The 11 Best Multivitamins for Women’s Health in 2022, According to a Dietitian

A quick look at the best multivitamins for women’s health

• Best women’s multivitamin to fill nutrient gaps: Ritual Essentials for Women 18+
• Best women’s multivitamin subscription pack: Care/of Women’s Foundation + Iron
• Best women’s whole-foods multivitamin: MegaFood Women’s One Daily
• Best women’s multivitamin gummy: OLLY The Perfect Women’s Multi
• Best gluten-free women’s multivitamin: Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women
• Best women’s multivitamin for athletes: Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women
• Best prenatal multivitamin: FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin
• Best multivitamin for women over age 50: Thorne Women’s Multi 50+
• Best women’s multivitamin that’s easy to digest: New Chapter One Daily Every Woman’s Multi
• Best vegan women’s multivitamin: Garden of Life mykind Organics Women’s Multi
• Best affordable women’s multivitamin: Nature Made Multi for Her

Benefits of multivitamins for women

While many women can meet their nutrient needs through diet alone, certain groups may benefit from taking a multivitamin.

For example, multivitamin supplements are often recommended to people who are pregnant and breastfeeding or chestfeeding to support the physiological changes that take place during gestation and nursing.

Nutrient deficiencies that arise during critical periods of growth and development can cause severe and irreversible complications in both the person giving birth and the baby (1, 2, 3, 4).

Additionally, research has shown that pregnant women’s typical intakes of some nutrients — iron, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), folic acid, and vitamin D — fall short of their needs (1, 2, 3).

People following patterns of eating that omit food groups, such as strict vegetarians and vegans and people with food allergies, may also benefit from taking a multivitamin to make up for the missing nutrients.

Plus, as you age, your nutrient needs change. A multivitamin can be helpful to bridge any nutrient gaps (5).

Still, keep in mind that not everyone needs a multivitamin, as some individuals get plenty of nutrients through diet alone. Before taking a multivitamin, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional.

How we chose

Because buying supplements can be confusing and overwhelming, we rounded up the best multivitamins for women using criteria that we believe to be important indicators of safety, quality, and transparency.

Every brand and product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements, per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) established by the FDA
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust, such as having its supplements validated by third-party labs

Additional factors we considered included:

• Nutrient quality: We looked for products that use highly absorbable forms of vitamins and minerals.
• Ingredients: We included products that are made from quality ingredients and free of artificial additives. We also paid close attention to the types and amounts of nutrients included in each product.
• Health concerns: We looked for products to suit a variety of needs.

Healthline’s picks for the best multivitamins for women

Best women’s multivitamin to help fill nutrient gaps

Ritual Essential for Women 18+

• Price: $$
• Age group: 18–49 years
• Type: capsules
• Dosage: 2 capsules daily
• Vitamins and minerals: folate, iron, magnesium, boron, omega-3 DHA, and vitamins D3, E, B12, and K1

Ritual Essential for Women 18+ is a subscription-based multivitamin that’s formulated to provide nutrients that many women ages 18–49 may not get enough of, including vitamin D, folate, and omega-3 DHA (6, 7, 8).

Omega-3 DHA is an essential nutrient that’s associated with numerous benefits, including supporting eye, heart, and brain health. While DHA is typically found in oily fish, the DHA in Ritual’s multivitamin is sourced from microalgae, so it’s vegan-friendly (9).

A clinical study found Ritual Essentials Multivitamin to be effective in improving levels of vitamin D and omega-3 DHA in 105 healthy premenopausal women ages 21–40 over 12 weeks. However, several of the authors were employed by Ritual, and Ritual helped fund the study (10).

Notably missing from this multivitamin are vitamin C, B vitamins, selenium, and calcium. However, vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K2 are included, which can help improve the absorption of calcium from your diet to promote overall bone health (11).

Still, if you’re concerned about your calcium intake, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional to see if there are dietary sources you can add or if a calcium-containing supplement is necessary.

Overall, Ritual Essential for Women 18+ is a great option for women who already eat a nutritionally balanced diet, but it might not be the best choice if you’re looking for a more comprehensive multivitamin.

Best women’s multivitamin subscription pack

Care/of Women’s Foundation + Iron

• Price: $$
• Age group: adults
• Type: tablets
• Dosage: 2 tablets daily
• Vitamins and minerals: folate, choline, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, silica, boron, mixed tocopherols, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, and K2

If you’re looking for a vitamin pack that’s perfect for traveling or on the go, Care/of Women’s Foundation + Iron may be a good fit.

