Choosing the right vitamins can feel overwhelming, but finding the best supplements for men doesn’t have to be complicated. This article breaks down what your body needs at different stages of life and highlights how supplements can help safeguard your intake. First, we’ll look at the essential vitamins and minerals men need every day – and why they matter.
What vitamins should men take daily?
There are some essential vitamins that men need to get enough of every day, to help their body function optimally.
Vitamin D
The main source of vitamin D is the sun, so during the winter months, when there is less sun, the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care recommends that everyone, including men, should consider taking a supplement containing 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D a day. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system as well as the maintenance of normal bones and teeth.
Folate
Folate, or folic acid, is important for women as it contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy, however men need folate too and can also support their diet with supplements. Folate contributes to the normal function of the immune system, normal blood formation and normal homocysteine metabolism.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps maintain normal vision. This vitamin also helps with the maintenance of normal skin.
Calcium
To help men maintain normal bones and teeth, it’s important to get enough of the mineral calcium. Calcium is also necessary for normal muscle function and normal coagulation (blood clotting), and it plays a role in the normal function of digestive enzymes. Where dietary intake of calcium is lower, supplements can be taken to support.
Vitamin C
This vitamin plays several important roles for men. It contributes to the normal function of the immune and nervous systems. It also contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and to normal collagen formation, which is needed for the normal function of bones, teeth, cartilage, skin and blood vessels. Vitamin C also increases iron absorption and contributes to normal energy release.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a role in over 300 biological processes within the body. Magnesium also contributes to normal function of muscle and the nervous system, it helps to maintain normal bones and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It also contributes to electrolyte balance.
Zinc
Another important mineral for men, zinc contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, and to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. It also plays a role in the process of cell division. Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system and supports the maintenance of normal skin, hair, nails, bones and vision.
Iron
The mineral iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, as well as normal oxygen transport in the body. Iron also contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. What’s more, it contributes to normal immune system function and normal cognitive function.
B Vitamins
The B vitamins are a group of eight vitamins that play different roles in the body. All of the eight B vitamins can support male health. This includes vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), which contributes to normal mental performance and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. To help support heart health, vitamin B1 is a useful vitamin as it contributes to the normal function of the heart, an important consideration for many men.
Selenium
It’s important that men get enough selenium as it contributes to normal spermatogenesis – the process involved in sperm production – as well as normal thyroid function.
Comments (0)