We’ve changed things around since this article was first published. Here is our “2020 Approved” version of the best multivitamin supplements on the market.

(We also updated our men’s multivitamin rankings for all our fellas out there.)

Multivitamins for women are nutritional supplements in the form of capsules or tablets that provide women with essential and nonessential nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

These multivitamins are intended to go along with a healthy diet and lifestyle, filling in the nutritional gaps.

(Women who are pregnant might want to check out the best prenatal vitamins.)

Multivitamin supplements specifically for women include the vitamins and minerals needed for everyone, along with extra ingredients specifically added to support the female body, such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6.

Below is a list of the best multivitamin supplements for women on the market, according to price, product quality, and customer reviews. Part two of this guide breaks down what exactly goes into a women’s multivitamin supplement and how it works.

Here’s our #1 recommended multivitamin for women in 2020.

And the winner is…

1- Ritual Essential for Women

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Ritual’s Essential for Women is still disrupting the women’s multivitamin industry in 2020.

Taking the clean and simple approach, Ritual designed an all-in-one multivitamin that uses open-source ingredients (so you know their exact origin, see their website for the full list).

Using a team of in-house scientists, this company narrowed down the 9 essential nutrients that women lack the most and developed a non-GMO, gluten and soy free, and vegan friendly multivitamin specifically for women.

Even the capsule they use is specially designed to improve the vitamin absorbance process and delay the release of the ingredients, meaning you can take it on an empty stomach without worrying about feeling nauseous.

They’ve become quite popular in the press, too, receiving praise from Forbes, Wired, Vogue, Fast Company, Marie Claire, and the New York Times, just to name a few (see the full list).

Most of the multivitamin supplements out there contain the same dozen or so ingredients, and you probably already get most of these typical ingredients in your daily meals. Ritual wants to change this.

The Ritual team and the scientists they partnered with came up with specific ingredients that they feel like most women generally lack in their diets.

Here are the official supplement facts:

The capsules have a natural mint essence for a pleasant smell and taste.

60 capsules in the bottle, take 2 capsules daily.

2- RAINBOW LIGHT Women’s One

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A complete and balanced multivitamin supplement that helps specifically to support hormonal balances and reproductive health in women.

One serving contains your complete daily levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, B12 to support overall health and even help to boost energy levels.

This multivitamin also provides complete mineral levels, consisting of zinc, calcium, iron and many more. These help to support healthy teeth, skin, bones and boost your immune system.

Women’s One contains a 125mg “Nourishing Blend” consisting of spirulina, dong quai and red clover which supports hormonal balance in women. One of the most popular multivitamins for women on the market because it is free of artificial colors, flavors, sugar, sweeteners, and preservatives.

Guaranteed AllergenSafeguard, free of gluten, soy, yeast, fish/shellfish, nuts, and dairy.

1 tablet per serving, 150 tablets in the bottle (150-day supply).

3- Centrum SILVER for Women

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One of the most affordable multivitamin supplements for women on the market.

Each capsule has a smooth coating so it’s easier to swallow than other popular vitamin brands. Centrum SILVER for Women includes key nutrients that especially help with women’s heart, brain, immune system and eye health.

The multivitamins contain plenty of B-Vitamins to help promote a healthy heart and improved mental clarity and focus. Zinc and B-Vitamins help to support normal brain function and memory. Vitamins A, C, E and Lutein help support healthy eyes and vision.

The Centrum brand is backed by 30+ years of nutritional science expertise and the #1 doctor and pharmacist recommended multivitamin brand.

200 capsules in the bottle, 1 capsule per serving (200-day supply).

4- Garden of Life VITAMIN CODE

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Garden of Life’s VITAMIN CODE multivitamin uses raw whole-food ingredients to create a balanced, healthy women’s daily vitamin supplement.

One serving contains a complete multivitamin blend consisting of vitamins A, C, D, E and many more, as well as a complete mineral blend consisting of iron, calcium, and zinc.

VITAMIN CODE contains a 400mg organic fruit and vegetable blend including twenty-four fruits and vegetables to add supporting antioxidants, vitamins and nutrient cofactors. It also contains a 110mg probiotic and enzyme blend to help support the digestive health and boost the immune system.

One of the more expensive multivitamin supplements for women on the market, but a high quality product as well.

240 capsules per bottle, 1 capsule per serving (240-day supply).

5- Vitafusion Women’s

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The tastiest multivitamin on the market, hands down.

These naturally flavored gummy multivitamins come packed with essential minerals and nutrients for women’s health.

One serving provides 100% of your daily recommended value of 9 essential nutrients, helping to support energy levels in the body as well as metabolism and bone health.

What does this multivitamin compare to? Well, each serving provides as much vitamin A as one cup of broccoli, vitamin C as one tangerine, and vitamin D as 5 ounces of salmon.

Allergy information: This product does NOT contain gluten (wheat), milk, eggs, peanuts, or soy. Take 2 gummy vitamins daily, 75 in a bottle (37-day supply).

