We’ve found that more expensive doesn’t always mean better when it comes to multivitamins.
To find the best multivitamin for men, consider the range of nutrients it provides, look for artificial ingredients or allergens, and prioritize products that have undergone third-party testing.
With so many splashy brands giving the hard sell on social media, we wanted to get to the bottom of this question: What makes a good men’s multivitamin anyway?
To find out, we teamed up with registered dietitian Kelli McGrane. After vetting 100+ products, testing more than 20, and digging into ingredient labels, these are our top recommendations for most men.
Disclaimer: Some of the products tested below were provided for free. Our opinions are ours alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the product manufacturers.
You might have noticed that we didn’t include a dedicated men’s multivitamin with an iron formula in this roundup, and there’s a reason for this. We also considered including a men’s multivitamin with B12 option from Nutricost, but ultimately felt that the Pure Encapsulations supplement above offered a more well-rounded formula overall.
Mindbodygreen Ultimate Multivitamin+ is a very comprehensive and potent multivitamin for people who have larger nutrient gaps. It’s one of the top picks for women. However, it contains iron, a nutrient that men need about half as much as women. According to McGrane, consuming too much iron can lead to digestive stress and sometimes more serious issues like liver problems. She recommends sticking to an iron-free supplement unless a healthcare professional recommends otherwise (or you don’t eat enough through food).
Nutricost Multivitamin for Men checks a lot of boxes in terms of nutrients, but our best overall pick by Nature Made was a little more comprehensive and costs less. This multivitamin does contain a much higher dose of Vitamin B12 (60 mcg). If that’s a key focus for you, Nutricost may be a good fit. That said, our Pure Encapsulation pick above contains even more B12 (250 mcg). However, it also contains a higher dose of vitamin E, which may not be suitable for everyone.
You don’t have to spend a lot to support your diet, and you likely don’t need a vitamin with the highest percentage daily values (DV). That’s because a multivitamin is a support system, not a replacement system. If the DV percent for an ingredient is less than 100, that’s a nutrient you can be more diligent about consuming through food.
Some people may have larger nutrient gaps in their diet and prefer a more comprehensive vitamin, but the majority of people can benefit from a vitamin that covers the basics.
“Budget-friendly vitamins are more than up to the task of helping you crush your nutrient needs for the day,” says Kelli McGrane, MS, RD. Instead of judging by price, she recommends choosing products that are third-party tested and that include ingredients you’re not getting enough of in your diet.
Consider this permission to bargain buy.
A multivitamin isn’t a magical pill. Depending on the quality of your diet, you may notice more immediate effects, like improved energy. However, for many, a multivitamin is more of a long-term investment in your overall health.Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
We narrowed down the best multivitamins for men with our expert recommendations from registered dietitians Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, and Ellen Landes, MS, RDN, CPT. We looked at ingredients, nutrients each vitamin offers, third-party testing, and price.
All the products on our list have been rigorously reviewed by our vetting team, and our team considered:
Nutrient quality: We looked for products that use highly absorbable forms of nutrients, but note that some less absorbable forms are sufficient as long as you don’t have a deficiency.
Percentage of the DV: We think it’s OK to choose a multivitamin that has less than 100% of the DV for some nutrients, especially if you regularly consume them in your diet. However, if you have nutrient deficiencies, choose a product that contains higher doses of these nutrients.
Simplicity: We included products free of artificial additives.
Certifications and quality: We look for seals from organizations such as USP and NSF on product packaging, which indicate that a product has been third-party tested for quality, purity, and accurate labeling.
Brand reputation: The multivitamins on our list are produced by medically credible companies and comply with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling requirements.
Vetting: All the multivitamins on our list have been vetted to ensure they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the products on this page, we considered all the multivitamins that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
Meet our expert
Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and cookbook author with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nutritional Science from Boston University.
She has worked as a clinical dietitian at two Boston hospitals, a nutrition researcher for the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital, and as a freelance nutrition writer and editor for several online publications.
Multivitamins aren’t necessary for everyone, but if you’re unable to meet your nutrient needs through diet alone, a multivitamin could be a good idea.
Men who may benefit from a multivitamin include those with:
dietary restrictions
absorption issues
limited access to nutrient-dense foods
Additionally, as you age, it becomes harder to get enough of some nutrients, including vitamins B12 and D.
But if you’re already taking dietary supplements, including some protein powders, or regularly consuming fortified foods, adding a multivitamin to your regimen could lead to an overconsumption of nutrients.
It’s wise to talk with a healthcare professional about whether you could benefit from taking a multivitamin. Depending on your needs, they may advise you to take a single-nutrient supplement instead.
Though supplementing with certain nutrients and plant compounds may benefit prostate health, taking high doses of vitamin E may have the opposite effect.
Some nutrients and herbs may not be recommended for certain people or may have negative interactions with medications. Always consult a healthcare professional before adding a new supplement to your wellness routine.
A note on vitamin E supplements for prostate health
Earlier research from 2019 suggests that taking high doses of supplemental vitamin E may significantly increase the risk of prostate cancer in healthy men. More recent research, however, found no significant association between vitamin E supplementation and prostate cancer risk.
Because findings have been mixed, it’s best to avoid supplements that contain high doses of vitamin E unless it’s specifically recommended by a qualified healthcare professional.
If you have questions about the safety of vitamin E supplements, consult a healthcare professional, like a doctor or dietitian, for advice.
Research on the effectiveness of multivitamins is mixed, though they’re unlikely to cause harm in healthy people.
A doctor may recommend a single vitamin rather than a multivitamin if a multivitamin contains nutrients you don’t need.
Remember, multivitamins are not meant to replace a balanced diet, and not everyone will need a multivitamin.
There are 13 essential vitamins and 7 main minerals adults need to get from their diets. That said, some nutrients are particularly important for men’s health, including :
Depending on your diet, you may be able to meet your needs for these nutrients through food alone.
Multivitamins designed for men and women typically differ in the types and quantity of nutrients they contain.
For example, multivitamins for men may contain higher levels of selenium to support sperm health, and multivitamins for women may contain higher levels of iron to support menstrual health.
There’s no best time of day to take your multivitamin. However, because fat-soluble vitamins are best absorbed when taken with a meal containing healthy fats, it’s a good idea to take your multivitamin with a meal to get the most out of it.
According to our dietitian, Nature Made Multi for Him is the best men’s multivitamin on the market thanks to its comprehensive range of nutrients (most at or near 100% of the daily value) while remaining very affordable (under $15 for a 90-day supply).
Also, it’s USP-verified, gluten-free, widely available, and easy to take, with mineral forms adequate for most men.
Useful supplement shopping guides
Check out these two articles to help make supplement shopping a breeze:
While it’s possible (and advisable) to meet your nutrient needs by consuming a balanced diet, some people may fall short of their needs.
Given the wide variety of high quality multivitamins to choose from, you’re likely to find something that works for you.
Just remember, it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional first, like a primary care doctor or registered dietitian, especially if you take other prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
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Evidence Based
This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.
Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.
This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.