Some brands suggest you take multiple vitamins per day, while others are one-dose pills.
Multivitamins range in price -- the best one for you will reflect your health needs and not break the bank.
Multivitamins are generally considered safe. But if you're taking prescription medications or have an underlying health condition it's always a good idea to check with your doctor or pharmacist before you add a daily supplement to your diet, in case the supplement you're eyeing contains an ingredient that could interact.
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Your body needs a lot of upkeep, and that only gets harder as you age. If your body is getting everything it needs, however, it can be relatively easy to deal with the issues that aging brings. If you're a woman, things like iron may have been important to consider before menopause, but the focus changes once those days are over. Supporting bone health with vitamin D and calcium and improving cognition with multivitamins should be prioritized as you age. Determining the specifics of cognition and memory in connection with vitamins still requires more research.
A good diet can help your health, but it may not always give you all the nutrients you need. Aging also affects how our bodies absorb nutrients from our food, for example -- vitamin B12. If you've been fine without a supplement until now, you may benefit from one as you get older. You can find a ton of multivitamins on the market formulated specifically to address the nutritional needs and deficiencies of women.
While most possible nutrient deficiencies can be combated with a well-balanced diet, it can be difficult to keep a consistent approach. Adding a vitamin to your routine can help ensure that your body gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
What is the best multivitamin for women over 50 overall?
While I did not personally test these products, based on key factors such as ingredients and certifications, I found the Thorne Women's Multi 50 Plus to be the best multivitamin for women over 50 overall. However, the best multivitamin will vary for each person based on their health history, routine and goals. To find the best multivitamin for you, be sure to consult your doctor.
SmartyPants Photo Gallery 1/1 SmartyPants Best gummy multivitamin for women over 50 SmartyPants Masters Formula Women 50 Plus Gummy Vitamins Pros SmartyPants multivitamins for women over 50 are made in CGMP-compliant facilities. These are third-party testing facilities that ensure purity. However, the name of these third-party organizations aren't available
In addition to a solid nutritional profile, users say these gummy vitamins taste really good Cons SmartyPants has a high sugar content that some people may want to avoid
Four gummies may be more than you want to manage each day Those looking for a gummy multivitamin instead of a tablet or pill should keep SmartyPants Masters Formula Women 50 Plus on their list. It's our pick for the best gummy multivitamin for women over 50. This multivitamin includes various nutrients like folate, vitamins A, C, D, B6 and B12. You also get lutein for eye health. It doesn't include iron to accommodate the needs of women over 50. When it comes to the best gummy multivitamins for women over 50, we have to talk about sugar. With the delicious flavors comes the high sugar content. User reviews point to SmartyPants gummies tasting really good and not leaving any sort of aftertaste in your mouth. Still, SmartyPants multivitamins have a considerable amount of sugar at 6 grams per serving. ... Show more Get it now $29 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Flavor Blueberry, orange créme, and strawberry banana with other natural flavors Ingredients omega-3 EPA/DHA (from fish oil), Lutein/Zeaxanth, vitamin K, CoQ10, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, organic cane sugar, organic tapioca syrup, pectin, gelatin, citric acid, natural flavors, colors added (organic black carrot juice concentrate), organic sunflower oil, organic carnauba wax Price $34 for 120 gummies Dosage 4 gummies per day Cost per gummy $0.28 Add to compare
One A Day Photo Gallery 1/1 One A Day Best one-tablet multivitamin for women over 50 One A Day Women's 50 Plus Pros Having to take only one a day is helpful for women with busy schedules
One A Day women's multivitamins are ConsumerLab approved, which signals that what's listed on the bottle is what you actually get Cons Even though you have to take only one, the tablet is pretty big, potentially making it difficult to swallow
While One A Day doesn't offer a lot of personalization or added perks (like the mint flavor of Ritual), One A Day is a dependable option that people know and trust Owned by German pharma giant Bayer, One A Day is one of the most popular and affordable vitamin supplements. The best part is that you only have to take one tablet a day. With other women's multivitamin options on this list requiring five or more capsules a day, One A Day is a great choice for women over 50 who are too busy to manage multiple doses. Note that the tablets are on the larger size; user reviews compare it to the width of a quarter. While it isn't what I would consider too big, it may be a problem for women who have trouble swallowing pills. One A Day includes the essential nutrients for issues faced by women over 50, like bone and nerve health decline. You'll get a healthy dose of B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium. It contains no artificial colors or flavors and is allergy-free. ... Show more Get it now $13 at Amazon $13 at Walmart $20 at Target Specs & Configurations Flavor Unflavored Ingredients Vitamin A (11% as beta-carotene), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum Price $20 for 200 tablets Dosage 1 tablet per day Cost per tablet $0.10 Add to compare
Centrum Photo Gallery 1/1 Centrum Best budget multivitamin Centrum Silver Women 50+ Multivitamins Pros Centrum is a well-known vitamin brand
