Written by Menswear Style in Health & Fitness on the 18th October 2022

Browse the shelves of any pharmacy or health food store, either online or in real life, and you’ll see an extraordinary array of different food supplements. Some, we might recognise, such as standard multivitamins for men, others might take a bit of research to understand. Vitamins and minerals are known as the micronutrients. Unlike the macronutrients – carbs, proteins and fats – the micronutrients contain zero calories and they provide no energy. A nine to five followed by a gym session, family commitments, date night or evening with friends isn’t sustained on vitamins and minerals alone. We need macros for fuel and energy. But the micronutrients are just as vital. Each one, from vitamin A to zinc has an essential role, from converting our food into energy to supporting our immune system and looking after the health of our hearts and brains. Every human being requires a good balance of vitamins and minerals, but there are some extra nutritional needs specific to our age and gender. Plus, there are times when we will further benefit from extra nutritional support from a multivitamin supplement.

Why do I need to take a multivitamin? 

I ate my five a day most days this week, why would I need to take a vitamin supplement? Good question. A balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, good fats and lean protein is considered healthy. Incorporating fresh produce, brown bread and pasta, grains such as buckwheat and quinoa, healthy fats from oily fish, walnuts and olive oil and white meat, fish, beans, pulses, nuts and seeds for protein will provide a wide range of nutrients required for good overall wellbeing – both physically and mentally. However, it’s not always possible to eat so healthily every day. Life has a habit of getting in the way, either because we’re stressed and busy or happy and in a celebratory mood. Either way, we might make less than healthy choices, snack and graze all day on calorie-laden, nutrient-deficient foods or rely on our emotional support ‘crutches’ such as caffeine, alcohol, smoking and junk food. Even if we do consume fresh fruits and vegetables each day, if they’re intensively farmed with the use of pesticides and fertilisers, they could contain fewer micronutrients than you might expect. Sometimes, our lifestyles may also mean that we need extra support from a multivitamin. Stress, burnout from a high pressure job, medications, smoking, alcohol consumption and breathing in environmental pollutants can all affect our nutrient absorption. These are the main reasons why men should consider taking a daily food supplement. But there are various different types of multivitamins for men available, that can make it baffling to try to decide which one to take. So, here’s all you need to know!

What vitamins should men take? 

As we age, our nutritional needs change. Vitamin B12 for example, becomes harder to absorb as we progress through life, making a supplement beneficial. It’s essential for healthy red blood cells and a well-functioning nervous system, as well as helping the body release energy from our food. We might also need to top up our levels of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium to support our bone health. If we choose to eat a plant-based diet, we should give extra thought to vitamin B12, iron, iodine and omega 3 fatty acids that we might lack without careful consideration. Certain nutrients such as zinc support testosterone production, that also declines with age, which can lead to a drop in energy levels, mood and libido. Vitamin D is mainly manufactured by the body when we expose our skin to sunlight. Therefore, during the darker, winter months, it’s advised by the NHS that each adult takes 10mcg of vitamin D in supplement form each day. Vitamin D is essential for strong teeth, bones and a healthy immune system. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins C and E are important for the health of our immune systems and vitamin A is necessary for our skin and eyes. We might not get enough of either if our diet is a little under par. As there’s a wide range of vitamins and minerals that we need on a daily basis, taking a good quality multivitamin supplement makes sense. You could see it as a sort of insurance policy for the gaps in your diet to support your wellbeing. 

Do multivitamins work? 

On the whole, yes, multivitamins are a good option to support an otherwise mostly healthy diet and lifestyle. They’re not a substitute for a routinely poor diet and chaotic lifestyle. But not all multivitamins for men are created equal. Some, cheaper, mass produced, supplement brands contain fillers and binders. These ‘pad out’ the capsules and tablets you’re taking, but are completely unnecessary and can even reduce the beneficial effect of the supplement. They may also cause stomach upsets and even lung problems. Plus, as some of these fillers are actually just salt or sugar, you don’t need us to tell you they’re not a good idea. Our body may also struggle to absorb certain vitamin supplements, especially those with a shiny coating made from wax, which makes it more difficult to dissolve in the stomach and reach the bloodstream. 

How do I choose a multivitamin? 

So, you’ve decided to take a multivitamin for men. Great! But which one do you go for? Which is the best multivitamin out of all the hundreds available? Here’s some points to consider.

What nutrients does it contain? 

A high quality multivitamin will contain all the vitamins and minerals you can think of, plus more. They usually also contain extras such as turmeric, fruit and vegetable extracts, amino acids and medicinal mushroom extracts. 