Unlike many other multivitamins on the market, this product contains less than 100% of the Daily Value (DV) for many of the nutrients. This is because it’s designed to fill nutrient gaps in the diet rather than to serve as the sole source of these vitamins and minerals.

However, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, and folate are all included at or above 100% of the DV, as women’s diets are often low in these nutrients (1, 2, 3).

What’s more, these tablets are vegan and are a good option for women following a plant-based diet because they provide 100% of the DV for vitamin B12, a nutrient that’s often lacking in vegan diets (12).

The multivitamin also contains iron, an important nutrient for menstruating women. However, Care/of also offers an iron-free version of the Women’s Foundation.

According to the company’s website, all the ingredients used in Care/of products meet NSF standards and are tested three separate times for quality. Final products are third-party tested.

Best women’s whole-foods multivitamin

MegaFood Women’s One Daily

• Price: $$
• Age group: adults
• Type: tablets
• Dosage: 1 tablet daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, boron, and vitamins A, C, D3, E, K, B6, and B12

Many vitamins and supplements contain synthetic ingredients. However, if you prefer a more natural, whole-foods-based multivitamin, MegaFoods Women’s One Daily is worth considering.

The multivitamin offers a comprehensive list of nutrients, all of which are derived from plant-based ingredients.

According to the company’s website, the use of real foods in these tablets helps make them easier on the stomach.

Like a few others on our list, this multivitamin contains more than the DV for some nutrients, including many of the B vitamins.

While toxicity is unlikely, if you regularly consume a nutrient-dense diet, this supplement may lead to excessive consumption of some nutrients and may not be the best fit for you.

Lastly, while MegaFood supplements are tested for herbicides and pesticides, they’re not third-party tested for purity or accuracy.

Best women’s multivitamin gummy

OLLY The Perfect Women’s Multi

• Price: $
• Age group: adults
• Type: gummies
• Dosage: 2 gummies daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorous, iodine, zinc, selenium, chromium, boron, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12

If swallowing capsules or tablets isn’t your thing, a gummy vitamin can be an easier alternative. This women’s gummy is a complete multivitamin that’s meant to support bone and skin health.

The supplement provides several essential nutrients, including B vitamins, vitamin D, and calcium. It’s also iron-free, making it suitable for postmenopausal women as iron needs decrease after menopause (13).

Also included is biotin, which is meant to offer skin benefits. However, the research on biotin’s effect on skin health is mixed (14, 15, 16).

To ensure purity and potency, The Perfect Women’s Multi gummies are third-party tested by NSF International.

Best gluten-free women’s multivitamin

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women

• Price: $$$
• Age group: adults
• Type: capsules
• Dosage: 4 capsules daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, manganese, chromium, and molybdenum, and vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12

This multivitamin from Garden of Life is certified gluten-free by NSF International, making it a good choice if you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder.

The capsules are also a great fit if you’re vegetarian or prefer to follow a raw whole-foods diet.

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women capsules contain live probiotics and enzymes, as well as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D3, E, and B complex.

The ingredient list also includes a raw organic fruit and vegetable blend, as well as raw antioxidant and enzyme blends.

Keep in mind that these are proprietary blends, so the amounts of each ingredient aren’t listed. If you’re unsure about any of the ingredients or are sensitive to any of them, avoid this product.

According to the company’s website, all Garden of Life products are manufactured in CGMP-compliant facilities and are third-party tested, though the name of the testing organization isn’t disclosed.

Best women’s multivitamin for athletes

Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women

• Price: $
• Age group: adults
• Type: capsules
• Dosage: 2 capsules daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12

Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women is formulated to support women with an active lifestyle, providing 23 essential vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, iron, and vitamin D (17, 18, 19).

All Optimum Nutrition products are third-party tested and processed in a CGMP-compliant facility.

Keep in mind that because this multivitamin contains high doses of several nutrients, you may want to take just one capsule per day.

Additionally, while the capsules are approved by the Vegetarian Society, the company doesn’t disclose whether the nutrients themselves are derived from plant or animal sources.

Finally, as the product contains a long list of herbs, it may not be suitable for people taking certain medications. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional to make sure that the product is safe for you.

Best prenatal multivitamin

FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin

• Price: $$$
• Age group: adults
• Type: capsules
• Dosage: 8 capsules daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, potassium, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, and K2

Developed by a registered dietitian and fertility nutrition expert, FullWell Prenatal Multivitamin is formulated to provide the types and amounts of nutrients needed to support a healthy pregnancy (20).

