90% of women are lacking essential nutrients
So this week The Guardian published an article after picking up a recent trial that found:
More than 90% of women trying for baby lack essential nutrients.
Before conceiving, nine out of 10 women had marginal or low levels of folate, riboflavin, vitamin B12 or vitamin D, while many showed signs of vitamin B6 deficiency in late pregnancy,
1,700 women across the UK, New Zealand and Singapore, aged 18-38 were included. Most of those tested lack nutrients crucial for healthy foetal development as found in abundance in meat and dairy products. So they highlighted a concern around the increasing popularity of plant-based diets potentially worsening this situation.
Although this paper focused on women trying for a baby and the impact to baby’s health, it’s so crucial to know that these figures are relevant whether you’re trying for a baby or not. Suboptimal nutrient levels are going to impact energy, hormones, skin, immunity, thyroid…the list goes on, for all women.
…Firstly, we should be aware (as with all research of any potential bias):
There was funding from Nestle declared, Nestle sell supplements. Potential bias.
The study and article swing towards the need for supplementation and potentially fortifying food based on the results and mainly focusing on the concern for foetal health.
Whilst I agree targeted supplementation is often necessary, and actually essential in those TTC. I don’t think we should jump to talking about supplements and fortifying food (which can actually be problematic with synthetic nutrient forms used) without discussing food first. How about considering:
Can’t we start with asking about food?
I carry out a lot of talks to couples TTC, pregnant women or new mums, it’s a question I always ask…”Have you been asked about the foods you you are eating? Other than the long list of foods not to each when pregnant. Has anyone told you about foods to focus on for fertility/post-natal recovery?”. Sadly, I have never had a women answer “yes”. I guess at least it makes the content for my talk refreshing and often eye-opening, however I’d rather this wasn’t “new news”.
How can we support and empower more women with information around a nutrient-dense diet?
How can we make this easier for people to achieve?
How can we support testing for this more readily?
However, the results were from blood do not surprise me.
I carry out a lot of blood testing in my own clinic…
I have never had a client on initial testing to have optimal levels across the board. It’s important to know, this isn’t always about diet quality either. We live in a very hectic world, often with chronic stress (with can put an extra demand on some nutrients), our intensively-farmed soils lack minerals, we are surrounded by more toxins than every before, we may be eating the best diet but have gut issues that mean we’re not efficiently assimilating and absorbing those nutrients…etc etc). Plus, I’ve talked before about the research highlighting the gender-nutrient gap (read about that here).
From this research (and a heap of other studies), we know:
women are often falling short of nutrient intakes (through not fault of their own)
women’s blood results show deficiencies and suboptimal levels are very very common (9 out of 10 women)
these nutrients are needed for a healthy pregnancy, foetal development, they can even set the stage for the child’s health in later life
when pregnant, the body will always prioritise the baby at the mother’s expense. E.g. Not enough calcium in the diet? Where does it get it from? The mother’s bones. So, we know if women are going in depleted, they are only going to get more depleted.
deficiencies in some of these nutrients are associated with adverse health impacts for the mama, such as postnatal depression, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, skin and hair issues…the list goes on.
Yet, when are we going to start talking about nutrition, food and offering women comprehensive blood checks?
These findings aren’t just relevant for women trying to conceive, as it’s crucial across all life changes to consider the impact a lack of these nutrients can have on your energy, hormones, skin, mental and physical health.
Whilst I wait, this will be what we continue to do in my clinic and within my talks for women.
Yet, it is also so sad when I work with women in clinic who have often been suffering with symptoms, or struggling to conceive for so long without this being discussed, checked before, or minimal markers (if any) assessed in blood work or been told everything is '“normal” (read about that here). Sometimes coming to me as a “last resort”.
We’re failing women & I’m not here for it.
If you relate to any of this, or want to chat - please know you’re not alone and book in a free, no obligation call below to find out more about testing and personalised nutrition.