We’ve come on leaps and bounds in recent years, us men, not just in regard to our grooming and fashion (remember when metrosexual was a ‘thing’?) but in terms of our health and fitness.
It goes beyond simply working out – bulging biceps and a rippling six-pack can only get you so far, after all – and extends to our nutrition and overall wellbeing.
Indeed, it seems like we’ve finally got our priorities in order.
That’s why the vitamins and supplements industry is booming as an ever-increasing number of us blokes try to become our very best selves with performance now as much of a priority as aesthetics. According to a recent survey of 4,000 UK and US consumers by PA Consulting, the global innovation consultancy, a third of men (38 per cent) have recently bought products for their nutrition, such as vitamins and supplements, while nearly two-thirds would be interested in receiving personalised vitamins and supplements tailored to their bodies’ exact needs.
It’s hardly surprising, then, that a crop of personalised nutrition services has emerged in recent years to cater to such demand, from Vitl to Vitamin Buddy and Heights, as well as a slew of hot new brands bursting with ‘it’ ingredients championed in the press and on social media.
“Vitamins and supplements are products designed to enhance your diet and provide essential nutrients that you might not get enough of from food alone,” explains Bex Prade, clinical nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner.
“They come in various forms, including pills, capsules, powders and liquids, and typically contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes and other beneficial compounds. They’re used to address specific nutrient deficiencies, improve overall health, boost immune function, enhance athletic performance and support mental and physical wellbeing.
They’re especially useful in modern diets where nutrient levels can be compromised due to factors like soil depletion, food processing and lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, our modern, polluted, toxin-laden lifestyles demand more nutrients than food can provide, while the chronic stressors of modern life – whether it’s screens interfering with your circadian rhythm or never-ending work deadlines – increase our needs even more.”
But there’s good news. “A high-quality daily multivitamin can help to fill in any gaps when they appear, providing support for energy production, healthy psychological function and immunity,” adds Prade.
“Look for multivitamin formulas that have been specifically designed to contain a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals that are not found in cheaper alternatives, including choline, manganese and chromium for blood sugar management. Just like the quality and the strength, the form of a nutrient has an impact on its efficacy, too.”
Here, we pop the best pills for men on the market to keep you running at your best.
Shop now
Wellman Original
Fronted by model David Gandy – a poster boy for physical male health, if ever there was one – Wellman Original is the flagship vitamin for men by the Vitabiotics brand with no less than 29 nutrients in every capsule. Developed for overall health and vitality, it bolsters both energy levels and the immune system with the likes of vitamins B6 and B12 for the former and vitamins C and D for the latter.
Buy now £8.85, Vitabiotics
myvitamins Alpha Men Tablets
Featuring a jam-packed formula containing antioxidants, vitamins A and E, vitamin C and calcium, plus vitamin B, magnesium, selenium, zinc and biotin (great for thicker, fuller hair), Alpha Men tablets protect the body and bones, keep you feeling energised and maintain plump, young-looking skin. A general all-rounder for a great price.
Buy now £7.69, myvitamins
Life Extension Palmetto Guard Saw Palmetto with Beta-Sitosterol
The clue’s in the name here. Affecting nearly half of all men aged 40 and above, prostate enlargement is a very real problem for men of a certain age, yet most of us don’t take this into account when experiencing symptoms such as frequent urination, weak flow or a sensation that the bladder isn’t empty. Luckily, this little pill uses the saw palmetto berry – rich in bioactive, high-molecular compounds including beta-sitosterol – to help regular inflammation in the prostate gland.
Buy now £20.00, Victoria Health
Ancient + Brave Noble Collagen
If it’s good enough for Luke Worthington – one of the most sought-after personal trainers in the world and a fan of this uber-cool brand – then it’s good enough for the rest of us. Noble Collagen combines type two of its namesake ingredient with ayurvedic herb boswellia serrata, vitamin C and manganese to offer preventative care for joints and the improvement of existing mobility issues. The branding is sexy AF, too.
Buy now £31.20, Ancient + Brave
BodyBio PC
Here’s a little fact for you: our brain is made up of 60 per cent phospholipids, which break down over time due to ageing and toxins, and are reduced by a whopping 20 per cent by the time we reach 80. A little top-up, therefore, is no bad thing, and BodyBio PC – a pure liposomal phospholipid complex – can help to rebuild and maintain their health. From improved brain function to better mental clarity and more consistent energy, the benefits for your grey matter are endless, it seems. A real no-brainer.
Buy now £85.04, Healf
Youth&Earth Men’s Health
A good one for those who prefer to take their vitamins as a powder over pills Men’s Health by Youth&Earth offers a powerful blend of herbal extracts, vitamins and minerals to enhance overall vitality and support healthy testosterone. Buzzword ingredients include the likes of horny goat weed extract, ashwagandha extract and selenium, plus others.