The company also claims that the supplement is beneficial for women who are trying to conceive and those who are breastfeeding.

In addition to nutrients like folate and calcium, the supplement includes choline, an essential nutrient that’s important for fetal development and proper functioning of the placenta (21).

According to the company’s website, FullWell didn’t include omega-3 DHA in its prenatal vitamin due to concerns that DHA may not be as effective when combined with a multivitamin.

However, because adequate amounts of DHA are important during pregnancy, it’s important to discuss taking a DHA supplement with your healthcare professional (20).

Every batch of FullWell Prenatal Multivitamins is third-party tested for harmful contaminants, such as heavy metals, though the name of the testing organization isn’t disclosed.

Best multivitamin for women over age 50

Thorne Women’s Multi 50+

• Price: $$$
• Age group: 50+ years
• Type: capsules
• Dosage: 6 capsules daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, manganese, chromium, boron, lutein, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12

After menopause, your nutrient needs change. Specifically, postmenopausal women need less iron but more calcium and vitamin B6 (22, 23).

This multivitamin for women over 50 is specifically formulated to address changing nutrient needs as you age, since it’s iron-free and provides highly absorbable forms of vitamins D, B12, and B6. It also contains a small amount of calcium.

The Women’s Multi 50+ also includes lutein, an antioxidant that plays an important role in maintaining eye health (24).

Throne Research manufactures its products in third-party certified facilities and received an “A” rating from the Therapeutic Goods Association, a regulatory agency run by the Australian Department of Health. The supplements are also NSF Certified for Sport.

Best women’s multivitamin that’s easy to digest

New Chapter One Daily Every Woman’s Multi

• Price: $$
• Age group: adults
• Type: tablets
• Dosage: 1 tablet daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and vitamins, A, C, D3, E, K, B6, and B12

If you’ve had difficulty tolerating multivitamins in the past, New Chapter One Daily Every Woman’s Multi is worth considering.

This whole-foods-based supplement contains probiotics and fermented nutrients, which the company claims are easier to tolerate on an empty stomach.

It’s also made with certified organic vegetables and herbs, with no synthetic fillers or animal gelatin.

Like a few other vitamins on this list, this supplement includes a few proprietary blends, so the amounts of each ingredient aren’t listed.

Be sure to scan the label for any ingredients that you may have a sensitivity to or that may interact with another medication you’re taking.

New Chapter is a Certified B Corporation, which means it meets high business standards. The products are also NSF Certified.

Best vegan women’s multivitamin

Garden of Life mykind Organics Women’s Multi

• Price: $$$
• Age group: adults
• Type: tablets
• Dosage: 2 tablets daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, manganese, chromium, and vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12

This organic, whole-foods multivitamin is a once-daily vegan tablet with 15 vitamins and minerals.

It’s designed to support a healthy metabolism, promote sustained energy, support blood and heart health, and promote healthy skin and nails.

Like many other supplements that are meant to offer beauty benefits, this one contains a large amount of biotin.

While biotin is a popular ingredient, remember that the evidence supporting its effectiveness isn’t very strong (14, 15, 16).

Also keep in mind that many of the nutrients are in quantities larger than 100% of the DV, including some fat-soluble vitamins.

It’s possible to experience toxicity if you overconsume certain vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K. So, if you eat a well-balanced diet, this product may not be the best choice for you (25).

Garden of Life products are third-party tested, though the name of the testing organization isn’t disclosed.

Best affordable women’s multivitamin

Nature Made Multi for Her

• Price: $
• Age group: adults
• Type: tablets
• Dosage: 1 tablet daily
• Vitamins and minerals: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and vitamins A, C, D3, E, K, B6, and B12

Nature Made Multi for Her may be less expensive than other multivitamins on the market, but it still contains 23 nutrients that are important for women’s health.

For example, it contains 100% of the DV for iron in the form of ferrous fumarate — a highly absorbable form of iron — making this multivitamin a great option for menstruating women (26).

It’s also third-party tested and verified by United States Pharmacopeia (USP), which means you can trust the quality of the product and the accuracy of the label.

That being said, this multivitamin contains quite a bit more than 100% of the DV for some vitamins, including vitamins C, D3, and E, as well as some minerals, like zinc, chromium, and copper.

As previously mentioned, regularly consuming excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins like D and E can lead to toxicity (25).

