What Are the Best Men's Health Multivitamins?

The vitamin aisle at your local pharmacy contains many products that can help fill nutritional gaps for those who tend to eat more beignets than broccoli.

We all need to consume a certain amount of some basic vitamins and minerals to maintain good health, but these amounts we need can vary by gender. Women, for instance, need more iron than men, while men generally need more zinc than women. As a result, many multivitamins are available as gender-specific supplements.

Multivitamins explained

Vitamins, particularly multi-vitamins, began being mass produced and heavily marketed in the 1950s. The vitamin industry is quite profitable today, as in recent years Americans have become increasingly interested in promoting their overall health and preventing the onset of various chronic diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that among U.S. adults over 20 years old, nearly 58% used a dietary supplement in the past 30 days. That number includes 64% of women and 51% of men.

The most common type used are multivitamin-mineral supplements, which contain a combination of vitamins and minerals. They are produced by various companies, with each manufacturer choosing which vitamins and minerals and how much of each to include in their products.

Most multivitamins are once-daily products that contain all or most of the most common vitamins and minerals in amounts close to what is recommended by national health organizations. Generally, these vitamins are deemed by experts to be essential for optimal health.

The National Institutes of Health lists 13 “essential” vitamins. The are vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B₆, B₁₂, and folate).

What should men look for in a multivitamin?

Men need to pay special attention to the labels when deciding which multivitamin to select from the many on the shelves.

Look for a men’s multivitamin supplement that contains the vitamins and minerals you need without a lot of other unnecessary ingredients.

For instance, if you are over 55, you might want to consider multivitamins designed specifically for seniors. The multivitamins usually provide more calcium and vitamins D and B12, and less iron than those for younger adults.

It’s a good idea to avoid supplements with too much of any one vitamin, such as a megadose of vitamin A. Too much of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful.

It's also important to consider the quality of vitamins when shopping. Some vitamin manufacturers add coatings to pills to enhance flavor or shelf life. These coatings can cause problems with how the vitamins are absorbed by the body.

By talking with a doctor, pharmacist, or registered dietitian, you can learn which vitamins are best to look for when shopping.

What men need

As mentioned, we all need certain essential vitamins regardless of gender or age. But there are certain nutritional requirements that are unique to men.

Many experts believe men should take a multivitamin that includes vitamins A, C, D, E, K, the B-complex vitamins, as well as minerals like magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Omega 3 fatty acids are also important supplements for men who don’t get enough healthy fat in their regular diets. Foods high in omega 3 include nuts, seeds, olive oil, and certain fish.

These fatty acids are important for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation.

Concerns and misconceptions

It’s important to understand that taking a multivitamin, even if it’s one designed for your age or gender, is no replacement for consuming a healthy diet. Simply put, “food first” is the best mantra when consuming vitamins and minerals.

It’s better to get nutrients from food rather than a pill because highly nutritious foods contain other healthy things, like fiber.

The purpose of a multivitamin supplement is to help fill any nutritional gaps one may have in their overall diet. More study into the health benefits of multivitamins is needed.

One argument against the use of multivitamins is that it can lead to excessive intake of certain nutrients. That underscores the importance of reading the label and discussing the issue with a doctor, registered dietitian or other health expert.

Conclusion

While pills are not a shortcut to get around eating nutritious food, multivitamins can help offset nutrient insufficiencies in the American diet.

When scientists try to condense all the nutrients found in a well-balanced diet into a pill or two, they often fall short. Unfortunately, there is no true way to reproduce the effect that nutrient-dense food has on our bodies.

The truth is that the best way to get the complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals we need is to eat a balanced diet, full of fruits and vegetables varying in color.

Instead of a rainbow of supplements in your pill box, aim for a rainbow of colors on your plate.