For people under age 50, there’s ordinarily no need to take vitamin supplements or multivitamins simply because their everyday foods would ideally provide those nutrients. After all, vitamins are needed by the body in only little amounts.
But for people age 50 and above, it’s a different story. Hormonal changes that accompany the aging process make it increasingly difficult for the body to extract enough vitamins from everyday foods such as vegetables, fruits, and so on.
Other factors such as lack of assistance also make it difficult for the elderly to take foods that are rich in vitamins and other vital nutrients. And because serious problems will arise when the body lacks these nutrients, there’s a strong need for seniors to take supplement their diet with these important nutrients. In fact, it is highly recommended that they take a daily multivitamin to ensure maximum overall health.
In this post, we’ll be explaining some of the most important vitamins that seniors need and how to choose the right multivitamin supplements for seniors. We’ll also reveal some of the best vitamin supplements for seniors that are available in the market at the moment.
The best vitamins for seniors
Don’t be misled by the subhead — there are no best vitamins because they are all important. Our aim here is to mention some of the vitamins that seniors generally tend to run short of, and whose deficiencies in the body can lead to serious health problems.
Vitamin A
The body’s immune system tends to weaken as aging starts to set in, but this vitamin helps to keep the immune system strong. In addition, it helps to maintain good vision by preventing the degenerative processes that cause a decline in eye function.
Vitamin B12
Even the slightest deficiency of this vitamin exposes elderly people to the risk of dementia, which as of present remains untreatable. But the acid in the stomach, which helps to absorb vitamin B12 from food, begins to reduce in quantity and function from age 50 upwards. This puts older adults at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, which presents with symptoms such as hallucinations, agitations, and confusion. Experts therefore recommend that seniors take the daily recommended dose of vitamin B12 (2.4 micrograms daily).
Vitamin C
This vitamin, an oxidant, helps to enhance healing processes in the body. It helps to maintain healthy skin, bones and connective tissue by repairing them after they’ve undergone wear and tear. It also protects body tissues against the harmful effects of free radicals.
Vitamin D
Calicum is an essential mineral because it helps to maintain bone strength. But without vitamin D, the body cannot absorb calcium from food and this leads to osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become brittle and weak. The vitamin also plays a role in the prevention of certain cancers and heart disease.
The best source of vitamin D is early morning sunlight, which helps to synthesize the vitamin in the body during exposure. But unfortunately, most seniors spend the most part of their day indoors and are therefore unable to get vitamin D from the sun. This, in addition to their low dietary intake of vitamin D-rich foods, explains why they need to take the vitamin through supplements.
Vitamin E
A fat-soluble vitamin, this vitamin can significantly reduce the harmful effect of free radicals. It also helps to maintain healthy skin.
How to choose the right multivitamins for the elderly
Whether you’re a senior or caregiver, you should understand that not all multivitamins are suitable for use by elderly people. So, you should suppress the urge to buy just any supplement you stumble upon. Here are some important things you should look out for when buying multivitamins for an elderly person.
- Ingredients: You need to check the label of any multivitamin supplement for the list of vitamins featured in the product. Avoid any product that doesn’t include vitamin B12 and vitamin D (D3 preferably). These are the two most important ones that most seniors need. But if there are additional vitamins, that’s better. And if minerals like calcium are included, that’s your best bet.
- Quantity vs. RDI: It’s not enough to have a vitamin listed among the components of a multivitamin capsule. You have to check the exact quantity of each vitamin in the capsule to ensure that the quantity is up to the recommended daily intake (RDI). The tables below shows the RDI of various vitamins and minerals.
- Number of capsules or tablets: This is another important one. If you dislike having to place new orders too frequently, you need to check the number of capsules or tablets in a multivitamin container. For example, if you’d want each order to last you for about 3 months, then be sure to buy a multivitamin containing enough capsules to last you for that period.
- Capsules/tablets vs. powder: While most multivitamins come in the form of capsules or tablets, some seniors are just not comfortable with swallowing pills. For such people, multivitamins rendered in powder form should be favored. Don’t worry, they are equally as effective as the solid tablets.
Best vitamins/multivitamins for seniors: Our top 5 picks
The market abounds with multivitamins by various brands, and making the right choice from the tons of options available can be a head-scratching experience.
Even though we already highlighted some things to look out for in an ideal multivitamin for seniors, we do understand that more-than-countable options in the market tick each of our checkboxes. So, making a choice isn’t in any way easy.
But to make things easy for you, we’ve scoured the market and compared several multivitamins by various brands. Our aim was to figure out the most suitable ones for elderly people. Our comparison was based on reviews by real buyers, brand trust, suitability for seniors, and other important factors.
Here are our top 5 picks.
1. All One Powder Multiple Vitamins & Minerals for Active Seniors
If you’re looking for a multivitamin formulation that has been made specifically for seniors, then you won’t go wrong with the [easyazon_link identifier=”B000GAP9FK” locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]All One Powder Multiple Vitamins & Minerals for Active Seniors[/easyazon_link]. The product is a vegan formulation containing high-potency multivitamins and minerals that seniors need to live an active and healthier life.
The All One Powder also contains fructooligosaccharides, which help to prevent constipation. Another component, Reishi Mushroom, helps to regulate blood pressure, promote heart health, defend against tumor growth and cancers, enhance liver function, and protect against allergies, and balance body hormones. It also contains Gingko Biloba, which has been historically used for the treatment of blood disorders and memory problems because it helps to improve blood circulation and sharpen the memory. Lutein, another component of the formulation, helps to protect and preserve vision by reducing the rate of degenerative changes in the eye that accompany the aging process. The formulation also contains Co-Q10, which plays the role of an antioxidant, protecting body tissues from the harmful effects of free radicals.
