Men and women have unique physiological and health concerns. When it comes to choosing supplements for each gender, there are nuances to consider – especially as we get older.
In a study of adults over the age of 54, a suboptimal diet was more common among men than women. And a very small percentage of men consumed the recommended amounts of key food groups and nutrients: only 27% of men (or less) got enough omega-3s, fiber, fruits, vegetables, calcium, and dairy [1]. This isn’t a huge surprise considering no one’s diet is perfect, but it highlights the fact that most men in their 50s are not getting all their nutrients through food alone – and therefore, may benefit from taking a supplement.
Outside of nutrients, there are also health concerns men may start thinking about when they reach their 50s. Changes in testosterone levels, decreases in muscle mass, weight gain, and prostate concerns tend to be top of mind. Biologically, total testosterone levels decline with age at a rate of 1.6% per year [2]. Prostate issues are also common with more than 1 in 3 of men over 50 having some symptoms of prostate enlargement. This can lead to difficulty starting or stopping urinating and frequent urinating during the night [3].
So which supplements should you take? As a dietitian, I evaluated various products to choose the best for men over 50. The criteria included:
- Nutritional composition: Includes key nutrients for men over 50, such as zinc, calcium, omega-3s, and more
- Popularity: Best-sellers and the products customers rave about in reviews
- Proven efficacy: Products with clinical studies to back up the benefits
In terms of building a supplement routine, I recommend taking the two-step approach of:
Step 1: Build a Healthy Foundation with three key wellness essentials: a high-quality multivitamin, an omega-3, and a probiotic. These are truly the foundation your body needs to ensure you’re getting the micronutrients, healthy fats, and beneficial bacteria to support overall health.
Step 2: Add Products For Your Goals. Are you trying to boost your testosterone? Get a boost in the bedroom? Get buff in the gym? There are different product recommendations depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
Best Supplements for Men Over 50
STEP 1: BUILD A HEALTHY FOUNDATION
- Best Multivitamin GNC Mega Men 50 Plus
- Best Probiotic GNC Probiotic Solutions – Adults 50 Plus
- Best Omega GNC AMP Complete Omega
- Best Vitamin Pack GNC Mega Men 50 Plus Vitapak Program
STEP 2: ADD PRODUCTS FOR YOUR GOALS
Testosterone & Sexual Health
- Best Test Booster GNC Mega Men® Ultra Testosterone and Nugenix Total T
- Best Men’s Libido Supplement Nugenix® Total-T Ultimate and Bucked Up RUT
- Best Prostate Support Supplement Super Beta Prostrate Advanced
Fitness Essentials
- Best Men’s Protein Powder GNC AMP Wheybolic® Alpha
- Best Pre-Workout Beyond Raw LIT
- Best Creatine GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189
Brain Health
- Best Memory Supplement Prevagen
Best Multivitamin for Over 50
GNC Mega Men 50 Plus is designed specifically for men over the age of 50 with over 100% of the daily value for 18 vitamins and minerals. The reason I love it is the proven efficacy.
GNC put this multivitamin blend to the test in a clinical study. Results showed it boosted levels of key nutrients in the body important for energy production and immune health and worked better than a basic multi^.
It also has added ingredients for men men’s health, such as antioxidants, vitamin B-6 and folic acid for heart health, lycopene and saw palmetto for prostate function, and L-arginine which plays a role in sexual health. Customers love it too with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Best Men's Over 50 Probiotic Supplement
GNC Probiotic Solutions Adults 50 Plus is scientifically designed to target the bacterial changes that occur in the gut as you age. Research shows that bifidobacteria, a beneficial type of bacteria, tends to decline with age. That’s why this product is formulated with 6 different types of bifido strains, including some that have been clinically studied in older adults. It also features a specific strain of L. reuteri which has been clinically shown to support heart health and vitamin D levels.
Best Omega for Men Over 50
GNC AMP Complete Omega is an ultra-concentrated complex of fish and plant omegas. It contains more than 1700mg of five types of omega’s (omega-3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 ) for comprehensive support for the heart, brain, skin, eyes, and joints. I especially like it for men in their 50’s because it contains an ingredient called Levagen® (or palmitic acid monoethanolamide), which targets multiple mechanisms involved in a healthy inflammatory response.