If you typically include these nutrients in your diet, this may not be the best multivitamin for you.

A comparison of the best multivitamins for women

Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:

How to choose a multivitamin for women

With so many multivitamins available, deciding what product to choose can feel overwhelming. Here are a few factors to consider:

• Age and life stage: There are multivitamins made specifically for different age groups, as nutrient needs change as with age. Similarly, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should opt for a product specifically formulated to meet prenatal or postnatal needs.
• Dietary restrictions or allergies: Be sure to carefully read ingredient labels if you have a food allergy or dietary restriction.
• Amount of nutrients provided: In general, it’s best to avoid products that contain megadoses — doses many times higher than the recommended amount — of any vitamins or minerals unless a healthcare professional has recommended that you take a high dose.
• Number of pills: If you have difficulty remembering to take your vitamins, opt for a product that’s taken once per day. Additionally, if you don’t like swallowing pills, consider a gummy or chewable option instead.
• Budget: Since some products recommend taking multiple pills per day, be sure to consider the price per serving when determining whether a supplement fits your budget.
• Quality: Look for supplements that are thoroughly tested for quality and accuracy. Ideally, choose products that are third-party tested by organizations such as USP, NSF International, and ConsumerLab.

Before beginning any new supplement, we recommend talking with a healthcare professional. Not everyone needs to take vitamins.

If you’re deficient in any specific nutrients, your healthcare professional may recommend taking a single-nutrient vitamin instead.

Frequently asked questions

Do women’s multivitamins really work?

Taking a multivitamin can help certain people meet nutrient needs. However, it also can increase nutrient intakes beyond what’s considered safe (25).

In terms of improving overall health and preventing chronic diseases, multivitamins may play a role, though more research is needed (27, 28).

Furthermore, research has shown that healthy people are more likely to regularly take a multivitamin than those who have nutritional deficiencies. For this reason, the research on whether a multivitamin can improve health outcomes is inconclusive (25).

That being said, because multivitamins can help fill gaps in nutrition, a doctor may still recommend one for you.

Is it good to take a multivitamin every day?

Studies have shown that while taking a multivitamin daily can help some individuals meet their nutritional needs, in others it may lead to excessive intakes of nutrients (25).

For this reason, it’s important to carefully read supplement labels and identify any nutrients that you’re already consuming regularly, either through your diet or through other supplements you may be taking.

Another important factor is the types of vitamins included in a product.

Water-soluble vitamins, like B vitamins and vitamin C, are easily excreted in your urine when consumed in excess. However, fat-soluble vitamins — vitamins A, D, E, and K — can build up in your body, potentially leading to toxicity (29).

It’s a good idea to check with a healthcare professional before beginning any new supplement, including a multivitamin. They may recommend a single-nutrient vitamin for you, rather than a multivitamin, to ensure you aren’t regularly consuming excessive amounts of nutrients.

What vitamins should women take daily?

There’s no one-size-fits-all vitamin protocol, as nutrient needs vary from person to person.

That said, it’s not uncommon for women to be low in iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B6 (30).

Still, before taking any vitamin supplements, it’s best to have your diet assessed by a nutrition professional to see if supplements are necessary.

What’s the best time to take a multivitamin?

Some vitamins, like water-soluble vitamins, can be absorbed on an empty stomach. However, multivitamins typically contain fat-soluble vitamins as well, which require dietary fat for absorption.

That’s why it’s often best to take your multivitamin with a meal or snack.

To make it easier to remember to take your multivitamin, it may be helpful to take your vitamin with the same meal each day.

What are the best multivitamins for pregnant women?

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, it’s recommended that you take a multivitamin specifically formulated to meet the unique nutrient demands of pregnancy. This type of vitamin will best support your body’s needs and the growth of your baby (31).

FullWell is one of the best prenatal multivitamins. Each serving has 4,000 IU of vitamin D, 227% of the DV for folate, and 55% of the recommended intake of choline — an important nutrient for fetal and placental development that’s often missing from prenatal supplements (32).

Of course, there are several other high quality prenatal multivitamins that are worth considering as well.

The bottom line

Multivitamins can help fill nutritional gaps for people who have difficulty meeting their nutrient needs through diet alone, as well as those who are pregnant, are breastfeeding or chestfeeding, or have certain dietary restrictions.

But not everyone needs a multivitamin, and regularly consuming some nutrients in excess can be detrimental to overall health.

Be sure to check with a healthcare professional before beginning any new supplements, including a multivitamin.

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