the top-selling vitamin brands and has multiple seals of approval for its products.

According to the manufacturer, this product is specifically crafted for women to help with stress relief, energy, hair, skin, nails, heart, immunity, and bone support.

As a Registered Dietitian, I appreciate that this product is derived from whole foods. While more research is needed to confirm that whole food supplements are superior, the research is evident on the health benefits of whole foods in general. (4)

Therefore, a whole foods vitamin may be the next best thing.

It is made with certified organic vegetables and herbs and is 100% vegetarian-based. It also contains several superfoods in addition to the vitamins and minerals present, which help set it apart.

This product is not officially third-party tested for purity, quality, and safety, but it has the following four seals of approval:

1. GMO-free
2. 100% kosher
3. ICS (International Certification Services): This verifies that every step in the manufacturing process meets organic standards, including no chemical pesticides, herbicides, or genetic engineering.
4. NSF-Certified Gluten-Free: This designation assures a product meets FDA (Food & Drug Administration) standards for being truly gluten-free and identifying this on the label.

Many of the product’s ingredients are in highly absorbable forms and contain higher amounts of certain nutrients beneficial for women’s health, such as vitamin D3, folate, and B12.

Price: $42.17 for 96 servings on Amazon (serving size is 1 tablet per day).

Best Budget Pick: Nature Made Multi For Her

Best Budget Pick

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Pros

• Third-party seal of approval
• Affordable price
• Contains 100% or more of DV of many key nutrients

Cons

• Folate is in folic acid form, which many cannot absorb
• Only contains 19% of the DV for calcium
• Fairly large pill to swallow

If you’re on a tight budget or are just looking for the best value, Nature Made women’s multivitamins are a quality choice.

Nature Made is a well-known and respected vitamin brand. Their women’s multivitamin is third-party tested and USP-verified, which provides peace of mind on the brand’s overall quality and safety standards.

It contains many essential nutrients for women’s health at 100% or more of the daily value (DV), with most being in highly absorbable forms.

There are no artificial colors, flavors, or gluten present in this product.

The claimed benefit of Nature Made Multi For Her is supporting women’s health.

Price: Around $28.98 for 300 servings on Amazon (serving size is 1 tablet per day).

Best Vegan: Future Kind Essential for Vegans

Best Vegan Women’s Multivitamin

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Pros

• Created by Dietitians
• Easy to swallow capsules
• Free of most major allergens

Cons

• Not a complete multivitamin
• No official third-party testing seal

Those who follow a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet may find it more challenging to get enough of certain nutrients in their diet, so a supplement can be beneficial.

This product is 100% vegan and provides only the specific vital nutrients often lacking in vegan diets. This is a good thing because if your diet is balanced otherwise, it is likely not necessary to take a complete multivitamin without any actual deficiencies. (5)

Nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-3s are present in higher amounts in this product, and it is challenging to obtain enough of these from a vegan diet.

Future Kind products are designed based on the expertise of medical and health professionals, including Registered Dietitians with knowledge of vegan nutrition. With the purchase of this product, you also gain free access to a vegan nutritionist.

The company claims that this product supports energy, clear thinking, and mood. They also state that it is third-party tested; however, I could not find an official seal of approval to confirm this.

The product is produced in a GMP-certified facility which assures good manufacturing practices.

Price: $29.95 for 30 servings on Amazon (serving size is 2 capsules per day).

Best Gummy: SmartyPants Women’s Formula Gummies

Best Gummy Women’s Multivitamin

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Pros

• Bears a reputable third-party seal of approval
• Free of the top 8 allergens
• Users report good taste

Cons

• Contains added sugar
• Have to take 6 gummies per day

If you hate swallowing pills, a gummy multivitamin may be the best choice for you.

SmartyPants is a reputable brand that is third-party tested by NSF International, an independent testing body that certifies supplements for high quality and purity standards.

SmartyPants vitamins also contain many highly absorbable forms of the vitamins present.

In general, gummy vitamin brands are sometimes not as potent as capsules. However, SmartyPants multivitamins contain more than 100% of the RDA of nutrients that many are most commonly deficient in, such as vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fats.

They also contain at least 100% of the RDA for both iodine and biotin, two nutrients essential for women in terms of thyroid health and the health of hair, skin, and nails.

The company claims are that this product supports immunity, energy, and bone health.

While gummy supplements often taste good, they typically contain more calories and sugar than capsules or powders. This gummy contains 7 grams of sugar per serving; however, it is natural sugar from the fruit, as opposed to added sugar, which is preferable.

Still, if you have diabetes or are trying to watch your overall sugar intake, the sugar content is something to keep in mind.

Price: $26.75 for 30 servings on Amazon (serving size is 6 gummies per day).

Best Prenatal: Thorne Basic Prenatal

Best Prenatal

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Pros

• Third-party seal of approval
• Affordable price
• Contains essential prenatal nutrients, including folate

Cons

• May need an additional DHA supplement
• Not vegan-friendly
• Large pill size, requires 3 pills per day

If you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant, choosing a quality multivitamin is essential for your and your baby’s health. Thorne Basic Prenatal provides all of the essential nutrients during pregnancy at an affordable price.

Thorne is a well-known and respected vitamin brand.

Their products are all third-party tested to ensure high quality, purity, and accuracy in their product labeling. This provides extra peace of mind, especially at a time when good nutrition is of utmost importance.

What is particularly unique about Thorne’s Basic Prenatal is that it contains folate in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a highly absorbable form of folic acid.

This is important to look for in a prenatal as opposed to folic acid, as many women cannot absorb folate in folic acid form.