How do multivitamins work?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs and cannot be fully meet by your diet alone. They play crucial roles in your body, including maintaining the immune system, strengthening bones, and healing cuts and wounds.

Obviously, men’s and women’s bodies are designed differently. This is why women require different amounts of certain vitamins and minerals than men do. So much for gender equality, right?

Vitamins and minerals play a huge role in reproductive health and are especially needed during pregnancy.

Taking a multivitamin supplement can provide women with more than enough of the vitamins and minerals their body needs for healthy pregnancies and reduce the risks for nutrient deficiencies (see the top rated prenatal vitamin supplements here).

Generally, multivitamins for women specifically help to:

>strengthen bones
>strengthen the immune system
>reduce stress
>reduce the risk of serious medical conditions
>increase physical and mental energy
>improve sleep quality
>quicken the rebuilding of muscles
>speed up the healing of wounds and injuries
>improve menstrual and reproductive health
>prevent vitamin deficiencies (1)

It is important to remember that the full benefits of a multivitamin are dependent on your diet and the levels of nutrients in your system that are naturally produced.

Healthier diets not only help you get more of your essential nutrients just by the foods you’re eating, they also help your body produce and balance natural chemicals and hormones.

Meal replacement shakes are a great alternative to healthy meals if you are looking for something quick and convenient.

These usually contain most of the essential nutrients and vitamins you would get by eating a well-balanced nutritional meal.

How to take multivitamin supplements

Generally, multivitamins are taken on a daily basis. Often they are taken once a day, usually right before you go to bed, but certain multivitamins can be taken 2-3 times throughout day in smaller doses.

Just like with a probiotic, fish oil, or any other type of supplement, make sure to follow the instructions on the product packaging. Some people may think that it is okay to take more than the daily recommendation, however this is not a good idea.

Certain multivitamins for women may contain ingredients that could harm your body if you take too much of it (2).

Bottom line is, absolutely do not take more than the recommended dosage on the product label unless, you have been specifically instructed to by a doctor.

Some multivitamins are better if taken in the morning, allowing plenty of time for the nutrients to digest and provide energy throughout the day. Some vitamins help your body produce more energy so it is best not to these particular products at night to avoid sleeping problems.

To get the most benefits from your multivitamin supplement, you should take it regularly and at the same time each day to help you develop a routine (just like with taking a women’s diet pill supplement). Avoid taking more than one different multivitamin product at the same time.

It is a good idea to take your multivitamin supplement with a full glass of water. This allows the vitamins to release into your system smoothly and helps to prevent stomach aches. 

What are the side effects of multivitamins?

Multivitamins are generally pretty safe across the board, unless you take more than the recommended dosage. The side effects that you would experience from having excess vitamins in your body depends on the particular minerals and vitamins you currently have in your system. 

Toxicity symptoms can be experienced from having excess iron and calcium levels, while other vitamins and minerals can cause other mild to moderate side effects (3).

Some people have experienced upset stomaches, constipation or diarrhea. However, these effects are only temporary and usually disappear as your body fully adjusts to the medication. It is very rare that people suffer from serious allergic reactions from multivitamin supplements.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience itching or swelling, rash, trouble breathing or severe dizziness.

It’s also important to remember that many multivitamin supplements products contain minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

These minerals, if taken in excess, could cause side effects such as increased urination, teeth staining, uneven heart rates, stomach bleeding, confusion, and weakness of the muscles. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What vitamins are good for everything?

A: Generally, these vitamins are helpful for overall health and wellness: Vitamin A (at least half of it as betacarotene or mixed carotenoids), Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B5 (panthothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (pyroxidine), Vitamin B7 (biotin), Vitamin B9 (folic acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K (4).

Q: Do gummy vitamins really work?

A: According to Miami-based nutritionist Christy Maskeroni, MS RD, “The desire for companies to make them taste more like candy, makes it harder to pack [an effective amount of] vitamins and minerals into the gummies” (5). That being said, a smaller amount of vitamin supplementation might be better than nothing at all.

Q: What vitamins does a teenage girl need?

A: Generally, teens require B12 and folic acid because of the rapid development of tissue synthesis. They also need healthy servings of zinc, magnesium, and calcium for strong bones and to increase bone density. Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are also beneficial for teens to ensure newly formed cells function in a healthy manner (6).

Q: What are the best vitamins for women over 50?

A: Iron, calcium and Vitamin D are essential for post-menopausal support. For optimal brain health, zinc and B Vitamins are key ingredients to look for. Also, sufficient amounts of calcium, Vitamin D, magnesium, copper, and manganese significantly help to maintain healthy bones (7).

Recap

Multivitamin supplements are one of the best way to ensure you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals every day for optimum feminine health.

If you take the recommended dosage of the multivitamin, you should be clear of any side effects.

For a list of the best multivitamin supplements for women on the market, check out our rankings at the top of the page.


The HealthRanks Team

The HealthRanks Team is composed of like-minded health experts who share a passion for sharing their health knowledge for the benefit of others. Check out our about page for more information.

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