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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin D and Skin Health
- National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D
- Cleveland Clinic: Menopause & Osteoporosis
- Osteporosis International: Three-Year Low-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Helps Decrease Bone Loss In Healthy Postmenopausal Women
- Osteporosis International: Three-Year Low-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Helps Decrease Bone Loss In Healthy Postmenopausal Women
- Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation: The Effect of Vitamin E on Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women
- Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation: The Effect of Vitamin E on Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
The Best Vitamins for Premenopausal Women
Premenopause, or perimenopause, can start to rear its head when you reach age 40. During this period before menopause, which can last as many as 10 to 13 years, women may experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms including mood swings, anxiety, depression, irritability and weight gain. But don't despair. Working with your doctor, you can create a plan to ease the symptoms you're experiencing and feel great into your 40s and 50s. Getting enough of certain vitamins from a healthy diet or supplements is key. The best vitamins for perimenopause are vitamins D, K, E and the B vitamins.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Get Enough Vitamin D
Termed the sunshine vitamin because it's synthesized by your skin when it's exposed to sun, vitamin D is an especially important nutrient to stock up on as you approach menopause. As you age, your skin's ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases, so you may be more prone to deficiency, especially because vitamin D is found naturally in very few foods. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in healthy mood. In fact, in an article published in "Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health" in 2008, lactation consultant Pamela K. Murphy and Dr. Carol L. Wagner report that studies show an increased risk of mood disorders among women with low vitamin D levels 23. The recommended daily allowance for women is 15 micrograms, and the best food sources are cod liver oil; fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna; and fortified products such as orange juice, milk and cereal.
- Termed the sunshine vitamin because it's synthesized by your skin when it's exposed to sun, vitamin D is an especially important nutrient to stock up on as you approach menopause.
Stock up on Vitamin K
Vitamins for PMS & Mood Swings
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You begin to lose bone mass after the age of 35, and women over the age of 50 have the highest risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak, brittle bones. Therefore, it's important to begin to increase your store of nutrients that support bone health during the premenopausal years. According to menopause expert and author Ellen Dolgen, one particular type of vitamin K, called MK-7, is especially important for premenopausal women because it helps prevent osteoporosis 4. A study published in September 2013 in "Osteoporosis International" supports this claim. In their three-year study, the researchers found that supplementation with MK-7 slowed the decline of bone mineral density and bone strength in a group of postmenopausal women 5. The RDA for vitamin K for women is 90 micrograms; MK-7 is a specific type of supplement, but you can also get vitamin K by eating kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, spinach and olive oil.
- You begin to lose bone mass after the age of 35, and women over the age of 50 have the highest risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak, brittle bones.
- According to menopause expert and author Ellen Dolgen, one particular type of vitamin K, called MK-7, is especially important for premenopausal women because it helps prevent osteoporosis 4.
Ensure Adequate Vitamin E
Nutritionist Dr. Marilyn Glenville recommends vitamin E to help ease the discomfort of hot flashes, a symptom that some women begin to experience in perimenopause 6. In a study published in "Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation" in July 2007, a group of menopausal women were given either a placebo or 400 international units of vitamin E for a four-week period 7. When taking the vitamin E, the women experienced statistically significant differences in the severity and frequency of their hot flashes 7. The RDA for women is 15 milligrams. Rich food sources of vitamin E include almonds, peanuts, sunflower oil and canola oil.
Increase Your Intake of B Vitamins
Vitamins for the Menstrual Cycle
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The B vitamins help regulate your metabolism and energy, and they also play a role in regulating your mood, fluctuations in which can greatly affect the quality of life of premenopausal women. According to a review published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in June 2010, a deficiency in the B vitamins, especially B-12 and folate, is linked with depression. If you take an antidepressant, a deficiency can also affect how well it works, say the authors of the review. The RDAs for B-12 and folate are 2.4 micrograms and 400 micrograms, respectively. Rich sources of B-12 include clams, mussels, mackerel, beef and salmon. Folate is abundant in lentils, chickpeas, asparagus and spinach. Strict vegetarians should speak to their doctor about taking a B-12 supplement because B-12 is not present in plant foods.
- The B vitamins help regulate your metabolism and energy, and they also play a role in regulating your mood, fluctuations in which can greatly affect the quality of life of premenopausal women.
Related Articles
References
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin D and Skin Health
- National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D
- Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health: Vitamin D and Mood Disorders Among Women: An Integrative Review
- Cleveland Clinic: Menopause & Osteoporosis
- Osteporosis International: Three-Year Low-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Helps Decrease Bone Loss In Healthy Postmenopausal Women
- Dr. Marilyn Glenville PhD: Menopause
- Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation: The Effect of Vitamin E on Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women
- Zwakenberg SR, Den braver NR, Engelen AIP, et al. Vitamin K intake and all-cause and cause specific mortality. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(5):1294-1300. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.08.017
- Gast GC, De roos NM, Sluijs I, et al. A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;19(7):504-10. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2008.10.004
- Rees K, Guraewal S, Wong YL, et al. Is vitamin K consumption associated with cardio-metabolic disorders? A systematic review. Maturitas. 2010;67(2):121-8. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.05.006
- Cockayne S, Adamson J, Lanham-new S, Shearer MJ, Gilbody S, Torgerson DJ. Vitamin K and the prevention of fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(12):1256-61. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.12.1256
- Iwamoto J, Takeda T, Sato Y. Role of vitamin K2 in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Curr Drug Saf. 2006;1(1):87-97. doi:10.2174/157488606775252629
- Zhong JH, Li H, Li LQ, et al. Adjuvant therapy options following curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review of randomized trials. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2012;38(4):286-95. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2012.01.006
- Zwakenberg SR, Den braver NR, Engelen AIP, et al. Vitamin K intake and all-cause and cause specific mortality. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(5):1294-1300. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.08.017
- Koitaya N, Ezaki J, Nishimuta M, Yamauchi J, Hashizume E, Morishita K, Miyachi M, Sasaki S, Ishimi Y. Effect of Low Dose Vitamin K2 (MK-4) Supplementation on Bio-Indices in Postmenopausal Japanese Women. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2009 Feb;55(1):15-21.
Writer Bio
Jody Braverman is a professional writer and editor based in Atlanta. She studied creative writing at the American University of Paris and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland. She also received personal trainer certification from NASM and her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from YogaWorks.