Taking nutritional supplements to support health goals has become increasingly popular in recent years. In fact, the U.S. dietary supplement market is huge and burgeoning, with an estimated value of $50.91 billion USD in 2022 and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) estimated at 5.7 percent from now through 2030. Supplements can provide health benefits throughout a woman’s lifespan, so how do you figure out what minerals and vitamins for women are right for you?
Being cognizant about nutrition is important during all the life stages women experience through the years. Nutrient deficiencies can occur at any age but may become more common as we get older. Whether you’re a young woman planning to get pregnant or someone worried about bone health after menopause—and every stage in between—being mindful of nutrition is essential.
Focus on hormonal balance and nutraceuticals that support hormone optimization first
Many patients say they want to age naturally and rely on supplements to help manage symptoms or issues of concern. If you are of that mindset, you are doing yourself a disservice. What many people don’t realize is we really need to optimize our hormones in order to achieve optimal health, and yes, nutritional supplements can be key in supporting that process.
Hormones play a critical role in virtually every system in the body. Consequently, hormone imbalance is tied to many of the health issues and diseases women face every day. The facts are clear, women produce less sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, progesterone) as they age, especially after age 40, so replacing hormones is critical. In fact, for many women it is truly a matter of life or death.
As Dr. Terri DeNeui, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC explains in her book, Hormone Havoc, Dispelling the Myths and Misconceptions about Hormones in Women and Men, various studies have shown that hormone imbalance increases the risk of death in women.
- According to the American Journal of Public Health, the number of excess deaths in women ages 50-59 who had a hysterectomy and avoided hormones exceeded 91,000 over a 10-year period. That doesn’t take into account women of other ages or post- menopausal women who avoided hormone therapy due to misinformation about estrogen therapy.
- According to JAMA, estrogen is both protective against breast cancer and death from breast cancer. Consequently, avoiding estrogen therapy may increase breast cancer risk.
- Research by Dr. Rebecca Glaser shows that testosterone is also protective of the breast and should be investigated as a preventive strategy for breast cancer.
These are just a few examples of hundreds of studies that support the use of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for promoting women’s health and prolonging life. In addition to the sex hormones, thyroid hormone levels should also be closely monitored during all life stages.
What minerals, vitamins and supplements should women take?
If you want to find out what vitamins, minerals or supplements to take, speak with your healthcare practitioner. They can order comprehensive blood testing for you, in order to reveal nutrient levels and other key markers. The following is a list of some of the common nutraceuticals functional, integrated medical practitioners prescribe, along with a brief explanation of the health systems they support.
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin A supports numerous health systems, including vision/night vision, skin integrity, immune function, bone remodeling (bones and teeth) and the reproductive system (fertility, pregnancy, fetal development). Obviously, vitamin A is very important for bone health and growing a family.
Vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin)
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent, affecting about 1 billion people worldwide. It plays a key role in calcium homeostasis and skeletal metabolism, as well as immune, cardiovascular and reproductive system functions. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to a number of disease states, including diabetes, rheumatic arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer diseases, osteoporosis, fractures in adults and various cancers.
Vitamin K2
Not only do you need vitamin K2 to help metabolize vitamin D, this fat-soluble vitamin helps move calcium into the bones and teeth (bone health!). Vitamin K2 also helps remove calcium from areas where is shouldn’t be, like the arteries and soft tissues. It also protects the heart and brain and plays a key role in preventing cancer.
ADK
ADK is a nutraceutical available through a Certified EvexiPEL® Medical Provider, which conveniently includes vitamins A, D3 and K2 in one supplement. These three vitamins are well known for augmenting one another throughout a variety of processes in the body. Learn more about ADK here.
Iodine
Iodine is critical for thyroid function (the thyroid gland uses iodine to create thyroid hormones) and prevention of thyroid related diseases, like hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and Hashimoto’s disease. While the thyroid contains 70-80 percent of iodine in the body, all glandular organs have an affinity for iodine (prostate, ovaries, thyroid, breasts), and low iodine is associated with glandular cancers.
Adequate levels of iodine are also needed to help neutralize carcinogens, kill viruses and neutralize toxins from other microorganisms. Research shows that iodine replacement can reverse fibrocystic breast disease, which is a risk factor for breast cancer.
Iodine Complete
Iodine Complete is an EvexiPEL® nutraceutical, which is a comprehensive formulation designed to promote thyroid health. Along with iodine, the formula also includes:
- Zinc, essential for producing hormones and converting T4 (inactive thyroid hormone) to T3 (active thyroid hormone).
- Selenium, also critical for converting T4 to T3 and has been shown to be beneficial for patients with Hashimoto’s disease.
- Potassium, critical for supporting adequate thyroid hormone production and may reduce risk for certain thyroid conditions.
Learn more about the benefits of iodine and Iodine Complete here.
DIM (diindolylmethane)
DIM is a plant compound commonly found in cruciferous plants, which has been shown to support estrogen metabolism, antioxidant activation, detoxification processes, inflammation control and more. DIM has also been shown to play a beneficial role as a chemo-preventive supplement for breast and prostate cancers. Learn more about DIM here.
HRT Complete
HRT Complete is the comprehensive, proprietary formula created specifically for patients on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This multi-faceted nutraceutical supports hormone metabolism and hormonal balance. Along with DIM, (discussed above), HRT Complete also includes:
- Sulforaphane, a nutrient that plays a key role in estrogen metabolism, while promoting the activation of antioxidants. Sulforaphane may also help ward off inflammation and diabetes, among other health benefits.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant in the body that declines with age, helps promote lipid (fat and cholesterol) metabolism, which is critical for hormonal balance. CoQ10 may also be prescribed to treat endocrine related disorders and provide other health benefits.
- Methylated B Vitamins (B6, B12, Folate), are essential for hormone optimization because they help the body metabolize and detoxify hormones. They also promote the production of enzymes needed for estrogen metabolism, among other benefits. Methylation is what makes vitamins “body ready” (30 percent of the population has difficulty utilizing B vitamins).
HRT Complete is available in two versions including all of the nutrients above, along with PrimaVie® in HRT Complete (T) and FenuSMART® in HRT Complete (E). PrimaVie® contains shilajit an antioxidant-rich nutrient which may promote absorption of other antioxidants like CoQ10, energy, endurance and healthy aging, while significantly increasing testosterone levels. FenuSMART contains the herb fenugreek, which has been shown to help support healthy estrogen levels and ward off insulin resistance. Learn more about HRT Complete here.
Before you shop for supplements or vitamins for women, read this first
While it’s easy to shop online and purchase any supplement that piques your interest, that can be problematic. For one thing, many women decide to purchase dietary supplements based on an article they read or a video they viewed online. Don’t believe everything you read or see on the internet. There’s a lot of misleading and erroneous information about diet and supplements out there.
It’s also important to be careful about the supplements you purchase online. The FDA doesn’t regulate nutritional supplements like they do traditional drugs. And numerous studies have revealed that a large percentage of supplements contain contaminants, like prohibited stimulants, and/or don’t contain the ingredients they say they do.
To ensure you get the right nutritional supplements for your specific needs, it’s best to speak with a licensed healthcare provider first. Taking the wrong supplements, too many supplements or mixing certain supplements together could cause health problems you didn’t expect. In addition, your practitioner can prescribe medical grade nutraceuticals, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Have questions about vitamins, minerals or hormone optimization?
If you have questions about your health and how supplements can help support your health goals, a EvexiPEL® Certified Healthcare Provider can help. Find a provider near you!
