What is the best supplement for women over 40?
Look for vitamin D, B vitamins and bone nutrients, and check any herbs with your doctor around perimenopause, as the NHS advises. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. VH Life provides all three in one sachet. It has no iron, which women under 50 still need more of.
What does the NHS say?
The NHS suggests rest, a healthy balanced diet, calcium-rich food and regular weight-bearing exercise, and says to talk to a doctor before taking herbal supplements or complementary medicines. Source: NHS: Menopause and perimenopause, things you can do.
Which authorised claims come closest?
In Great Britain a food or supplement may only make health claims that are on the GB register, worded as registered, for nutrients at 15% of the NRV or more per portion. These are the registered claims that touch this question and apply to VH Life:
| Nutrient, in one sachet | Authorised claim, as registered |
|---|---|
| Calcium, 164mg, 20.5% NRV | Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones |
| Folate, 400µg, 200% NRV | Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Magnesium, 65mg, 17.3% NRV | Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue Magnesium contributes to the maintenance of normal bones |
| Manganese, 3mg, 150% NRV | Manganese contributes to the maintenance of normal bones |
| Niacin, 16mg, 100% NRV | Niacin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Pantothenic acid, 12mg, 200% NRV | Pantothenic acid contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Riboflavin, 1.4mg, 100% NRV | Riboflavin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Vitamin B12, 250µg, well above 15% NRV | Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Vitamin B6, 1.4mg, 100% NRV | Vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity |
| Vitamin C, 900mg, 1,125% NRV | Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Vitamin D, 62.5µg (2,500 IU), 1,250% NRV | Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones |
| Vitamin K, 30µg, 40% NRV | Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones |
| Zinc, 15mg, 150% NRV | Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal bones |
Health claims apply as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle; the pattern of use is one sachet a day.
Where does VH Life fit?
VH Life is a UK-made food supplement: one 11.8g berry sachet a day in cold water, with 87 active ingredients including 26 vitamins and minerals with declared amounts. It carries the claims above because it provides those nutrients at qualifying levels; it makes no claim beyond them. On subscription VH Life is £49.99 for 28 sachets every 4 weeks, which works out at £1.79 a day. There is also a 7-day trial (7 sachets, £12.99, one per customer) and one box of 14 sachets for £34.99, with free UK delivery. See the full label or the ingredients index.
If you take any medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist first. If you take warfarin, ask your anticoagulant clinic first: the sachet contains vitamin K, cranberry, co-enzyme Q10, ginkgo, turmeric and ginseng.
Questions people also ask
Do women over 40 need iron?
The NHS says women aged 19 to 49 need 14.8mg of iron a day. VH Life contains none, so get it from food, or from a supplement if a GP advises.
Does VH Life help with perimenopause?
It makes no perimenopause claim. No food supplement may claim to relieve those symptoms.
How much calcium is in VH Life?
164mg, 20.5% of the NRV. That is enough to carry the calcium claims, not enough to replace calcium-rich food.
Related
- VH Life for women in midlife
- Do perimenopause supplements work?
- Best supplement for menopause
- Best supplement for every question
Sources
- Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register, 19 May 2026 edition.
- NHS: Menopause and perimenopause, things you can do, accessed 3 November 2026.
- The VH Life box, 7 October 2026 print.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. One sachet a day. Do not exceed the recommended intake. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or pregnant or breastfeeding women. VH Life is a food supplement, not a medicine. If symptoms persist, see your GP or pharmacist.