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The best multivitamins for men provide essential vitamins and minerals to boost energy, improve brain and bone health, and more. In this article, we compile our best medically vetted options.
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. For the purposes of this article, we use “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
Males and females often benefit from differing vitamin and mineral types, quantities, and combinations. With this in mind, some companies develop specific formulas of supplements, vitamins, shakes, and health bars. A person should discuss their options with a doctor or healthcare professional who can help them decide, and choose the product they feel works best for them and their needs.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today chooses vitamins for males that meet the following criteria:
Ingredients: MNT chooses products containing safe and high quality ingredients with clear labeling. Manufacturers should also confirm they are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and mold. The ingredients in the vitamins should be appropriate for enhancing male health.
Dosage and serving size: MNT chooses products that must clearly state the supplement dosage.
Third-party testing: MNT chooses products that must undergo third-party testing for contaminants by an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
Available certificate of analysis (COA): MNT chooses companies that demonstrate transparency and share a product’s COA following receipt of its third-party lab results.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more.
Below are some factors to consider when choosing a multivitamin product:
Price: Multivitamins can be expensive. A person can consider how long each bottle of multivitamins will last and how often they would like to take them. Some brands may offer similar formulations for a lower price.
Form: Multivitamins are available as gummies, tablets, and softgels. People can choose their preferred form depending on whether they find swallowing tablets difficult or want a flavored option.
Free from: Some individuals may prefer or require supplements that do not contain ingredients such as lactose, gluten, or animal ingredients. Manufacturers typically state if products contain potential allergens on the packaging label and in online product descriptions.
Ingredients: Product labels and company websites should provide a list of the ingredients a multivitamin contains. Some may contain some of the vitamins that someone may be lacking, but it does not mean they contain them all. Also, some formulations may contain high levels of a certain vitamin. For instance, some studies indicate the dangers of having too much calcium from supplements. If a person takes a supplement with a high level of a nutrient that they also take in through their diet, they may end up having too much.
Precautions: Individuals should consult a medical professional before taking multivitamins, as the ingredients may interact with medications or interfere with laboratory tests.
How to take: People can check how often they should take the vitamins and whether they should take them with food. Buyers should prioritize products that give clear dosage instructions.
People need to consult a healthcare professional about the supplements they may need to take and avoid.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that one-third of adults in the United States take multivitamins or minerals. Multivitamins and minerals accounted for 38% of all sales of vitamin and mineral supplements in 2019.
It is not usually necessary to take more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals. Exceeding this limit for certain nutrients, such as preformed vitamin A, can have health risks.
An individual might choose to take multivitamin and mineral supplements for many reasons, including:
replacing nutrients they lack in their diet
reducing the risk of chronic conditions
improving their overall health
Young adults
Young adults going through puberty should focus on eating a balanced diet that incorporates a variety of foods, such as:
lean meats, poultry, fish, or other healthy sources of protein
For young adults who lack nutrition in their diet, there may be a benefit to taking multivitamins and mineral supplements.
Getting at least 1,300 milligrams (mg) of calcium daily is necessary to keep teeth and bones healthy in young males aged 9–18.
Furthermore, the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Doctors recommend that young males get at least 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily.
Young males ages 14–18 also need at least 11 mg of iron daily. Getting too little iron can lead to anemia.
Iron is present in many foods, such as fish, chicken, beans, and spinach. Most young males will get enough iron from their diets and require less iron on a daily basis compared with people who may have begun menstruation.
For adults over the age of 18 who feel they need supplementation to their diets, various multivitamins are available.
Older adults
Osteoporosis is more common in females, but as males reach age 50, their risk of developing the condition may also increase. Getting additional calcium and vitamin D can help protect bones from osteoporosis.
After age 70, males should aim to get 1,200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D per day.
Most multivitamins and mineral supplements contain low amounts of calcium. Consuming more dairy or alternative milk products can help a person increase their calcium intake. Another option is to take calcium supplements.
Athletes
Typically, people who engage in sports and physical activity burn more calories than those who do not. Therefore, they need to eat more to maintain their weight. It is unclear whether athletic individuals also need more than the RDA of vitamins or minerals.
Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health, and studies have looked at its importance as a supplement for athletes. This research puts forward several other health claims for the use of vitamin D supplements, including that they:
aid recovery from muscle injury
improve heart and lung function
support the immune system
promote muscle growth
More high quality research is necessary to confirm whether athletes gain additional benefits from supplementing vitamin D.
Brain health
Many studies have investigated whether getting extra vitamins or minerals can improve brain health.
One study suggests that vitamin B6 may help improve cognitive performance in older males with cognitive impairment.
However, a 2020 review did not show significant evidence that vitamin B6 supplement can improve brain function.
Vegetarian or vegan diets
Males following a vegetarian or vegan diet may lack vitamin B12, which is mostly present in animal products.
Anyone over 14 years old and following a vegetarian or vegan diet should consider taking at least 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 daily.
Males of all ages should ensure they are getting as many essential vitamins and minerals as possible each day. They should prioritize getting these nutrients through their diet.
