“The cycle of life”: Actylis highlights nutritional needs and common deficiencies for women

26 Jun 2023 --- Actylis has released a White Paper on women’s nutritional needs and how they change throughout life. The company highlights the need to supplement with iron, calcium, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals at different points in life. Due to female hormones, menstruation and menopause, nutritional needs differ with age.

Moreover, getting all of the necessary nutrients from food may no longer be possible because of the current food system and busy lifestyles.

In an exclusive interview with Nutrition Insight, Lorine Santarelli, assistant product manager of Life Sciences & Nutrition and Laure Dumail, global category manager of Nutritional, Cosmetics & Specialty Chemicals at Actylis, share how female nutrition science lacks data and that the benchmark for health has for long been compared to men, which is problematic as nutritional needs differ between genders and life stages.

“Micronutrient deficiencies and inadequacies are a significant global problem, impacting health outcomes and increasing the risks of infection, disease, and even death. Outright deficiencies are more prevalent in the developing world, but inadequacies – where intake is above deficiency levels but below recommended amounts – are surprisingly common in developed countries,” stresses Santarelli.

Using men as a female nutritional benchmark excludes crucial variables such as the menstrual cycle and hormonal surges.She further explains that at a public health level, this is often due to diets high in processed foods. However, at an individual level, factors such as sex, genetics, chronic conditions and poor nutrient absorption – which can be particularly problematic with minerals – also come into play.

“In a perfect world, optimal nutrient intake would be achieved through a balanced, wholefood diet, but we’re dealing with the real world, where busy lifestyles might preclude cooking from scratch, access to healthy ingredients is restricted, or medications inhibit nutrient absorption. 

Supplements can contribute to correcting this nutrition gap and improving health outcomes.

Men used as the benchmark in science
Women have largely been excluded from clinical trials, details Dumail. “There are noticeable data gaps across the entire data value chain regarding women’s health, with a medical and research model that tends to set men’s health as the benchmark.”

Using men as a female nutritional benchmark excludes crucial variables such as the menstrual cycle and hormonal surges.

“Meeting female nutritional requirements from the typical diet alone can be more challenging than it is for men, making supplementation more of an imperative,” highlights Dumail.

She says this is driven by a range of sex-based physiological, hormonal and neurological factors unique to women that tend to put them at greater risk than men of conditions such as osteoporosis or iron deficiency at specific life stages.

Female nutrition throughout life
Santarelli adds that the most common nutritional deficiency in women is iron, especially during reproductive age from losses during menstruation and an inadequate intake from food.

“Low iron status is associated with fatigue and cognitive problems. Iron requirements also increase significantly during pregnancy, with deficiency linked to adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.”

In adolescence, adequate calcium intake is vital for long-term bone health, since around 90% of adult bone mass is laid down in a woman’s body by age 18, she explains.

“This paves the way for peak bone mass in the late 20s, which may be the best insurance against osteoporosis after menopause. Our unique, multi-amino acid chelated, bone-building formulations Calcitron and Cytocal support bone health and minimize the risks of osteoporosis later in life.”

Later on, during perimenopause and menopause, women are particularly vulnerable to magnesium deficiency as the mineral helps maintain bone health, regulate blood pressure and support the immune system and has a beneficial role in inflammation. 

Santarelli exemplifies a recent study that found a 27% reduced risk of bone fractures in women with adequate magnesium intake. Actylis looked at key nutritional demands at different stages of the female life cycle, from adolescence to old age.

“Higher magnesium levels are also linked to better cardiovascular health, mood and stress. Actylis’ portfolio of premium magnesium chelates includes food-like hydrolyzed protein chelates known for enhanced bioavailability and user tolerance.”

After menopause and during the senior years (above 65), women are more likely to have multiple health conditions, including arthritis, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. 

“Zinc deficiency is prevalent, partly because it’s less well absorbed as people age and this is linked to poorer immune system function. With research showing that immunity is the primary health focus for consumers, this represents an opportunity for product development.”

Zinc is also associated with normal brain function, with evidence that supplementation may alleviate age-related cognitive impairment, stresses Santarelli.

A “booming market”
The white paper highlights opportunities in the booming market for women’s health supplements. According to Dumail, sales grew by 9% last year, to US$2.5 billion, with around a third of female consumers worldwide now taking dietary supplements regularly.

Actylis looked at key nutritional demands at different stages of the female life cycle, from adolescence to old age, focusing on essential minerals to support health and well-being.

“Minerals are often supplied in inorganic elemental or salt forms, which tend to be poorly absorbed or cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Actylis has spent decades at a specialist facility in Ogden, Utah, developing expertise in mineral chelation, which allows for better absorption with fewer side effects,” says Dumail.

“Chelated minerals are bound to an organic molecule, typically an amino acid, and their higher bioavailability can lead to enhanced health benefits and from a smaller dose, which is more convenient and acceptable for consumers.”

By Beatrice Wihlander