The amount of supplements offered in local pharmacies and supermarkets is often enough to grant them their own aisle, full of brightly-colored bottles of all shapes and sizes promoting the wellness of hair and nails, the heart, sleep or bones. There are options for men and women, kids and “over 50s” in pills, powders or gummy formulations. Decades of research shows that getting the right amount of certain vitamins and minerals in the diet can ward off diseases, and dietary guidelines serve as the most accurate estimate we have for what the body needs to stay healthy.
But some say more research is needed to fully understand sex differences in how female and male bodies need and use these nutrients across the life cycle. As a result, some are calling for improved recommendations that take a closer look at the role that sex, hormonal changes, and body composition play into these nutritional needs.