Best Vitamin Pack for Men Over 50
If you want to build a healthy nutritional foundation, a GNC Vitapak is your most comprehensive solution at a great value. GNC Mega Men 50 Plus Vitapak features 5 products in one convenient, daily pack – at a better price than buying each separately. It includes:
- GNC Mega Men 50 Plus Multivitamin
- High Potency EPA and DHA
- Healthy Aging Antioxidant Support
- Mental Sharpness Support
- Prostate Formula
GNC Mega Men 50 Plus is designed specifically for men over the age of 50 with over 100% of the daily value for 18 vitamins and minerals. The reason I love it is the proven efficacy. GNC put this multivitamin blend to the test in a clinical study. Results showed it boosted levels of key nutrients in the body important for energy production and immune health and worked better than a basic multi^. It also has added ingredients for men men’s health, such as antioxidants, vitamin B-6 and folic acid for heart health, lycopene and saw palmetto for prostate function, and L-arginine which plays a role in sexual health. Customers love it too with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Best Testosterone Booster
GNC Mega Men Ultra Testosterone boosts booth free and total testosterone AND fuels lean muscle. The capsule technology is the coolest part. The inner capsule features testosterone-supporting ingredients like Tesnor®, a blend of pomegranate peel and cocoa bean extracts. Tesnor has been clinically shown to increase free testosterone by over 20% and total testosterone by over 15% in two months. To help maintain muscle mass, the outer capsule features myHMB Clear, which is more efficiently absorbed than powdered calcium HMB.
Nugenix Total T is also anchored with the testosterone-boosting ingredient called Tesnor. It’s different from Mega Men Ultra Testosterone in that it does not contain HMB, but it does contain citrulline malate to help with nitric oxide production as well as elevATP®, a combination of ancient peat and apple extract.
Best Men Over 50 Libido Supplement
Nugenix Total-T Ultimate is an advanced test-boosting formula with Tesnor®, a blend of pomegranate peel and cocoa bean extracts. It also contains vitamin D, tribulus, D-aspartic acid, stinging nettle, maca root, eurycoma longifolia, epimedium, diindolylmethane (DIM), and boron.
Bucked Up Rut is a potent testosterone booster formulated for an enhanced sex drive. It features KSM-66® (a clinically studied ashwagandha extract), vitamin D, iron, zinc, folate, tribulus, tongkat ali, and DIM. It’s also vegan, gluten free, and soy free.
Best Over 50 Prostate Support Supplement
Super Beta Prostate Advanced is the winner in because it is the #1 urologist recommended brand for prostate support**. It’s anchored in beta-sitosterol and lycopene for prostate health. It claims to reduce frequent urges to urinate, reduce waking at night to urinate, and promote better bladder emptying.
Best Protein Powder Men Over 50
AMP Wheybolic Alpha is in a league of its own when it comes to protein powders. It’s a clinically proven protein blend shown to improve strength when combined with resistance training. It’s the winner for best protein powder for men over 50 because it has two key added ingredients: MyoTOR® and Tesnor®. Tesnor is a blend of pomegranate peel and cocoa bean extracts clinically shown to boost testosterone levels.
MyoTOR® is a blend of two botanicals that’s been clinically proven to improve bench press by 30 lbs and leg extension by 22 lbs, increase arm circumference, and improve lean body mass. With other ingredients like digestive enzymes, betaine, and creatine…you’re not going to find another fully loaded protein like this on the market.
Best Pre-Workout Men Over 50
Beyond Raw LIT is a customer favorite with over 13,000 five-star reviews on GNC.com and Amazon. This powerhouse pre-workout comes in a bunch of delicious flavors like gummy worm and fruit punch. It has 250mg of caffeine to limit your perceived exertion, creating uninterrupted focus and energy in the gym for improved performance.
You may also get the “tingling” sensation of the skin thanks to a common pre-workout ingredient called beta-alanine, which helps fight muscle fatigue. You’ll also get muscle pump action with nitric oxide-boosting ingredients like citrulline and Nitrosigine. Overall, LIT is a staple for gym-goers of any age.
Best Creatine for Men Over 50
Being one of the most highly studied supplement ingredients, creatine is a must-have for strength and performance. GNC has an innovative type of creatine that is a great option for men in their 50s because it has proven performance results, called AMP Creatine 189.
GNC scientists created the PEG-Creatine system, which combines creatine HCl with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a type of technology that increases the bioavailability of creatine, which allows for more to get into the muscle.
Creatine 189 was put to the test in two clinical studies showing it improved muscle creatine uptake by 189% compared to regular creatine, and improved leg and bench press performance – at a much lower dose than 5 grams of creatine monohydrate.
Best Memory Supplement Over 50
Prevagen wins the memory category due to its scientific evidence in a clinical study. Prevagen contains an ingredient called apoaequorin, which is a protein found in jellyfish. It’s been shown to support healthy brain function, a sharper mind, and clearer thinking.
References
- Choi YJ, Crimmins EM, Kim JK, Ailshire JA. Food and nutrient intake and diet quality among older Americans. Public Health Nutr. 2021 May;24(7):1638-1647. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021000586. Epub 2021 Feb 9. PMID: 33557974; PMCID: PMC8094430. Food and nutrient intake and diet quality among older Americans – PMC (nih.gov)
- Stanworth RD, Jones TH. Testosterone for the aging male; current evidence and recommended practice. Clin Interv Aging. 2008;3(1):25-44. doi: 10.2147/cia.s190. PMID: 18488876; PMCID: PMC2544367. Testosterone for the aging male; current evidence and recommended practice – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Prostate Problems. NHS UK. Accessed April 2024. Prostate problems – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
