{"id":11563,"date":"2020-05-27T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=11563"},"modified":"2025-12-22T13:40:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T18:40:58","slug":"vitamins-for-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/vitamins-for-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Do multivitamins for women actually work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it\u2019s from a boutique health brand, a jar full of fruity gummies, or a traditional white bottle from your local pharmacy\u2014most Americans take a<\/span>\u00a0vitamin<\/span><\/a> every day. In fact, 86% regularly take vitamins, according to an online survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the <\/span>American Osteopathic Association<\/span>. <\/span>Ninety-seven percent of women take prenatal vitamins or multivitamins during pregnancy, <\/span>according to a <\/span>similar survey<\/span> conducted by The Harris Poll for March of Dimes<\/span>. But do multivitamins work? Who actually needs these vitamins, and do they improve your health?<\/span><\/p>\n

For decades, vitamins have been marketed as an easy way to make up for a poor diet and get the essential nutrients your body needs. But the most recent science says that multivitamins\u2014whether they\u2019re a special formulation for women or not\u2014aren\u2019t as good for your overall health as you might imagine. A <\/span>review<\/span> of meta-analyses, authoritative reviews, and expert panel reports examining the benefits of vitamin supplementation found insufficient evidence to recommend the use of multivitamins among the general population; in some cases, they can even cause harm. So should you be taking a daily multivitamin for women? The experts say, \u201cProbably not.\u201d Here\u2019s why.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common ingredients in a multivitamin for women<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you pick up a bottle of vitamins that says \u201cspecifically formulated for women,\u201d what does that mean? Is it for bone health or pregnant women?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany brands of vitamins marketed toward women will have high levels of certain nutrients that women are commonly deficient in, such as iron or calcium,\u201d says <\/span>Whitney Linsenmeyer, Ph.D.<\/span><\/a>, RD, LD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and assistant professor of nutrition at Saint Louis University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But being labeled as \u201cwomen\u2019s specific\u201d may mean nothing at all. \u201cThere is plenty of marketing to suggest that multivitamins for women are distinct from other multivitamins. The reality is that there is no legal or regulatory definition for multivitamins, including those marketed specifically to women.\u201d In other words, women\u2019s vitamins may be no different from other supplements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most commonly, women\u2019s vitamins contain a long list of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, B vitamins (vitamin B6 and vitamin B12), vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and biotin. However, vitamins and supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means they are not subject to their standards or laws, so ingredient lists and amounts can widely vary. This means that the list of ingredients in each pill may not be present at all or may be in the pill at a much higher amount.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do vitamins for women really work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most physicians and scientists do not suggest a daily multivitamin for the following reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s not strong evidence of benefits.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Even as early as 2006, the National Institute of Health said there wasn’t enough evidence to recommend taking multivitamins. Additionally, an <\/span>editorial<\/span><\/a> that accompanied a study published in the <\/span>Annals of Internal Medicine<\/span><\/i> was pretty straightforward with the title: \u201cEnough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many experts take a definitive stance on supplements, stating that most people should stop spending their money on multivitamins after seeing study after study prove their benefit to be small, or nonexistent\u2014especially for postmenopausal women. A Women’s Health Initiative<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> found that postmenopausal women who took multivitamins did not have a lower death rate than others and were just as likely to develop cardiovascular disease or cancers of the lung, colon, rectum, breast, and endometrium\u2014these results that are consistent with findings from a plethora of other studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vitamins could be harmful.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Surprisingly, some research finds that not only are multivitamins a waste of money, but they are also a hazard to your health. \u201cThe quantity of vitamins and minerals in any supplement is important, especially when considering the risk of exceeding the upper limit intake of a given nutrient\u2014as this may pose a risk for toxicity, which can have significant adverse health effects,\u201d Linsenmeyer says. \u201cConsumers are encouraged to not exceed the recommended dosage, and to work with their physician and\/or registered dietitian to ensure they are not at risk for toxicity or any adverse interactions with other foods or medications.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCertain vitamins and minerals can impact the absorption of medications, either inhibiting the absorption or increasing it,\u201d <\/span>Willow Jarosh, MS, RD<\/span><\/a>, and owner of Willow Jarosh Nutrition in New York City, says. \u201cIn addition, some supplemental nutrients can have similar effects to medications\u2014so if you’re taking a medication that, say, thins the blood and also taking a multivitamin that has a mild blood thinning effect, that could compound the effects.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s best to get nutrients from food.<\/span><\/h3>\n

That\u2019s why most health experts, nutritionists, and dietitians recommend getting your vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. \u201cI follow a food-first philosophy, meaning it is ideal to get the nutrients you need through whole foods,\u201d Linsenmeyer says. \u201cThis is because the nutrients in whole foods are often better absorbed than in supplement form. Whole foods contain other beneficial compounds beyond just vitamins and minerals\u2014such as phytochemicals and fiber, and there is low risk for consuming micronutrients in excess from whole foods.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To satisfy your body\u2019s nutritional needs with food, try incorporating this list, recommended by<\/span> Harvard Health,<\/span><\/a> into your diet:<\/span><\/p>\n