What Men Should and Shouldn't Take in a Multivitamin

Some of you will remember my recent blog, Men and Women Aren’t Equal When it Comes to Vitamins. In that blog I talked about the nutrients women need, and today I want to focus on men’s health.

One of the biggest areas many multivitamins overlook is the need for prostate protection. To get that support, men need higher levels of three key vitamins, including zinc (20 mg), selenium (250 mcg), and perhaps most importantly 300 IU of vitamin E with mixed tocopherols. Women need far less.

Plus, there has been a lot of research uncovering several lesser-known, yet powerful compounds that get right to the source of prostate issues—your hormones. These include:

1. Pumpkin seed extract (100 mg) which is one of the best dietary sources of zinc. In vitro studies suggest it inhibits the 5-alpyha reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT dihydrotesosterone. Keeping DHT in check is critical for a prostate health.

2. Flower pollen extract (50 mg) has also been shown to inhibit the production of DHT. Plus, it promotes a healthy rate of growth of the prostate cells.

3. Nettle root (100 mg) has also been shown in research studies, either alone or in combination with saw palmetto or other herbals, to help reduce common lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to an enlarged prostate. Those symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency, awakening at night to urinate, and decreased force of stream.

4. Lycopene (2 mg), which helps to protect your prostate against free radical damage associated with aging. A study published in Cancer Research showed that the more lycopene consumed by men, the lower the risk of developing prostate cancer.
But taking the right nutrients is only half the story. Men also need lower levels of calcium (less than 500 mg daily) since studies have shown that too much calcium, more than 2,000 mg a day, increases the risk of prostate cancer. 

Now it’s your turn: Does your multivitamin contain these prostate-supporting nutrients.

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Heart Risk Factors for Women Versus Men
• More On How to Protect Your Prostate