More affordable option than others on the market Cons May not be as comprehensive as other vitamins marketed toward women Centrum is a pretty-well-known name in the supplement industry, which is a good thing to know if you're not wanting to roll the dice on a vitamin maker (and who is?). Importantly, it's also one of the cheaper options out there, at $15 for a 100-count bottle of Centrum Silver's multivitamin for women 50 and up. As its name suggests, this multivitamin is aimed at the concerns of older women, but there's also a universal pill for older adults called Centrum Silver if you want to share vitamins with someone else in your household. ... Show more Get it now $15 at CVS Specs & Configurations Flavor Unflavored Ingredients Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, DL-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Modified Corn Starch. Contains 2% of: Beta-Carotene, BHT (to preserve freshness), Biotin, Blue 2 Lake, Calcium Pantothenate, Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3), Chromium Picolinate, Copper Sulfate, Corn Starch, Crospovidone, Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12), Ferrous Fumarate, Folic Acid, Gelatin, Hypromellose, Lutein, Magnesium Stearate, Manganese Sulfate, Medium-Chain Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Phytonadione (Vit. K), Polydextrose, Potassium lodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6), Red 40 Lake, Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Ascorbate (to preserve freshness), Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenate, Talc, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vit. B1), Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherols (to preserve freshness), Vitamin A Acetate, Zinc Oxide Price $15 for 100 Dosage 1 per day Cost per tablet $0.15 Add to compare
Best multivitamins for women over 50 compared Multivitamin Form Flavor Dosage Ingredients Price Size Cost per capsule Thorne Women's Multi 50 Plus Capsule Unflavored Take 3-6 capsules daily or as recommended by your health-care practitioner. Biotin, Boron (Glycinate Complex), Calcium (Malate), Choline (Citrate), Chromium (Nicotinate Glycinate), Folate (L-5-MTHF), Iodine (Potassium Iodide), Lutein (Aztec Marigold), Magnesium (Malate), Manganese (Bisglycinate Chelate), Pantothenic Acid (Calcium Pantothenate), Thiamine, Vitamin A (Beta carotene), Vitamin A (Palmitate), Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 5'-Phosphate Sodium), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D3, Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol), Zinc (Bisglycinate Chelate), Calcium Laurate, Hypromellose Capsule $45 180-count $0.25 SmartyPants Masters Formula Women 50 Plus Gummy Vitamins Gummy Blueberry, orange créme, and strawberry banana with other natural flavors 4 gummies per day omega-3 EPA/DHA (from fish oil), Lutein/Zeaxanth, vitamin K, CoQ10, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, organic cane sugar, organic tapioca syrup, pectin, gelatin, citric acid, natural flavors, colors added (organic black carrot juice concentrate), organic sunflower oil, organic carnauba wax $32 120-count $0.27 Ritual Essential for Women Multivitamin 50+ Capsule Mint 2 capsules per day Chelated Magnesium, Vitamin D3 sustainably-sourced lichen, Biologically-active Vitamin B12, Omega-3 DHA from microalgae, Methylated Folate, Vitamin K2, Boron, Vitamin E, Beadlets (cellulose, Non-GMO corn zein), stomach acid-resistant vegan capsule (hypromellose, gellan gum), silica $31 60-count $0.52 One A Day Women's 50 Plus Tablet Unflavored 1 tablet per day Vitamin A (11% as beta-carotene), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum $20 200-count $0.09 Centrum Silver Women 50+ Multivitamins Tablet Unflavored 1 per day Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Maltodextrin, DL-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Modified Corn Starch. Contains 2% of: Beta-Carotene, BHT (to preserve freshness), Biotin, Blue 2 Lake, Calcium Pantothenate, Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3), Chromium Picolinate, Copper Sulfate, Corn Starch, Crospovidone, Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12), Ferrous Fumarate, Folic Acid, Gelatin, Hypromellose, Lutein, Magnesium Stearate, Manganese Sulfate, Medium-Chain Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Phytonadione (Vit. K), Polydextrose, Potassium lodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6), Red 40 Lake, Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Ascorbate (to preserve freshness), Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenate, Talc, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vit. B1), Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherols (to preserve freshness), Vitamin A Acetate, Zinc Oxide $15 100-count $0.15
How we test multivitamins Multivitamins aren't a one-size-fits-all industry. There is a ton of nuance that can't be ignored when shopping around. Based on a few key factors, I've pulled together a curated list of the best multivitamins for women over 50 available. I haven't tested these products in-house; the selections were made based on product research for certifications and vitamin and mineral ingredients.
Factors to consider Drug interactions: Some supplements, like antioxidants or vitamin E, can interact with existing medications you may be taking. For example, vitamin E can amplify the effects of blood thinners. If you're taking prescription medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding a multivitamin to your diet. Health history and vitamin deficiencies: Vitamins are intended to fill in the gaps left by our diet. If you don't have any gaps, you may not need to take a vitamin supplement. What's best for you, though, will depend on your health history and blood work -- including any vitamin deficiencies you may have. That's why it's best to talk with your doctor about their recommendations for a multivitamin or supplement, so you can get the most tailored advice. Budget: There is a quality multivitamin at every budget level. However, the ones with the most personalization or special additives -- like probiotics -- will cost more. Deciding how much you're willing to spend will help you narrow down your search. Dosage: If only all vitamins were one pill. That's not the reality of the vitamin market. Many of the best supplements require that you take five or more capsules a day. That's not ideal for some people. Vitamin form: For folks who have difficulty swallowing pills, you should consider the form your multivitamin comes in. Some tablets or capsules are larger than others and may impede your ability to consistently take them. Consider one of the best gummy vitamins for women over 50 instead.