“Men age like fine wine”, at least that’s what the old proverb says. Unfortunately that’s not always the case, as our body ages, a myriad of problems start presenting themselves.
Testosterone deficiency, lack of sleep, mental health issues, back pain and hair loss are just some of the common complaints of men over 40.
However, there are some best vitamins for men over 40 such as Magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Biotin and Zinc that can help you tackle a lot of these problems.
That’s why in this article, I’ll be presenting the 5 best vitamins for men over 40!
Table of Contents
5 Best Vitamins For Men Over 40
There are a lot of vitamins to choose from, that’s why I have toned down the list to just 5 that are key to addressing the common problems men face. I have personal experience with all of these and they work just as intended, provided you use them regularly and at the right dosages!
1. Magnesium
Magnesium is a vitamin that plays a key role in more than 300 processes happening in the body. It helps boost energy, regulates blood sugar levels, strengthens bones in the body, promotes cardiovascular health and may even offset depression.
It’s very mild on the body and users generally report no side effects even after prolonged usage. There is one common side effect a minority of users report (diarrhea), but I’ll soon show you the best form of magnesium with the lowest chances of that happening.
The most common forms of Magnesium you’ll find in pharmacies and health stores are magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium threonate and magnesium malate.
So many options to choose from, but I personally prefer magnesium glycinate, as it has high bioavailability and is usually sold in the form of pills, so there is no powder you have to measure.
Dosages may vary depending on your body weight and gender, but magnesium glycinate is usually used in 400 to 450 mgs per day for males and 300 to 350 mgs per day for females.
Since magnesium takes a while to build up in the body, I took the highest recommended dosage of 400mgs per day, as it brings forth the best of Magnesium, especially if you’re a victim of mental health issues.
Magnesium Glycinate 1000mg
Magnesium Glycinate 1000mg by Luma Nutrition is chelated, which means that absorption rates are enhanced and that you get the desired effects as soon as possible.
The brand is very transparent about the things they use in their product and trust me, that is just one of the many pros of this product. Consumers shouldn’t worry about the 1000mg label, as only 200mgs of pure Magnesium gets absorbed by the body.
PROS
- Includes glycine, which improves the bioavailability of the product
- High-quality and recommended by numerous pharmacists
- 60 capsules per package, enough for a month’s supply
- GMP certified and made in the US
CONS
- Expensive compared to other Magnesium supplements
- Got to take 2 pills a day to get the maximum effect
2. Vitamin D
During winter time, exposure to sunlight is vastly limited by all the cloudy rainstorms. There’s no wonder so many people report winter blues, including myself, but that’s nothing Vitamin D can’t handle.
In normal circumstances, Vitamin D is absorbed from the sun via the skin, but when that process is hindered by a lack of sunlight, Vitamin D deficiency becomes a very real problem you have to deal with.
Vitamin D helps with lower back pain, boosts calcium levels (which promotes brain health, muscles and cell communication) and lastly, combats depression by enhancing mood.
Vitamin D has various subgroups, the most important ones are Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D2 is vital for calcium absorption, but not just that, it also introduces phosphorus into the body, which offsets weight gain and redistributes fatty tissue, leading to a lower body fat percentage.
On the other hand, Vitamin D3 is an even better form, with higher absorption rates and better results, including immunological benefits, weight loss and cardiovascular health.
It’s no secret that I prefer Vitamin D3 as a supplement and best of all, you can combine it with Magnesium without worry of any bad interactions!
Vitamin D3 is usually used in doses of up to 100mcg per day, but even 15mcg (600IU) is enough, as the body readily stores Vitamin D3.
Best thing of all, you don’t have to use it every day, it’s actually recommended to use it every other day or three times a week, as needed.
Nature Made Vitamin D3 2000 IU (50 mcg)
If you want the best bang for your buck, you’ll choose Nature Made Vitamin D3. It’s a very popular product made by a business that has been in the game for years. It contains 50mcg (2000IU) of Vitamin D3, which ensures you get your daily recommended dosage.
PROS
- You need to take only one capsule a day
- Economical, one of the best choices if you want to save money
- USP-NF vetted and certified
CONS
- Its ingredients include gelatin, which some people may not tolerate
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a must-have for mental health issues. It helps with anxiety and depression by forming key neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin.
