Multivitamin supplementation in women
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Multivitamin Supplementation and Weight, Lipid Profiles, and Energy in Women
Research in obese women shows that multivitamin and mineral supplementation can help reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, while increasing resting energy expenditure and HDL cholesterol. These effects suggest that multivitamin use may support weight management and improve lipid profiles, possibly by boosting energy expenditure and fat oxidation in obese women .
Multivitamin Supplementation and Cognitive Function in Elderly Women
A study in elderly women found that 16 weeks of multivitamin, mineral, and herbal supplementation improved the speed of response in spatial working memory tasks. However, no significant benefits were observed for other cognitive processes. The supplementation also led to increased levels of vitamins B6 and B12, and decreased homocysteine, with no safety concerns reported .
Multivitamin Use and Hypertension Risk in Women
A large prospective study of middle-aged and older women found no association between multivitamin use and the risk of developing hypertension. Neither baseline nor long-term multivitamin use affected the incidence of hypertension over an average follow-up of 11.5 years .
Multivitamin Supplementation and Psychological Wellbeing in Stressed Women
In women experiencing psychological distress, multivitamin supplementation did not significantly improve psychological state compared to placebo. However, there was some evidence that multivitamin use positively affected certain pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles, suggesting a potential benefit for immune function during stress .
Multivitamin Supplementation in HIV-Infected Women
Among HIV-infected women, multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum significantly improved hemoglobin levels and reduced the risk of anemia for both mothers and their children. Supplementation also decreased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as fetal death, low birth weight, severe preterm birth, and small size for gestational age, and increased T-cell counts. Notably, single and multiple recommended dietary allowance (RDA) doses were similarly effective 5910.
Multivitamin Supplementation and Pregnancy Outcomes
In pregnant women, especially in low- and middle-income countries, multivitamin supplementation increased gestational weight gain (GWG) and reduced the risk of severely inadequate or inadequate GWG. Multivitamin use in the first trimester was also associated with a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia, particularly among overweight and obese women. These findings support the use of prenatal multivitamin supplements to improve maternal and birth outcomes 67.
Safety of Multivitamin Supplementation in Women
Systematic reviews indicate that multivitamin/mineral supplements, when used within recommended dietary intakes, are safe for long-term use in both pregnant women and the general population. Only minor side effects, such as mild gastrointestinal symptoms, have been reported, with no significant differences compared to placebo .
Conclusion
Multivitamin supplementation in women can offer benefits for weight management, lipid profiles, cognitive function in the elderly, hematologic status in HIV-infected women, and pregnancy outcomes, particularly in populations at risk of nutritional deficiencies. While multivitamins do not appear to reduce the risk of hypertension or significantly improve psychological wellbeing in stressed women, they are generally safe for long-term use when taken within recommended guidelines.
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