Buy now £39.99, Youth&Earth
Diso Curcumin Supplement
Good for your heart, curcumin is the magic ingredient that makes turmeric so powerful, claimed to improve the flow of blood around the body to maintain regular blood pressure and keep your whole circulatory system in check. Diso, which offers plant-based vitamin strips that dissolve on your tongue for maximum absorption, provides a fast-acting hit of heart-healthy nutrients – including curcumin.
Better still, because of their lightweight format, they’re perfect for stuffing in your carry-on when travelling.
Buy now £11.69, Amazon
Nutri Advanced Multi Essentials for Men Multivitamin
Sure, you could stock your bathroom cabinet with a slew of different vitamins for various ailments, or you could simply invest in a single vitamin that provides a catch-all. This tiny but mighty tablet is just the thing to provide targeted support for healthy muscles and fertility, energy production and normal cognitive, prostate and cardiovascular function.
Buy now £20.65, Amazon
Phizz 3-in-1 Hydration, Electrolytes & Vitamins
The brainchild of Australian man-about-town Daniel Cray, Phizz offers a daily-pick-me-up in the form of an effervescent drink. Once dissolved in a glass, the tablet helps you triple your water intake, while delivering natural energy and supporting your immune system. As both a multivitamin and rehydration remedy, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals that keep you on top form, together with four key electrolytes commonly lost through sweat. The easiest way to incorporate all of the good stuff into your everyday.
Buy now £7.99, Phizz
Vitl Male Multivitamin
We’ve experienced a noticeable difference in health after a month of taking these multivitamin capsules from Vitl, specifically formulated to support overall male health. It’s a broad-spectrum approach, yes, but each pill includes zinc to maintain normal testosterone levels, vitamins B6 and B12 to reduce tiredness and fatigue, selenium to produce sperm and thiamine to support normal heart function. Just be sure to take them with or after food to avoid nausea, as we learned.
Buy now £4.75, Amazon
Heights Vitals+
We’re a sucker for good branding, which Heights certainly has in doses – just look at the packaging – but these all-in-one multivitamins have the science to back it up (330+ scientific studies, no less). As the ultimate supplement for men who strive for peak performance in every aspect of their lives, they serve up essential vitamins, minerals and nootropics to enhance mental clarity, boost energy levels and support overall wellbeing. A secret weapon in your vitamin arsenal.
Buy now £50.00, Heights
Wassen Prime Protect 50+ Men
For the older gentlemen, this multivitamin supplement is inspired by the healthy-eating principles of the Mediterranean diet, including a vibrant mix of botanicals such as olive leaf, grapeseed and tomato extract (like a medicinal Greek salad, if you will). It promises a raft of benefits, from sustaining testosterone levels via zinc to strengthening muscles and bones using magnesium and sharpening mental performance with vitamin B5, amongst others. It’s not a miracle, but it’s pretty close…
Buy now £16.80, Wassen
Elite Aesthetics P-Tox Elite
Developed by leading cosmetic doctor and intimate health specialist Dr. Shirin Lakhani, the vitamins from Elite Aesthetics target common male problems such as erectile dysfunction, poor blood circulation and reduced libido, amongst others.
Her new P-Tox Elite formulation has been found to help with all of the above, improving sexual desire using ingredients not commonly found in other supplements such as panax ginseng, propionyl-L-carnitine and selenium. It’s worth a shot, right?
Buy now £60.00, P-Tox
NaturesPlus BioAdvanced Vital Man Capsules
‘Man capsules? We’re in! Each of these butch tablets contain concentrated, clinically-researched nutrients and herbs of the highest quality to help maintain reproductive health. Think strength, vigour and fertility. The powerful and effective blend reads like a who’s-who of buzzword ingredients: D3, pink bark extract, B5, selenium, zinc and saw palmetto, amongst others.
Buy now £28.95, NaturesPlus
Adaptogenic Apothecary Power
A natural health and vitality supplement in a powder form, Power comprises potent adaptogens, medicinal mushrooms and Affron – a brand of saffron extract that’s a natural mood-enhancer – specifically formulated to benefit men. From reducing aches and pains and increasing your energy, it promises a raft of things, while the format delivers nutrients to your body faster and in a more concentrated dosage.
Buy now £40.00, Adaptogenic Apothecary
Bio Synergy Super 7 Super Armour
As suggested by the masculine packaging, Super 7 Super Armour is all about improving physical performance and giving men the competitive edge, packed with essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B, C, D and E (nearly the whole alphabet, in fact), amongst others. Sure to help with those gains.
Buy now £19.99, Bio Synergy