Other benefits of Vitamin C are better skin, lower blood pressure, reduces your risk of cardiovascular problems and best of all, it supports the function of your immune system.
Since I started supplementing with Vitamin C, I can’t remember the last time I had a cold, that’s how powerful it is.
The great thing about Vitamin C is that you can find it in many fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, broccoli, strawberries and many more!
However, since the global food shortages and collapsing supply chains are increasingly taking a toll on your wallet, it’s more economical to just supplement it via capsules.
Vitamin C is water-soluble, which, as the phrase implies, means that it dissolves in water upon entering the body.
As a consequence of this, the body finds it very hard to store Vitamin C for longer periods and daily supplementation is recommended.
The recommended dosages for Vitamin C are around 65 to 85 mgs per day for women and 80 to 125mgs a day for men.
It’s well-tolerated and has a safe side-effect profile, as I can attest myself.
Pure Encapsulations Men’s Nutrients
If you want to ensure you’re getting a healthy amount of Vitamin C in your body, as well as Vitamin D and other minerals, I wholeheartedly recommend Pure Encapsulations Men’s Nutrients.
It’s made by a company that was rated highest in consumer trust and quality when it comes to their supplements.
PROS
- Vetted and tested by an independent third-party laboratory for purity and potency
- Suitable for vegetarians
- One serving can get you all the Vitamins you need for the day
- GMP certified, the company employs good manufacturing practices
- Gluten free
CONS
- High price point compared to other products in this range
- You have to drink up to 6 capsules a day to get the desired effect
4. Biotin
Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, is a vitamin essential for the breakdown of fatty tissue, it’s also a cofactor in many processes in the body and lastly, it helps with liver health.
Biotin is available in free and protein-bound forms, the latter are digested and processed by the gastrointestinal system.
It’s also present in many multivitamins, but you can also use it as a standalone supplement.
Dosages typically range from 50 (2000IU) to 100mcg (4000IU) per day for adults.
It comes in capsule and powder form, but the former are preferred.
I use the highest recommended dosage of 100mcg per day and the last time I took a liver test, my enzyme panel experienced a massive improvement!
Garden of Life Vegan Collagen Builder
If you want a vegan-friendly product without gluten, GMO’s or other potentially harmful substances, you’ll go with Garden of Life Vegan Collagen Builder.
It has all the Biotin you need for the day and much more, although the manufacturer recommends taking 2 pills a day, I found 1 pill to be just as effective. That’s due to the high amounts of Vitamin B7 the product contains.
PROS
- Suitable for most men, no allergens, vegan-friendly
- Organic, NSF certified and non-GMO
- Consumers report better and clearer skin after usage of product, an additional benefit
CONS
- If you take two capsules a day, you’re basically taking more than 800% the recommended dosage, this can easily be remedied by only taking one capsule
5. Zinc
No vitamin list would be complete without including Zinc in it!
Zinc is an essential nutrient found in the body and can be supplemented using a varied diet. Unfortunately, our fast-paced lives usually prevent us from eating healthy, so Zinc supplementation comes in handy.
Zinc helps with the healing of wounds, metabolic function and works wonders on your taste and smell.
The latter is especially important if you’ve had the misfortune of dealing with the virus that plagued the world just a couple of years ago.
Zinc supplements are usually found in capsule forms and recommended dosages range from 10 to 20mgs per day for adults.
I find 15mgs per day to be the sweet spot, as I avoid the risk of side effects, while still enjoying the vast benefits Zinc has to offer!
Now Supplements, Zinc Glycinate
Zinc Glycinate by Now Supplements is by far the best Zinc supplement you’ll find on the market. It even includes pumpkin seed oil, which supports the health of the urinary tract and may even help fight against prostate enlargement.
The Zinc by Now Supplements is vetted and tested by a public third-party laboratory, which they readily disclose on their page. This is very important as some companies claim to be third-party verified, but never list their source.
PROS
- Great price point, quite cheap and economical
- Chelated, which improves absorption rates
- Comes in the form of soft-gels, great for people who hate swallowing pills
- Only 1 soft-gel per day, one package lasts for two months
CONS
- Not suitable for people allergic to pumpkin seed oil
- Not vegan friendly