Women are designed very differently than men. Even though men and women have the same basic needs, there are specific areas of health more problematic for women than men ... and dietary supplements may help target these "trouble spots".
There are a lot of questions surrounding dietary supplements and their role in overall health. At one time, diet alone may have sufficiently provided the necessary nutrients for overall health; but times have changed, and with high amounts of nutrient-void foods being ingested, multivitamins are becoming an important addition to a nourished body. However, Robert DiSilvestro, Ph.D., professor in the department of human nutrition at Ohio State University in Columbus, stressed that although supplementation is a good strategy to overall health, it is not a cure-all. Women need to balance nutrition via foods and supplements, without placing the burden solely on one or the other.
DiSilvestro also pointed out trouble areas and common deficiencies in women, such as low levels of calcium and iron, and challenges with bone health and heart health in later years. He also noted some supplements that may help promote healthy skin, hair and nails—something all women would like to be afforded.