Folate is one of the most vital nutrients during pregnancy and plays a crucial role in a baby’s spinal cord development and in preventing neural tube defects. (6)

Thorne Basic Prenatal is also free of major allergens like dairy, gluten, and soy and contains only natural flavors and colors.

The claimed benefit of Thorne Basic Prenatal is to help optimize the mother’s health and nutrition.

Price: $29.00 for 30 servings on Amazon (serving size is 3 capsules per day).

More Options: Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2023

Best for Women Over 55: MegaFood Multi for Women 55+

Best for Women Over 55

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Pros

• Certified vegan
• Soy, dairy, and gluten-free
• Made from real food
• Contains essential nutrients in highly absorbable forms

Cons

• Contains caffeine from green tea extract
• Does not contain calcium or magnesium
• Fairly large pill size, requires 2 pills per day

MegaFood Multi for Women 55+ is specifically formulated to meet the needs of women over 55.

All MegaFood supplements are made from whole foods and are formulated by doctors, which provides an additional level of trust.

The MegaFood Multi for Women 55+ contains a unique blend of ingredients beneficial for women over 55. This includes vitamin D for bone health as well as B-vitamins and zinc to support memory and cognition.

It also contains 250 mg of green tea extract, an antioxidant that may support healthy aging. (7)

The company also follows GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) for its products, ensuring they are produced under ideal conditions.

The manufacturer claims that this product supports optimal health and well-being.

Price: $29.99 for 60 servings on Amazon (serving size is 1 tablet per day).

Best Subscription: Ritual Essential for Women

Best Subscription Multivitamin for Women

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Pros

• Tailored to meet the nutrient needs of most women
• Third-party tested

Cons

• Missing important nutrients like B-vitamins and vitamin C
• May not meet the nutrient needs of every women

Vitamin subscriptions are becoming increasingly popular for those looking for more personalization and consistency in their supplement regimen.

If you find you often forget to buy more vitamins when you run out, a subscription-based vitamin service like Ritual may be the choice for you.

Ritual is a vitamin subscription service that personalizes supplements for women based on their life stage.

For example, a different product is formulated for women between 18 and 49 years old than those 50 years old and over. This helps to more precisely target the nutritional requirements at different times in a woman’s life.

All Ritual products are non-GMO, vegan, third-party tested, and sustainably sourced.

Ritual also employs a scientific advisory board comprised of medical doctors, nutritionists, and scientists to guide product development with up-to-date research.

The claimed benefits of Ritual multivitamins include improved mood and energy.

Price: $30–$35 for 30 servings, depending on the formulation (serving size is 2 capsules per day).

Ingredients to Look For in a Women’s Multivitamin

When looking for the best women’s multivitamin, the options can feel overwhelming. The number of ingredients can vary, and not all of them will necessarily contain precisely what they say they do.

Women have unique nutritional needs, and knowing the types of nutrients to look for can help in making your selection easier. Choosing wisely will also help assure you are getting enough of the most critical nutrients and not overdoing it on the rest.

Here are seven ingredients your women’s multivitamin should have:

1. Vitamin D

Many of us don’t get enough vitamin D, especially if we aren’t getting regular sun exposure.

Vitamin D is also a vitamin that is not commonly present in most foods, making it one of the most important ones to supplement.

Vitamin D can support your immune system, aid in strong bones, and may even ward off depression. (8)

Vitamin D: Benefits, Deficiency, Sources, Dosage, and Safety

2. Calcium

Calcium is another critical nutrient that many are lacking in their diet, which is essential for strong bones and teeth.

Women, in particular, are more likely to lose bone density earlier in life, so meeting your calcium needs may prevent this decline. (9)

3. Iron

Because of various factors such as puberty, pregnancy, and menstrual cycles, women have higher iron needs than men. (10)

Your diet also impacts how much iron you may need in a supplement.

For example, if you’re a vegetarian, it may be harder to get enough iron in your diet, therefore you may need to supplement.

4. Folate

Folate is a type of B-vitamin that is essential for women’s health. It’s most well known for its role in fetal development and preventing neural tube defects. (11)

It also supports heart and brain health and may have a protective effect on those with depression. (12)

Look for “methylfolate” on the label as this is a more readily absorbed form of folate than folic acid.

5. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is another essential nutrient for women. It is involved in energy production and plays a role in keeping our nerves and blood cells healthy.

Women who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are more prone to vitamin B12 deficiency as most good food sources come from animals.

Look for “methylcobalamin” on the label to maximize absorption.

6. Magnesium

Magnesium is another essential mineral that is involved in bone health, energy production, and may help reduce feelings of stress. (13)

Look for “magnesium citrate” or “magnesium chloride,” as these are more easily absorbed forms and are less likely to cause GI upset.

Magnesium Supplements: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage

7. Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that some do not consume enough of in their diet.

It plays a role in the immune system and wound healing, and helps our body properly utilize our proteins, carbs, and fats for energy. (14)

Zinc: Benefits, Deficiency, Food Sources, and Safety

Frequently Asked Questions About Multivitamins

The Bottom Line

Multivitamins are a good insurance policy with an overall strong safety profile.

They can help replace shortfall nutrients or nutrients your diet is lacking. However, they shouldn’t be a substitute for a balanced diet.

A multivitamin may provide the biggest benefits if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, lack variety in your diet, or have any specific nutrient deficiencies that warrant a supplement.

Otherwise, eating a well-balanced, healthy diet with plenty of whole foods will be your best bet for optimal health and well-being.

Always consult with a medical doctor or dietitian first to determine your needs if you are concerned about your nutrition.