Most supplement advice online is written for twenty-year-old athletes or is so generic it could apply to anyone. Neither is very useful when you’re 43 and wondering why your energy has dipped, your joints ache after a run, or you’re not recovering the way you used to.

That’s exactly why Vitamins 40 Plus exists. Everything here is written specifically for adults in their 40s, 50s and beyond, focused on what the research actually says, what changes in your body after 40, and which supplements are genuinely worth your money.

Start with our Over-40 Vitamins Guide →

Why Your Body Needs Different Support After 40

Your nutritional needs in your 40s aren’t the same as they were in your 30s. That’s not pessimism, it’s just biology.

Stomach acid production gradually declines, making it harder to absorb Vitamin B12 and iron from food alone. Your skin becomes less efficient at producing Vitamin D from sunlight. Muscle mass starts to drop, typically 3–8% per decade, unless you’re actively working against it. Hormones shift. Inflammation becomes a more persistent background issue.

None of this is irreversible, but it does mean that blanket supplement advice like “take a multivitamin and eat well” isn’t really good enough anymore. The form of a nutrient matters. The dose matters. And understanding why you’re taking something matters more than following a generic list.

That’s the gap this site is here to fill.

Essential Vitamins for Adults Over 40

The vitamins most likely to need attention after 40 aren’t always the ones that get the most press. Here’s where we’d start:

Vitamin D is probably the most widespread deficiency in adults over 40, particularly in northern climates or for anyone who works indoors. It supports bone density, immune function, and mood. Our review covers the D2 vs D3 question and what dosage the evidence actually supports.

Vitamin B12 absorption declines with age as stomach acid levels drop. Low B12 shows up as fatigue, brain fog, and sometimes tingling in the hands or feet, symptoms that are easy to dismiss as just “getting older.” We cover which forms are worth paying for and which are largely marketing.

Vitamin K2 plays a crucial role in directing calcium into bones rather than into artery walls. Most people have never considered it, but it’s one of the more compelling supplements for both bone and cardiovascular health in midlife.

We also have in-depth reviews on Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Niacin (Vitamin B3) , all focused on what the evidence says for adults in midlife.

Minerals: The Ones Most Adults Are Getting Wrong

Minerals don’t get the same attention as vitamins, but deficiencies here are surprisingly common after 40.

Magnesium is involved in over 300 processes in the body , including muscle function, sleep quality and stress regulation, and it’s one of the most under-consumed minerals in Western diets. Poor sleep, muscle cramps, and persistent anxiety are three of the most common signs of low magnesium in people over 40. Our review covers the different forms (glycinate, citrate, oxide) and which are actually worth taking.

Calcium becomes more critical as bone density declines after 40, especially for women approaching menopause. The key nuance: calcium supplementation needs to be paired with Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 to actually work as intended.

Zinc supports immune function, wound healing, and testosterone production. Absorption declines with age, making it one of the minerals most worth monitoring if you’re dealing with frequent illness, slow recovery, or low energy.

We also cover iron and selenium , two minerals where both deficiency and excess carry real risks. Browse the full minerals review section here.

Daily Supplements Worth Considering After 40

Beyond vitamins and minerals, a handful of compounds have strong research behind them for adults in midlife. These aren’t wellness trends. They’re backed by genuine evidence.

Creatine is probably the most underrated supplement for adults over 40. Most people associate it with gym-goers in their twenties, but the research on creatine and ageing is compelling. It supports muscle retention, strength, recovery, and shows real promise for cognitive function. At 3–5g of monohydrate per day, it’s also one of the cheapest evidence-backed supplements you can buy.

Omega-3 fatty acids support heart health, reduce chronic inflammation, and help with joint comfort, three concerns that grow more relevant with each passing decade. Our review covers EPA vs DHA, what dose the research supports, and how to spot a quality fish oil from a poor one.

CoQ10 is produced naturally by the body, but levels decline with age, and drop even more sharply if you take statins. It plays a direct role in cellular energy production, which is partly why low CoQ10 is linked to fatigue and reduced cardiovascular efficiency.

Collagen has attracted plenty of hype. Our review cuts straight to what the evidence actually supports, specifically joint health and skin elasticity, and where the marketing has run ahead of the science.

Probiotics become increasingly relevant after 40 as the gut microbiome shifts and digestive efficiency changes. We cover what the research says and which strains have the most meaningful evidence behind them.

Men and Women Have Different Needs: We Cover Both

A supplement guide that treats all adults over 40 identically is missing something important. The hormonal changes men and women experience in midlife are genuinely different, and the supplement approach should reflect that.

For women, perimenopause and menopause bring oestrogen shifts that accelerate bone loss, disrupt sleep, affect mood, and change how the body handles calcium and iron. Our women’s supplement guide covers what actually helps during this transition, and what’s mostly noise.

For men, testosterone declines gradually from the mid-30s, affecting muscle mass, energy, libido, and recovery. Nutrients like zinc, Vitamin D, and magnesium play direct roles in supporting testosterone and overall vitality. Our men’s supplement guide gets into the specifics without the testosterone-boosting product hype.

How We Approach Our Reviews

There’s no shortage of supplement content online. Most of it is thinly veiled advertising, or written with no particular audience in mind. We try to do something different.

Every review starts with the peer-reviewed literature, not a product. We look at what the research shows, at what doses, in which populations , with particular attention to studies in adults over 40. We cover the forms of each nutrient that matter, and we’re honest about where the evidence is strong versus where it’s still developing.

Brands cannot pay to be featured. Our recommendations are based on evidence, not commercial relationships. Read more about us here.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you’re new here, the best place to begin is our complete guide to vitamins for over 40. It covers the most important nutrients, why they matter at this life stage, and how to think about building a supplement routine tailored to you.

If you have something specific in mind, whether that’s energy, sleep, joints or bone health, head straight to the vitamins reviews, minerals reviews, or daily supplements sections.

And as always, if you’re managing any health conditions or taking prescription medication, check with your GP before starting anything new. Supplements interact with medications, and that detail matters.