The National Agricultural Library (NAL) provides a free online tool for someone to calculate their optimal intake of vitamins and minerals. A person just needs to enter their sex, age, height, weight, and activity level.
There are 15 essential vitamins and 15 essential minerals, which include those below.
Vitamins
Minerals
• vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K • thiamin • riboflavin • folate • niacin • choline • pantothenic acid • biotin • carotenoids
On the whole, a person will find similar ingredients in all multivitamins. However, multivitamins for men will be tailored specifically for men’s health, meaning the levels of each vitamin and mineral will differ than multivitamins for women’s health.
For instance, men’s multivitamins will often contain less iron than women’s multivitamins because males do not lose iron through menstruation. Additionally, the doses of important fertility nutrients, such as folic acid, will be lower in men’s multivitamins.
However, for men’s multivitamins, additional ingredients may include saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol. These ingredients may help support prostate health. However, further research into this is necessary.
What ingredients are in the best multivitamins for men?
The ingredients in a multivitamin will vary among brands. The amount of each vitamin or mineral will also vary product by product.
Multivitamins for men typically contain:
vitamin D
vitamin B12
calcium
magnesium
zinc
Other ingredients that may be present in men’s multivitamins include:
A person should not exceed the daily recommended intake of vitamins or minerals. They should look at the daily values on the product packaging and consider if they get these vitamins from their diet or other supplements to ensure they take a safe amount.
The FDA also states a person should consult with a healthcare professional before taking multivitamins. They should discuss any current medications to ensure these will not negatively interact.
Additionally, the FDA does not regulate multivitamins. This means a person should be cautious when choosing a multivitamin. They need to research the company and look at customer reviews before making a purchase to help ensure the product is safe. They should only buy products that clearly list the ingredients, their amounts, and the dosage.
A person can also ask a healthcare professional for recommendations.
No research is available to indicate the best time to take a multivitamin.
Manufacturers often do not recommend when a person should take multivitamins. However, manufacturers sometimes recommend taking multivitamins with food to increase absorption.
It may be best for someone to take a multivitamin in the morning so they experience any potential benefits throughout the day.
If a person has any adverse reactions while taking multivitamins, they should seek medical advice. According to the FDA, this may happen if someone:
mixes medications and supplements
takes too much of a supplement
substitutes supplements for medications
If a person thinks they have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, they should speak with a healthcare professional. A simple blood test can determine any deficiencies that may be present, and a doctor can advise on how someone can increase their levels of relevant vitamins or minerals.
Below are answers to some common questions about multivitamins.
Many companies market their multivitamins as dietary supplements containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids, among other ingredients.
According to the FDA, these products can help provide the body with vital substances or reduce the risk of certain conditions.
However, they do not treat, prevent, or cure any condition, and a person should not use them to replace complete, nutritious meals.
The NIH recommends that people, especially those who take blood thinning medications, consult a doctor about whether they can take a multivitamin. This is because vitamin K products can decrease the effectiveness of some drugs, such as warfarin.
People will have different nutritional needs based on their health, diet, and lifestyle.
However, the NIH set guidelines for daily intakes of each vitamin and mineral.
Additionally, NAL provides an online tool for people to calculate their optimal vitamin and mineral intake.
Anyone worried about vitamin or mineral deficiencies should speak with a doctor to discuss the best supplements for them.
The best multivitamin on the market will depend on a person’s needs.
People should prioritize products that have undergone third-party testing to ensure they only contain the ingredients listed on the packaging and are free from contaminants.
The best brand of multivitamin will depend on a person’s needs, preferences, and budget.
Some of the best brands include Centrum, Thorne, Ritual, and MegaFood. All of these brands send their products for third-party testing and passed our strict vetting standards
These options include the most important vitamins and minerals for males in every dose, and the companies send their products for testing at third-party labs.
This ensures the multivitamins contain exactly what the packaging states and do not contain dangerous ingredients or contaminants.
People should discuss their chosen multivitamin with a doctor to ensure it is safe and appropriate for them to take.
The Centrum for Men multivitamin contains 100% of a person’s daily intake of several important nutrients, suggesting that it will help males keep on top of their daily intake of vitamins and minerals.
The multivitamin prioritizes B12, which is known for benefitting red blood cell production and brain health.
People can discuss this supplement with a doctor to understand whether it is appropriate for them to take.
There are many multivitamin and mineral supplements available for males. Following a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to get all the nutrients someone needs to stay healthy.
However, it can be more difficult for some people to get enough vitamins from diet alone, including those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. In these cases, taking multivitamins or mineral supplements is a convenient and effective way to improve a person’s intake of essential nutrients.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
de la Puente Yague M, et al. (2020). Role of vitamin D in athletes and their performance: Current concepts and new trends. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/2/579
Stewart KL, et al. (2023). Overview of BPH: Symptom relief with dietary polyphenols, vitamins and phytochemicals by nutraceutical supplements with implications to the prostate microbiome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10058027/
