Best multivitamins UK: Top supplements for men and women

But the reality is that with modern-day farming practices, getting the nutrients you need from your food may not be all that possible (or realistic).

Luckily, there's one way to ensure that your body is getting what it needs for proper health and wellbeing: using the best multivitamins available today.

Multivitamins are one of the easiest and most effective ways to guarantee that you're not missing out on the crucial vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly.

They've been used for ages, and while many people will tell you 'you don't need a multivitamin if you're eating healthy’—which is partially true—there's a lot of factors that play into that, meaning that optimal function might not be as simple as just "eating healthy."

Yes, supplements are never to be used as a replacement for a poor, unhealthy diet. But you can safely use them when you simply don't have the option of getting all the nutrients you need from food alone. It's better to supplement when you need to than go without and risk damaging your long-term health.

So, if you're looking for the best multivitamin to ensure you're covering your bases, look no further.

This article will give you a complete rundown of the best multivitamin in the UK and why it is recommended daily as an essential in your stack.

Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi for Men + Multi for Women

Performance Lab proprietary NutriGenesis Multi for Men and Multi for Women is a nutritional technology breakthrough.

 

Supplying 17+ essential vitamins and minerals, Multi is designed for ultraclean performance and is customized to suit the specific needs of males and females; it's not an all-in-one multivitamin supplement for everyone. It contains balanced doses calibrated to restore nutrient levels for optimal performance.

 

Complexed with natural cofactors including probiotics, fiber, enzymes, and antioxidants that enhance nutrient bioavailability and health-supportive activity, NutriGenesis Multi is the cleanest, safest, and most effective multivitamin supplement on the market.

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You can probably guess just by looking at the name, but multivitamins are a full-spectrum nutritional supplement designed to provide you with all the essential vitamins and minerals you need for optimal body function.

These supplements are designed to be a quick and convenient way to top up nutrient stores and prevent yourself from falling into the trap of deficiency, which can cause both short and long-term health complications.

There are a few different categories of vitamins and minerals: fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, and minerals (+ trace minerals).

The fat-soluble vitamins are a group of four vitamins—A, D, E, and K—that are soluble in fat and therefore are not excreted from the body daily. The only way stores become low is when the body uses them, and they aren't replenished.

Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are soluble in water and therefore exit the body primarily through sweat and urine, so they need to be replaced daily; if you're not getting them through food, your body isn't getting them, period.

These include the B vitamins (vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folate/folic acid) and vitamin C. And lastly, there are minerals. Because the body cannot produce minerals, they have to be obtained through food—some in larger quantities than others.

Together, these key nutrients support the biological processes in your body that keep you alive. If your body doesn't have enough of them, things get out of whack, and that's when you see disease and imbalances.

In that case, you need to either take drastic action and rethink your diet, or use high-quality supplements as a form of nutritional insurance.

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At first thought, the benefit of taking a multivitamin supplement might seem pretty obvious—it supplies the range of vitamins and minerals you need to function.

And while that's true, there are a few reasons having a multivitamin like Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi in your stack is a good idea.

1. It ensures you're covering all your vitamin and mineral bases 

Whether it's stress, nutrient-poor food, medications, or illness, food is the primary transportation method to get a wide range of vitamins and minerals into your body, but various external factors can increase the loss of certain nutrients.

That's why having a quality multivitamin in your stack is vital. It acts as a bit of a crutch to support you on days where maybe you didn't eat as many greens as you should've, or perhaps you need a bit of extra magnesium or potassium after a brutal workout.

Either way, your multivitamin is there to support your body when it needs to top up stores of essential vitamins and minerals.

2. Antinutrients inhibit absorption

If you follow a primarily plant-based diet, you've probably heard about something called antinutrients. They are compounds inherently present in plant-foods that inhibit the absorption of key minerals from the GI tract [1].

Think of it this way: animals have claws and teeth to defend themselves against predators; plants have these specific 'antinutrients' that protect them from being eaten.

For some people, antinutrients aren't a problem, whereas they can be somewhat problematic for others; they tend to cause more problems for people with pre-existing digestive issues.

There are several antinutrients, but the ones we come into contact with most often are lectins, phytates (phytic acid), gluten, and oxalates (oxalic acid), which are found in things like nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, and grains.

