Women’s Supplements
Multivitamins have become increasingly popular, not only during Winter months but also throughout the whole year. More and more customers are using multivitamins year-round, and appreciate the benefits of doing so.
The convenience of only having to take one tablet or sachet per day to receive a selection of vitamins and minerals is appealing to customers, rather than having to take multiple tablets per day.
As mentioned above, there is a substantial choice of products available which have been specifically tailored for men and women.
Women’s supplements contain a higher dose of iron, which is beneficial due to the loss of blood during the menstrual cycle.
The majority of supplements contain Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Folic Acid, Zinc and Iron. Some then contain extra ingredients such as Ginseng which would be targeted for those who lead a very active lifestyle and need the surplus energy boost. Supplements can be taken at any stage of life, however there are age specific products available for example those supplements that are targeted towards the over 50’s. These specific supplements tend to contain extra calcium and Vitamin D, which are very helpful at supporting bone health as we age. Certain supplements for the over 50’s will also contain Lutein, which helps to prevent age related macular degeneration. The vast array of choices for taking vitamins and supplements, including tablets, sachets, chewable sachets, liquids and gummies, ensures that every customer can choose the product that works best for them and their health goals.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D has become a mainstay with regards to the health and wellbeing of the population here in Ireland. As the pandemic progressed and the emergence of more information and research about the Coronavirus emerged, there was a significant increase in the requests for Vitamin D. Since then, there has been lots of engagement with the public who are eager to know more about the role of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D helps regulate antimicrobial proteins that can directly kill pathogens as well as Vitamin D also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity.
Vitamin D also has a significant role in the absorption of calcium which the body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones.
Vitamin D isn’t naturally found in many foods, but it can be found in fortified milk and fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines. Direct sunlight is also significant as the body makes Vitamin D by converting a chemical in the skin into an active form of the vitamin (calciferol).
With the weather here in Ireland and the significant decrease in sunlight as we come into the winter months, it is easy to see how the demand for Vitamin D has increased here and why Vitamin D has been recommended at all stages of life including newborn infants.
The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for people ages 1 to 70 years, and 800 IU for people over 70 years.
Vitamin D is available in a wide range of formulations providing a greater variety of choice depending on the patient’s preference. Oral drops and sprays are available for infants and for adults which can result in quicker absorption. Chewable and gummy formulations may increase the compliance amongst younger children. Tablets are readily available, and some patients may prefer the convenience they provide.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body’s healing process.
It is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron.
Vitamin C can be obtained from a healthy diet as it is present in citrus fruits, berries and spinach. Severe Vitamin C deficiency can lead to a disease called scurvy, which causes anemia, bleeding gums, bruising and poor wound healing.
The recommended daily amount of Vitamin C is 75 milligrams for adult women.
Vitamin C is available in many formulations ranging from chewable tablets, oral tablets and effervescent tablets. It is common to see Vitamin C products also containing zinc to help the immune system and there definitely is an increase in requests for such products coming into the winter months.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for the body’s growth and development and wound healing. It also helps regulate immune function, exhibits antioxidant activity, and helps support a balanced inflammatory response in the body.
It helps the immune system and metabolism function and is also important for wound healing and sense of taste and smell.
Your immune system needs zinc to function properly. A zinc deficiency reduces your ability to eliminate pathogens, mount a response against threats, and produce antibodies. It has been shown that if zinc is taken soon after cold symptoms appear, it may also shorten the length of a cold.
The recommended daily amount of zinc is 8 milligrams (mg) for women.
Zinc is available on its own mainly in tablet form but is quite popular in a chewable form combined with Vitamin C. The combination products appear to be more popular amongst customers due to the ease of taking a single tablet.
Magnesium
Magnesium keeps the immune system strong, helps strengthen muscles and bones, and supports many body functions from cardiac functions to brain functions.
The amount of magnesium recommended is 270mg a day for women (19 to 64 years).
Care should be taken as high doses (more than 400mg) for a short time has been shown to cause diarrhoea. Having 400mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Magnesium is available in tablet form at varying strengths and also in sachet form as a soluble powder for consumption.
All the above vitamins and minerals are commonly contained in multivitamins, and it is crucial to check with the patient if they are taking any vitamins and minerals before recommending products to ensure that they do not exceed the recommended dose.
There is an array of multivitamins available in various formulations for all ages and even gender specific for male and females containing tailored vitamins and minerals required for certain functions of the body e.g. increased iron for women.
