Nature's Way Alive! Men's 50+ Ultra Potency Multivitamin, 60 Tablets

What Nature's Way Alive! Once Daily Men's 50+ is

Nature's Way Alive! Once Daily Men's 50+ Ultra Potency is a multivitamin for men 50 and older: 1 tablet a day with vitamin D3 2,000 IU (50 mcg), vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin (90 mcg), folate as Quatrefolic® (800 mcg DFE), zinc (22 mg) and selenium (200 mcg). It also has fruit, vegetable and greens powder blends, digestive enzymes, citrus bioflavonoids and mushrooms. The box holds 60 tablets: at 1 a day, 60 days. It costs $30.60, about $0.51 per day (our math). Free shipping in Puerto Rico on orders from $35, or pick it up at our store in Galería Paseos.

The box says «Balanced for MEN 50+ to support whole body nutrition: Bones* Cells* Digestion* Eyes* Heart* Immune Health* Energy Metabolism* Muscles*». It also says: «ULTRA B-Vitamins to help convert food into cellular energy*».

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Its ingredients and what they do in the body

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), 2,000 IU (50 mcg) per tablet, 250% of the daily value. According to MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, a mineral needed for normal bone formation. The body makes vitamin D when the skin is directly exposed to the sun, which is why it is often called the “sunshine” vitamin, and very few foods naturally contain it. This tablet provides its 2,000 IU as vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), along with 130 mg of calcium from red algae (Aquamin®).

Vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin, 90 mcg (3,750% of the daily value). MedlinePlus explains that vitamin B12, like the other B vitamins, is important for protein metabolism, and that it helps in the formation of red blood cells and in the maintenance of the nervous system. It is naturally found in animal foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk. The box says «Featuring the active form of B12»: it provides methylcobalamin, the active form of B12.

Folate, 800 mcg DFE (200% of the daily value), as 837 mcg Quatrefolic® ((6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt). According to MedlinePlus, folate helps tissues grow and cells work, works with vitamin B12 and vitamin C to help the body break down, use and create new proteins, and helps form red blood cells and produce DNA. The box says «Contains Quatrefolic® L-Methylfolate, the active form of folate».

What sets it apart:

It provides folate as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (Quatrefolic®), as the panel states, not as synthetic folic acid. According to a review from the University of Milan (Scaglione and Panzavolta, Xenobiotica, 2014, PubMed 24494987), folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is the naturally occurring form and is well absorbed even when digestive pH is altered, while synthetic folic acid has to be converted in the body. The review describes folate in general, not this tablet.

B vitamins in high amounts. Each tablet has thiamin (20 mg, 1,667% of the daily value), riboflavin (20 mg, 1,538%), niacin as niacinamide (40 mg, 250%), vitamin B6 (34 mg, 2,000%), biotin (33 mcg, 110%) and pantothenic acid (20 mg, 400%). The box calls them «ULTRA B-Vitamins to help convert food into cellular energy*».

Zinc, 22 mg as zinc oxide (200% of the daily value). According to MedlinePlus, zinc is found in cells throughout the body, is needed for the body's defensive (immune) system to work properly, plays a role in cell division, cell growth and the breakdown of carbohydrates, and is needed for the senses of smell and taste.

Selenium, 200 mcg as sodium selenate (364% of the daily value). MedlinePlus explains that selenium is a trace element the body needs only in small amounts, and that it helps the body make special proteins called antioxidant enzymes, which play a role in protecting cells.

Men's Blend: saw palmetto (berry) and lycopene from tomato extract (1 mg), 101 mg total. According to the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), in its “Saw Palmetto” fact sheet, saw palmetto is a small tree that grows 6 to 10 feet tall, native to the West Indies and the southeast coast of North America, whose berries have been used for health purposes. The lycopene in this blend comes from tomato extract, per the panel. The box does not say how much saw palmetto it has; only the blend total and the 1 mg of lycopene.

These explanations describe normal body functions according to MedlinePlus, NCCIH and Scaglione and Panzavolta; they are not results measured with this product.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What the box says

• «NOW WITH METHYLATED FOLATE & B12»
• «MULTI-VITAMIN Energizer™ with Food-Based blends»
• «Orchard Fruits™ / Garden Veggies™ & Daily Greens™ powder blends (80 mg), Enzymes, Bioflavonoids»
• «Featuring the active form of B12» and «Contains Quatrefolic® L-Methylfolate, the active form of folate»
• «ULTRA B-Vitamins to help convert food into cellular energy*»
• «Balanced for MEN 50+ to support whole body nutrition: Bones* Cells* Digestion* Eyes* Heart* Immune Health* Energy Metabolism* Muscles*»
• «GLUTEN FREE. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.»

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Box facts

** Daily value not established. The IU for vitamins A, D and E are our math (A: 1 mcg = 3.33 IU; D: 1 mcg = 40 IU; natural E: 1 mg = 1.49 IU). Other ingredients: cellulose, stearic acid, sodium croscarmellose, silica, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, glycerin, brown rice. Aquamin® is a registered trademark of Marigot Limited; Quatrefolic® is a registered trademark of Gnosis S.p.A. Made by Nature's Way Brands, LLC, Green Bay, WI 54311, USA. Barcode 033674156919 (NW1264).

How to take it

The box says men take 1 tablet daily, preferably with food. The 60-tablet box lasts 60 days (our math). Store at room temperature and keep the bottle tightly closed.

Warnings

• Not formulated for women or children.
• Do not take if you are pregnant or nursing.
• Do not exceed recommended dose.
• If you are taking any medications, consult a healthcare professional before use.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Safety sealed with printed inner seal. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alive! Men's 50+ and what is it for?

It is a Nature's Way multivitamin for men 50 and older, 1 tablet a day. The box says «Balanced for MEN 50+ to support whole body nutrition: Bones* Cells* Digestion* Eyes* Heart* Immune Health* Energy Metabolism* Muscles*». *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How many tablets a day?

1 tablet daily, preferably with food, per the box. The 60-tablet box lasts 60 days (our math).

How much vitamin D does it have?

Each tablet has 2,000 IU (50 mcg) of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), 250% of the daily value.

What form are the B12 and folate in?

B12 is methylcobalamin (90 mcg) and folate is Quatrefolic® (837 mcg (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 800 mcg DFE). The box says these are the active forms of B12 and folate.

Can a woman take it?

No. The box says it is not formulated for women or children, and not to take it if you are pregnant or nursing.

Where can I buy Alive vitamins for men in Puerto Rico?

At Borinquen Natural, for $30.60 per 60-tablet box, about $0.51 per day. Free shipping in Puerto Rico on orders from $35, or pick it up at our store in Galería Paseos.

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