If not prepared properly, these compounds bind to nutrients and prevent absorption, leading to things like inflammation, altered gut function, and endocrine disruption [2].

The minerals most affected by antinutrients are iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, and sometimes magnesium.

3. Stress

Stress is another key player in the nutrient depletion game, and if you're an athlete or anyone who regularly hits the gym, this is for you.

But it's not just physical stress—mental, emotional, and spiritual stress can all interfere with nutrient reserves, especially of the B vitamins. And because we all experience stress at one point or another, a multivitamin is one of the best supplements to have around.

Acute stress can be beneficial for the body, but it can be utterly detrimental on several levels when it becomes chronic.

Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which over time can cause a variety of issues like elevated inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, mitochondrial disturbances, thyroid and sex hormone dysfunction, as well as vitamin and mineral depletion [3].

But it's not just vitamins and minerals that are affected by stress. It's also proteins and fatty acids, all of which are essential for enzyme activity, energy production, the immune system, hormone synthesis, tissue growth and repair, and many other biological processes.

The most common vitamins and minerals depleted during periods of prolonged stress include magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, and the B vitamins [3], none of which are produced in the body, so they must be obtained through a balanced diet or a multivitamin supplement.

And to make matters worse, stress mode (fight-or-flight) down-regulates digestion, so even if you're eating 'healthy', you're probably not absorbing enough to support your body.

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Now that you know why having a good quality multivitamin is important in your supplement stack, let's dive into some key vitamins and minerals that should be in your multivitamin supplement.

Vitamin D

No matter your age, Vitamin D is pretty much the powerhouse of vitamins. It has over 1000 target genes in the body and is involved in everything from reproduction, immune system function, and cognitive health, to mood, athletic performance, and bone strength [4].

For women specifically, vitamin D becomes increasingly important during menopause because of its role in bone health.

Vitamin D plays a prominent role in the regulation and absorption of calcium in the gut, but vitamin D also promotes mineralisation of the collagen matrix in bone to maintain bone health and strength [5].

If serum vitamin D levels decline, the body is triggered to mobilise calcium from the bones. The kidneys then reabsorb it to maintain stable blood levels. And when calcium is removed from bones, it decreases bone strength and increases the risk of fracture.

For women over the age of 50 or who have entered menopause, vitamin D (and multivitamins) become that much more important.

Because estrogen has such an important role in bone health—it promotes the activity of bone-building osteoblasts—declining levels of estrogen that accompany menopause means effective bone production and maintenance also declines.

For men, one of the most important roles of vitamin D is for testosterone. Studies show that there is a significant expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes in the male reproductive tract, including the Leydig cells of the testis [6]. As such, vitamin D supplementation may help to increase testosterone levels in men.

While you can get adequate vitamin D from the sun, sometimes that's not always an option. Supplementing with Vitamin D is a quick and easy way to prevent deficiencies and enhance your overall health. That's why highly bioavailable Vitamin D3 forms the backbone of all the best multivitamins for men and best multivitamin for women today.

Zinc

And next, there's the powerhouse of minerals—zinc. It plays many essential functions in the body, making it a non-negotiable part of the best multivitamins in the UK.

As the second most abundant trace mineral in the body, zinc plays a multitude of roles in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.

It is required to support the immune system and proper immune function [7]; functions as a powerful antioxidant to increase concentrations of free radical-scavenging compounds like glutathione, catalase, and heme-oxygenase [8]; it is involved in cognitive health through its neuroprotective properties and modulates activity of the hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary (HPA) axis; boosts mood because of its role in synthesizing and regulating neurotransmitter activity [9]; is a cofactor for the production of collagen and DNA, which play a role in skin, hair, and nail health; and boosts fertility for both women (estrogen and progesterone) and men (testosterone) [10].

Now, do you see why zinc is a powerhouse mineral? All good multivitamin supplements sold in the UK today should contain a healthy serving of zinc.

Vegetarians and vegans, in particular, should ensure they get adequate zinc from their multivitamin, as the richest dietary sources are oysters, red meat, and poultry.

Vitamin B12 + Folate (B9)

Vitamin B12 and folate are two of the most common nutrient deficiencies among vegans and people who follow a plant-based diet.

