Why not make the process of picking a multivitamin way less complicated, especially after considering the overwhelming amount of choices that there already are in the first place.
The first way to limit the number of choices that you have to sift through is by narrowing it down to picking a multivitamin made specifically for your gender.
Both women and men need the same essential 13 vitamins and minerals for overall health. But where the differences begin is how many of those vitamins and minerals they need to have.
For example, women typically have less iron than men, along with less zinc, calcium, and vitamin B12, particularly if they don’t eat meat and adhere to a plant-based diet.
On the other hand, selenium and zinc can really help a men’s immune systems and sexual functionality, including sperm health, making them appear in higher amounts in multivitamins for men.
Learn more about what you need to look out for in your own health supplements by checking these nine differences between men’s and women’s multivitamins that you should be aware of.
Cranberry
It is a common occurrence to find that women’s multivitamins include cranberry extract in order to support a healthy urinary tract system.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen much more frequently in women than they do in men and cranberry assists in creating a more acidic environment in the bladder to reduce the growth of bacteria.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency in older men and obese men can be a factor to keep an eye out for, which is why you will often see vitamin D in men’s multis.
Vitamin D3 supports bone health and healthy immune system function and can also help out to stabilize your mood.
Iron
According to research that has been published in American Family Physician, women are more likely than men to deal with iron deficiency, particularly if they happen to be pregnant. Due to this reason, women’s multivitamins almost always have iron in them.
Women that are old enough to reproduce need to be made sure that they are getting enough reproductive age and need to be careful to get enough iron because the need for it increases because of the level of blood loss during menstruation.
The importance of iron stems from its effects on healthy fertility, prenatal and postpartum health, along with cognitive health, which explains why you don’t see that iron amount in women’s multis that target older, postmenopausal women.
B Vitamins
Research has linked particular B vitamins with increased testosterone levels, which is especially important for aging men who naturally have less of them over the course of time.
Also, B12, B6, and B3 serve as essential assistants in the conversion of food to energy, along with working with the body to produce red blood cells.
B vitamins can have a beneficial impact on heart health, mental ability, exercise performance, and recovery, to name a few.
Folate
Women’s multivitamins may contain larger levels of folate or folic acid, which is a needed nutrient for pregnancy.
The recommended daily allowance of folate for adult women and men is 400 micrograms, but it isn’t the same for pregnant women, who should have 600 micrograms each day.
Being that folate is a water-soluble B vitamin, the body is able to flush out what it doesn’t use.
Zinc
Men’s multivitamins generally offer more zinc than are typically found in women’s multis, especially considering that zinc is crucial for having a healthy prostate and for producing testosterone.
While women only need eight milligrams of zinc per day, men need 11 milligrams.
Iodine
Iodine is a vital nutrient in the fight against thyroid issues that tend to be more frequent in women than they do in men.
Iodine is also necessary for women’s ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone, along with ensuring a healthy pregnancy can take place for both the mother and her baby by supporting breast and metabolic health, adding to the nutritional value of breast milk that assists with the development of the brain, bone, and muscles in babies.
Amino Acids
There are men’s multis that contain more of an amino acid blend to maintain muscle mass maintenance and recovery.
Calcium
Women over the age of 51 generally need 200 milligrams more per day,
Multivitamins don’t meet daily calcium requirements; women’s multivitamins generally have higher quantities than men’s.
Does Everyone Need Gender-Specific Vitamins
Men’s multivitamins and women’s multivitamins are customized for those groups.
But it’s always important to consider your individual needs when shopping for supplements.
Be aware that just because you picked a multivitamin that suits your gender and your age bracket doesn’t mean that it will automatically cover all your necessities and needs for nutrients.
Calcium, magnesium, omega-3s, probiotics, and vitamin D can very well require separate supplementation if you aren’t getting enough through your current multivitamin and your food intake.
Be sure to also have a nutrition assessment performed by a qualified professional if you have concerns about your nutrition needs based on your age, gender, medical history, and bloodwork.