The All One Powder does NOT contain yeast, sugar, other sweeteners, flavors, coloring agents, binders, excipients, or fillers. And it’s iron-free. The formulation comes in powder form, so there are no pills to swallow — that’s good news for seniors who hate taking pills! Serving size is 1 heaping tablespoon (or 4 level teaspoons). Just dissolve in fruit juice and drink. Each container packs 66-day supply of the formulation.
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What we like
- Made specifically for elderly people
- Contains more than just multivitamins
- Free of iron, sugar, gluten, and other potentially dangerous components
- Comes in powder form (which makes it easier to take than pills)
- Made in USA
What we dislike
- Taste isn’t friendly (but tastes well when dissolved in juice)
- A bit pricier than others
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2. Super Daily Multivitamins and Minerals (by Pure Healthland)
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00NED4LGE” locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]Super Daily Multivitamins and Minerals[/easyazon_link] is another formulation that packs the ideal blend of vitamins and minerals that seniors need. While it’s not made specifically for elderly people, the formulation comprises several components that would benefit seniors even more than other age groups.
As its name implies, Super Daily Multivitamins and Minerals comprises 21 essential vitamins and minerals. In addition, it comprises 42 potent super foods, each with unique health benefits. Some of them include:
- Goji berries: They help to boost immune function, detoxify the liver, preserve and protect vision, keep energy and mood up, stabilize blood sugar, promote skin health, and protects against free radicals.
- Cranberry: Provides anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer health benefits. Rich in vitamin C, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin E, copper, vitamin K and panthotenic acid.
- Wheat grass: Helps in blood-building and contains all minerals known to man. Also rich in proteins.
- Kelp: Has the highest natural concentration of calcium of any food (10 times more than milk). Also a natural source of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, zinc, iodine, copper, magnesium, and calcium.
- And many others.
For seniors, taking the formulation can provide multiple health benefits such as boosting the immune system, strengthening bones and joints, promoting heart and organ health, and providing essential nutrients, which the body cannot produce on its own.
The pack contains 90 tablets, which can last 30 to 90 days depending on how many tablets are taken daily (1 to 3 tablets is suggested, but a healthcare professional should be contacted for recommendations regarding use).
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What we like
- Contains 21 essential nutrients and 42 super foods
- Helps to promote bone and joint health (a huge plus for seniors)
- Provides energy fast
- Made in USA
What we dislike
- Tablets are large
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3. Centrum Silver Adult Multivitamin
One of the bestselling products in the market, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B0000VLXUA” locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]Centrum Silver Adult Multivitamin[/easyazon_link] has been made specifically for people of age 50 and above. The formulation takes into consideration the changes in dietary intake requirements that accompany the aging process. This explains why it contains higher levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, and B12 as well as minerals such as zinc, calcium, molybdenum, lutein and so on.
Centrum Silver Adult Multivitamin is gluten-free and comprises no GMO. It provides a number of health benefits to seniors. These include improved brain and heart health, increased energy and metabolism, increased bone and muscle strength, preserved vision, and reduced “bad” cholesterol.
The multivitamin pack comprises 220 tablets, and only one tablet is required daily. That means a pack can last each user for 220 days!
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What we like
- Contains the exact nutrients that seniors need
- Cheap
- Made in USA
- Contains 220 tablets (to be used for 220 days)
- Contains lycopene (which helps the heart)
- Easy-to-swallow pills
- Specialized men’s and women’s formulas available
What we dislike
- Contains large amounts of iron
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4. Kirkland Signature Mature Multi Vitamins and Minerals for 50+ Adults
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B00P8ZAWK0″ locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]Kirkland Mature Multi[/easyazon_link] is another made-for-seniors multivitamin formulation scientifically prepared to keep elderly people strong and healthy as they age. The formulation comprises the same ingredients in the Centrum Silver Adult Multivitamin. Each tablet of the formulation contains 220 mg of Calcium and 500IU of vitamin D.
The pack contains 400 tablets. So, if you’re taking one tablet daily, you’ll use this product for over one year. Note, however, that the product has been reported by few users to cause side effects such as nausea and stomach upset when used in combination with other drugs. So, this might not be the best product for seniors who are on other medications that must be taken daily. Note, also, that the product contains chromium, which means there’s need for physician’s consultation before its use by seniors who have diabetes.
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What we like
- Made for seniors
- Cheap
- Made in USA
- Contains 400 tablets
- Boosts immunity
- Strengthens bones and teeth
What we dislike
- Tablets are large
- May cause nausea when taken with other drugs
- Contains chromium
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5. K-free Daily Multivitamin
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B008983WH8″ locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]K-free Daily Multivitamin[/easyazon_link] is specially made for people who are on anticoagulant medications, such as people who have heart disease or who are recovering from surgery. The formulation contains no vitamin K, which is responsible for blood clotting. This deliberate omission of vitamin K makes it particularly helpful for people who are at risk of unprovoked blood clotting, which can cause serious problems such as stroke.
The K-free Daily Multivitamin is made with high quality vegetable capsules. The pack contains 60 tablets (2-month supply), which are easy to take with water. Each tablet contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, selenium, potassium, chromium, manganese, copper, and potassium. It also contains folic acid, lycopene, and lutein. While the product isn’t exclusively for seniors, it contains everything they need to live healthy while aging.
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[easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B008983WH8″ key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” tag=”choicesforseniors-20″]
What we like
- Best bet for people on anticoagulation medications
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals
- Goes down well with water
What we dislike
- Contains chromium
- A bit pricier than similar products.