Vitamin B12 is found primarily in meat and animal products, so if you don't consume meat, it means you probably lack a sufficient intake of vitamin B12. If you're a vegan, or even primarily vegan, you'll therefore want to think about taking a B12 supplement.

On the other hand, folate, sometimes referred to as folic acid, is widely found in plant-foods, so it's easily accessible to vegans and vegetarians.

That said, few vegans (or anyone for that matter) consume optimal amounts of folate every single day. Given the importance of folate for health and performance, most people should consider taking a folate supplement regularly.

These B vitamins play critical roles in various body processes, including nervous system function, mood, cognitive function, heart health, and energy metabolism.

The role of vitamin B12 in nerve health is of particular importance because it enables proper development and myelination of the central nervous system, as well as helping to maintain normal function and neurotransmitter synthesis [11]. And along with folate, vitamin B12 is also critical to homocysteine metabolism.

For both men and women, homocysteine buildup can be a considerable risk factor for developing cardiovascular conditions.

Folate, the active and natural form of folic acid, is a required cofactor for the conversion of homocysteine (a metabolic by-product of amino acid degradation) to the nontoxic counterparts' cysteine and methionine; elevated levels of homocysteine can be toxic to cells and are linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke [12].

And along with vitamin B12, folate is also essential for the proper development of red blood cells. For women, folic acid or folate is critical during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, proper DNA synthesis, and enable normal growth and development of the fetus [13].

On top of all this, both B12 and folate deficiencies are associated with chronic tiredness and fatigue, impaired cognitive function, and poor athletic performance. Supplementing with both vitamins is known to be effective for reversing these issues.

The best multivitamins in the UK should all contain substantial doses of both B12 and folate, especially multivitamins formulated for women.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is actually a group of fat-soluble vitamins, K1 and K2. These vitamins are essential for several important bodily processes, including blood clotting, blood calcium level regulation, and bone formation.

Blood clotting and healing are the main roles of Vitamin K in the body. K1 and K2 are needed to form prothrombin, a protein that allows your blood to clot and wounds to heal.

But that isn't all these vitamins do. While these two vitamins are often treated as a single unit, recent research suggests they may have distinct health effects, with K2 adding significant benefits when taken alongside K1.

Vitamin K2 is responsible for breaking down calcium in the blood. This not only prevents calcification of arteries (a leading cause of heart disease), it also creates free, usable calcium for bone maintenance.

Better still, K2 activates a protein that encourages calcium to bind to bone tissue, speeding up bone repair and growth. The best multivitamins UK will all deliver generous doses of both K1 and K2.

Iron

Many people don't think about the importance of iron; it's just another mineral needed to maintain proper health. But iron is possibly one of the most important nutrients needed to sustain body function and is always part of the best daily multivitamins.

But for men and women alike, iron is critical for the production of hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen around your body; iron forms the heme component of hemoglobin.

A deficiency in iron results in what's called anemia, whereby red blood cell count is low, and oxygen transport is reduced.

Iron is also a component of myoglobin, another oxygen-transporting molecule, and is needed to support muscle metabolism and healthy connective tissues.

And for women, menstruation means that replacing iron stores becomes that much more critical, especially if you tend to experience a heavy menstrual period.

But why it's important to have iron in your multivitamin is because even if you're following a whole food balanced diet, you're likely getting a lot of nonheme iron, but probably not enough heme-iron, which accounts for 95% of functional iron in the human body [14].

Heme iron is the more bioavailable version (15%-35%), and dietary factors have little effect on its absorption.

Nonheme iron absorption, on the other hand, is much lower (2%-20%) and is strongly influenced by the presence of other food components (phytic acid, polyphenols, calcium, and peptides from partially digested proteins)—all significant components of a plant-based or vegan diet.

So, when you're supplementing with iron in a multivitamin, you're getting an absorbable form that will increase serum iron levels plus vitamin C, which aids in its absorption.

Deficiency of iron usually manifests as tiredness and fatigue, so if you're experiencing that, it could be a sign you're low in supply.

While the best multivitamins in the UK will not all contain iron, those specifically formulated for women will usually contain about 50% of your RDI.