What level of each vitamin does it contain? 

Most supplement brands include the percentage NRV, or nutrient reference value on the packaging. This is the UK specific recommended intake of each nutrient each day. The percentage value will tell you how much of each nutrient is in a single serving. Some nutrients, such as a vegetable extract, won’t have a percentage NRV, they’re there as an added beneficial extra. Don’t like kale? Why not take a food supplement with added kale powder? 

Is it easily digestible? 

Choose a multivitamin for men that tells you loud and clear that it’s free from artificial fillers and binders. If important to you, choose supplements that also contain no soy, gluten, dairy, lactose or GMOs and are suitable for vegans and/or vegetarians. Also, look for brands that use highly absorbable ingredients. 

Is it suitable for my lifestyle? 

If you struggle to take large tablets, then you may want to consider choosing a smaller supplement, or one that’s in powder or liquid form. A once a day supplement that can be taken without food might also suit you better than one that albeit has more nutrients, but requires more than one tablet a day. Budget is another consideration – we’d always recommend going for the best quality you can afford or justify. 

The four best multivitamins for men 

Here’s our four stand out best multivitamins for men.

Best overall multivitamin for men – Fitness Pack from G&G Vitamins 

This broad-spectrum range of daily micronutrients is ideal for anyone with a demanding lifestyle, including fitness enthusiasts but also those who pack a lot into their days. It comprises of nine different supplements – amino acids, vitamin E, vitamin B complex, a calcium blend, co enzyme Q10, a vitamin A and D blend, antioxidants, muti minerals and a kelp extract. Each convenient daily sachet contains the recommended daily serving size of each supplement and can be easily carried in your bag. It’s recommended that you take them throughout the day, rather than all at once, to help your body get the most from each nutrient. Each sachet provides high quality, comprehensive nutrition that’s beyond anything a single product could provide. Like all G&G Vitamins products, they’re free from GMOs, gluten, lactose and artificial fillers and binders. 

Best for vegans – Vegan Multivitamins Capsules from G&G Vitamins

Some supplements, particularly those in gel like capsules, contain gelatin, derived from animal sources. These vegan multivitamins are free from animal products and contain all the micronutrients recommended by the Vegan Society for anyone on a plant-based diet. They’re also free from gluten, soy, lactose, sugar and GMO’s. The capsules contain vitamin B12 (which is difficult to obtain from non-animal food sources), vitamins C, D and K as well as the essential minerals calcium, iodine and zinc. They’re also packed with other essential micronutrients, turmeric, organic broccoli and beetroot extracts. G&G Vitamins pride themselves on producing the highest quality food supplements made from the best possible ingredients. They’re highly absorbable and ‘bioavailable’ meaning that they’re readily absorbed by the body. Take one or two capsules each day with food. 

Best Certified Organic – Men’s Multi from mykind Organics 

If tablets and capsules aren’t for you, you don’t have to miss out. These certified organic multivitamins from mykind Organics are packaged into convenient berry flavoured chews. Made with only wholefood ingredients and zero animal products, GMOs or gluten, they’re also sugar free and kosher. mykind Organics are experts in crafting high quality supplements from real, whole foods, with each ingredient traced back to the seed they were grown from. A blend of numerous different organic whole fruit, vegetable and plant extracts including spinach, blueberries, kale and beetroots, each chew provides a broad range of nutrients ranging from vitamins C and B12 to selenium and zinc. Take two chews daily with food.

Best food grown – Men’s Food-Grown Daily Multi Nutrient from Wild Nutrition 

Food grown supplements from Wild Nutrition contain nutrients that are harvested from a growth medium made from food stuffs including citrus fruits, carrots and split yellow peas. Each nutrient is grown individually and then combined into unique formulations. The result is high quality nutritional supplements that are highly absorbable since they’re in a form the body recognises. This daily multivitamin for men contains a full spectrum of nutrients that support the immune system, optimise energy and muscle recovery, support mental resilience, combat burnout and boost testosterone levels. Since they’re food grown, they can be taken without eating as they’re recognised as food by the body. Take two capsules together, any time of day. 

Giving your body the nutrition it deserves 

Taking a multivitamin is a great way to cover all bases of nutrition, alongside a regular healthy diet and lifestyle. The best multivitamin for men is the one that contains all the nutrients your body needs, in a form that suits you best. It’s recommended that in order to start to see any benefits, you take any nutritional supplement every day for at least three months.

Do multivitamins work, What nutrients does it contain, is it easily digestible, and is it suitable for my lifestyle.