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Women's Health Issues
PMS
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Post-menopausal woman become increasingly subject to higher rates of bone loss, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, especially breast cancer, than before menopause. This increase often coincides with reduced intake of nutrients through decreased absorptive efficiency, decreased appetite, and reduced levels of activity. Thus, risk reduction programs encompassing diet, appropriate nutrient supplementation, and exercise are essential for post-menopausal women to maintain good health into old age. A major component of any risk reduction program is maintaining optimal levels of antioxidants, minerals, and B vitamins. The role of antioxidant vitamins in preventing cardiovascular diseases, especially stroke, has achieved substantial importance with the knowledge that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein can promote athersclerosis and that vitamin E consumption is inversely related to the risk of death from coronary heart disease. Epidemiological studies have also provided substantial evidence that diets rich in antioxidants significantly reduce the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and that levels of intake 25-35% below the optimal threshold predict a minimal 2-fold increased risk of disease. The role of B vitamin intake, especially of folic acid, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6, has evolved from the prevention of anemia to the prevention of heart disease and stroke, and, more recently, to the prevention of cancer. Impressive evidence has been compiled targeting B vitamin and, especially, folic acid deficiency as key culprits in the occurrence of human mutations and subsequent carcinogenesis. Since vitamin deficiencies, especially those that occur with aging, are so prevalent, a postmenopausal health maintenance program should include measurement of functional levels of B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
PMS
Pregnancy
Menopause
> back to Women's Health Issues
Post-menopausal woman become increasingly subject to higher rates of bone loss, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, especially breast cancer, than before menopause. This increase often coincides with reduced intake of nutrients through decreased absorptive efficiency, decreased appetite, and reduced levels of activity. Thus, risk reduction programs encompassing diet, appropriate nutrient supplementation, and exercise are essential for post-menopausal women to maintain good health into old age. A major component of any risk reduction program is maintaining optimal levels of antioxidants, minerals, and B vitamins. The role of antioxidant vitamins in preventing cardiovascular diseases, especially stroke, has achieved substantial importance with the knowledge that oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein can promote athersclerosis and that vitamin E consumption is inversely related to the risk of death from coronary heart disease. Epidemiological studies have also provided substantial evidence that diets rich in antioxidants significantly reduce the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and that levels of intake 25-35% below the optimal threshold predict a minimal 2-fold increased risk of disease. The role of B vitamin intake, especially of folic acid, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6, has evolved from the prevention of anemia to the prevention of heart disease and stroke, and, more recently, to the prevention of cancer. Impressive evidence has been compiled targeting B vitamin and, especially, folic acid deficiency as key culprits in the occurrence of human mutations and subsequent carcinogenesis. Since vitamin deficiencies, especially those that occur with aging, are so prevalent, a postmenopausal health maintenance program should include measurement of functional levels of B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
REFERENCES
- Dietary antioxidant vitamins and death from coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. Kushi LH et al. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:1156-1162.
- Cardiovascular disease and vitamins. Concurrent correction of "suboptimal" plasma antioxidant levels may, as an important part of "optimal" nutrition, help to prevent early stages of cardiovascular disease and cancer, respectively. Gey KF. Bibl Nutr Dieta. 1995;52:75-91.
- Folate and cancer prevention: a new medical application of folate beyond hyperhomocysteinemia and neural tube defects. Kim YI. Nutr Rev. 1999;57:314-321.
- DNA damage from micronutrient deficiencies is likely to be a major cause of cancer. Ames BN. Mutation Res. 2001;475:7-20.
- Metabolic evidence that deficiencies of vitamin B-12 (cobalamin), folate, and vitamin B-6 occur commonly in elderly people. Joosten E et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993;58:468-476.
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