Selenium

Selenium is a mineral that's quite frequently overlooked in most multivitamins for women and multivitamins for men. It's only needed in small amounts, but it has a few pretty important roles.

One of the significant roles selenium plays is as a powerful antioxidant; it's a major determinant of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1) expression and activity [15].

Five selenium-containing glutathione peroxidases make up the major antioxidant defense system that function to neutralise free radicals and prevent damage to cellular DNA.

Selenium acts in synergy with the antioxidant vitamins—vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin-E (α-tocopherol)--by regenerating them to promote maximal antioxidant protection.

And for men specifically, selenium plays a vital role in sperm formation. Spermatogenesis, and male fertility in general, largely depend on GPx4 and selenoprotein P (SEPP1), which helps to protect immature sperm against oxidative stress.

Deficiency in selenium or poor bioavailability has been linked to impaired sperm maturation [16].

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Multivitamins For Men & Women: Is There a Difference?

You'll see that many of the best multivitamins, UK and abroad, state that they have been specifically formulated for men and women.

This generally means that they contain slightly different ingredients, or that the ingredients have been dosed slightly differently to reflect the nutritional needs of men and women.

Is this really necessary? Do multivitamins need to be specifically formulated for men and women? Do men and women need different ingredients from their multivitamins?

The answer, according to the clinical evidence, is yes.

While men and women have broadly similar nutritional needs, there are some areas where their needs diverge.

For example, men tend to consume too much iron daily as it is, whereas menstruation means women are generally deficient in iron, at least for some period of time each month.

Then there are lifestyle considerations. Women tend to care a lot more about maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails than men, whereas men tend to be much more obsessed with bone strength and muscle mass maintenance than women.

These nuances should be reflected in the ingredients and doses you see on the labels for the best multivitamins in the UK today.

For best results, we strongly recommend using a high-quality multivitamin designed specifically for either men or women.

> Check the latest Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi deals here <

1. Quality

Quality is one thing Performance Lab has under wraps with all their products. Their entire line of supplements, including NutriGenesis Multi, are like nothing else on the market. They uphold superior quality standards to bring you unparalleled health and performance results.

With cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, third-party validation, and ultramodern top-quality nutrient forms across all formulas, NutriGenesis Multi offers super potency, tolerability, absorption, and efficacy to deliver the cleanest and safest multivitamin (and other nutritional supplements) on the market.

You will not find better ingredients in any other multivitamin on the market today. You’ll find many highly rated Performance Lab multivitamin review as a result online.

2. Purity

Third-party testing provides proof of nutritional purity, potency, and quality of every Performance Lab Product, so you can be assured that what's in the bottle exactly matches what's on the ingredients list.

Multi is always non-GMO, non-irradiated, and 100% free of gluten, allergens, synthetic additives, artificial colors, and preservatives. And what's more, no risk of nasty filler ingredients and poor-quality delivery methods.

Multi is delivered in NutriCaps—100% plant-based capsules made from fermented tapioca infused with prebiotics for easy, comfortable, and complete absorption. Whether you're looking for a vegan multivitamin or eat meat, Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi is designed for you.

3. Key Vitamin and Mineral Forms

Unlike other multivitamins that contain synthetic versions of vitamins and minerals that lead to poor bioavailability, NutriGenesis Multi contains nature-identical nutrients complexed with natural cofactors that actually enhance bioavailability and activity, so you know this multivitamin is actually working. This is unmatched ingredient quality, and it makes a real difference to your health and performance.

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Final Thoughts: Using The Best Multivitamins

It's important to remember that a multivitamin isn't a replacement for a healthy and balanced diet.

A multivitamin is a supplement; it's there to literally supplement what you're already doing and fill in the gaps where you may not be getting enough through a whole-food balanced diet.

In this way, you can think of the best multivitamins as dietary insurance; you want to hopefully get all the vitamins and minerals you need from food, but a multivitamin is there in case you can't.

Since they're safe, typically side effect-free, and cost-effective, we think they represent the best way to prevent dietary deficiencies and enhance performance.

And when you choose a multi like Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi, you can be sure that you actually get enough of what you're looking for—purity, safety, and most importantly, efficacy.

> Check the latest Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi deals here <

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