From the teens to the twilight years, women experience numerous biological and social changes that affect their health, including menses, pregnancy, menopause and post-menopause. These life stages are unique to the female gender; however, many health problems that confront them, such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline, also haunt men. While physical differences between men and women are evident, there are also social differences, such as women’s tendency to run the household, including overseeing the family’s health and diet. In fact, women are responsible for almost all household spending decisions and consumer purchases (U.S. Census Bureau), and it’s no surprise they dominate natural products consumerism. Likewise, natural products retailers have a long list of inventory options for stocking products designed specifically for various stages and aspects of women’s health.
Basic Nutrition
Whether in her childbearing years or beyond, a woman can benefit greatly from ensuring adequate intake of some basic vitamins and minerals. Calcium is one of the most popular nutrients in the women’s health market, due to its positive effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis risk. Absorption of calcium requires vitamin D, and the two are commonly paired for improved bone health. Sufficient vitamin D intake is also linked to reduced risk of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), while deficiency has been linked to incidence of bacterial vaginosis.1,2
Often overlooked, magnesium also helps with calcium absorption and regulation, factoring in many health situations such as heart heath, mood, stress, osteoporosis, pregnancy, headache, diabetes and chronic fatigue.
“Our calcium-magnesium product Osteo Calm was developed for bone health specifically for women,” said Ken Whitman, president of Peter Gillham's Natural Vitality, whose Natural Calm magnesium product has some female-specific applications including PMS and pregnancy. In fact, magnesium has also partnered with vitamin B6 to tame PMS symptoms such as mood swings and irritability.3
Women’s multivitamins tend to focus on bones, skin, hair, breast and reproductive health, and such formulations tend to feature calcium, vitamin D and iron. Iron deficiency anemia affects one in four women of reproductive age and causes problems with memory, fatigue and concentration. Iron also helps metabolize B vitamins, including folic acid, which is very important to women of childbearing age in preventing birth defects.
These minerals are commonly featured in women’s multis; however, many experts caution prenatal vitamins often contain higher amounts of iron than are healthy for older women, age 50 and up. Too much iron can increase the risk of diabetes and harm the liver. Thus, it is important that older women and those not pregnant avoid prenatal formulations. Prenatal multis also contain amounts of folate that are about twice the level recommended for non-pregnant women; too much folate can promote the growth of cancer cells. Still, prenatal vitamins are very important to expecting mothers. A University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, study found risk for miscarriage was 57 percent lower among women who took vitamins, compared to those who did not.4
More commonly promoted for heart health, vitamin E also has benefits for women dealing with dysmenorrhea, a complication of menses that can include pain and blood loss. In one trial, girls aged 15 to 17 who took 400 IU/d vitamin E for two and four months experienced less blood loss and decreased severity of pain associated with their primary dysmenorrhea.5
Dysmenorrhea has been further linked to the body’s balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs). While the ideal ratio for improving menstrual symptoms favors increased intake of anti-inflammatory omega-3s, there is one omega-6—gamma linolenic acid (GLA) found in borage and evening primrose oils—that can help address PMS-associated symptoms such as breast, joint and muscle tenderness.6 On the other hand, intake of the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by expectant mothers correlates to infant brain development, and may help address postpartum depression.7,8