Essential vitamins for women’s health at different ages

Maintaining women’s health at different stages of life depends largely on obtaining a balanced set of vitamins, according to medical studies that stressed that healthy food remains the best source, while supplements are used to fill any deficiency when needed.

With advancing age, the body undergoes a series of changes, both external (such as wrinkles, gray hair, and liver spots) and internal (such as poor concentration, poor memory, and weak grip strength), and some of these changes may be accompanied by changes in nutritional needs.

This change in women often occurs during the pre-menopausal and menopausal stages, where several factors such as the decrease in estrogen, the gradual decline in muscle mass, the cessation of menstruation, along with an increased rate of bone erosion, contribute to new transformations in the body.

Dr. Rachel Bessa-Pollak, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health and a clinical professor at the Grossman School of Medicine, told SELF that these factors combined clearly influence the nature of this stage.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, also play a pivotal role in protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals, and may contribute to strengthening the immune system and slowing down some signs of aging.

The B vitamins, especially B6, B12 and folic acid, are essential for energy production and brain function, as well as for the formation of red blood cells and the prevention of anemia. They are particularly important for women of reproductive age.

Vitamin D stands out as a vital element that helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which contributes to maintaining bone strength and preventing osteoporosis, especially with age, while vitamin K works alongside calcium to promote bone health and regulate blood clotting.

Additional elements

Women’s needs are not limited to these vitamins alone, as medical sources indicate the importance of additional elements such as iron, which women need in larger quantities due to blood loss during menstruation, as well as calcium and magnesium to support bone and muscle health, especially after the age of forty.