Some people took the first few letters of menopause too literally.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) published nutritional guidelines for women throughout perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause this past March.
The problem? The guidelines were based on research carried out exclusively on men.
The document used studies from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to offer recommendations that would reduce risks associated with this stage of life, such as loss of bone density and muscle mass.
Much of the information focused on consuming a diet rich in protein, iron, calcium, omega-3 and vitamins, while engaging in regular strength training.
However, the AESAN didn’t explicitly warn consumers that the reference studies were conducted only on male populations, an oversight several female scientists pointed out.
After several members of the Spanish Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT) criticized the report, the agency acknowledged the “omission of a warning” and has ordered a formal review by its scientific committee.
The Spanish Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, even weighed in, calling for a review of the document and for an incident like this to not be repeated.
“It is about time women were present in health agendas and studies, and the male body stopped being the universal reference point for everything, even for issues related to the menopause,” the minister wrote in a post on X.
The controversy highlights a longstanding problem in medical research that women are often under-represented or entirely left out of crucial studies and clinical trials, while men are over-represented.
Women account for around 40% of participants in clinical trials for three of the diseases that most affect women — cancer, cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders, according to a 2022 study.
Additionally, using male bodies as the standard in medical research ignores critical female biological and hormonal processes.
The hormonal fluctuations menopausal women face affect everything from bone health and body composition to cognition and cardiovascular risk.
There’s also the difference in nutritional needs between men and women, especially menopausal women.
While 1,000 milligrams of calcium is recommended for men ages 19 to 70 and women up to age 50, the latter should increase their intake to 1,200 milligrams after age 51.
And even before menopause, women need different amounts of a few vitamins and nutrients.
Some notable differences include vitamin A (900 micrograms for men and 700 for women), iron (men need 8 milligrams while women should get 18 milligrams) and potassium, where men are recommended to aim for 3,400 milligrams and women 2,600 milligrams.
“Nutrient absorption can change with age … so monitoring and targeted supplementation or smart food choices become more important,” registered dietitian and nutritionist Amy Shapiro previously told The Post.
Beyond getting enough protein, calcium and vitamin D, experts have found eating a mostly plant-based diet or one that avoids a spike in blood sugar can help manage hormones that drive hunger and appetite, potentially staving off menopausal weight gain.
