VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
For women in Surgical Menopause some of the major areas of concern are bone, heart, and brain health. When estrogen drops as the result of loss of ovaries, the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and brain disease increases. While HRT is the first line of defense for those women able to take it, supplements and vitamins are a valuable tool for a woman’s care in Surgical Menopause. Below are a list of supplements that are essential to supporting a women’s health in Surgical Menopause.
Calcium: Dropping levels of estrogen due to Surgical Menopause lead to issues with bone health and osteoporosis, Calcium helps to build up and protect your bones. While it is always best to get your vitamins and nutrients from food that is not always possible. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is 1,000 to 1,200 mg per day.
Omega-3’s in Fish Oil: Omega 3’s benefit both brain and cardiovascular health, as well as function as an anti-inflammatory. In terms of cardiovascular health (heart health), it lowers triglycerides and is a strong antioxidant that assists in improving brain function and cognitive delay associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is 1,000 – 2,000 mg per day.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is the vitamin we associate with “getting enough sun”, but it is difficult to get the necessary Vitamin D from the sun and food alone. Vitamin D is a building block to stronger, healthier bones, but it also has the added benefit of reducing high blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack, and giving you more energy. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is between 600-800 IU per day.
B Vitamins: B Vitamins, which are niacin, thiamine, and B12 can play a key role in helping women in Surgical Menopause manage stress levels due to their symptoms and health condition. B Vitamins can also give your body more energy, which is an area many women with this condition struggle with. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is 400-500 mcg of Methylcobalamin per day.
Biotin: Any time a woman's hormones drastically change, their body will change, including their hair and hair quality. Unfortunately, in Surgical Menopause, many women notice a drier texture as well as thinning. In more extreme cases they may even notice bald patches where the scalp becomes visible. Most of this is caused by the lack of estrogen and collagen in their bodies, which causes most everything to dry out and to become less lustrous. Biotin is a B vitamin often recommended for improving hair health. Since biotin deficiency can lead to thinning of the hair, taking biotin supplements or using biotin-enriched shampoo and hair products can thicken hair and stimulate brand new hair and nail growth. Somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 iu daily is recommended for women experiencing hair loss and loss of hair quality due to Surgical Menopause.
Collagen: Similiar to what was mentioned above regarding loss of hair quality in Surgical Menopause, collagen is an essential protein responsible for healthy and youthful hair, skin and nail quality. When our estrogen levels decline, the body stops producing as much collagen. This can lead to dry and thinning hair, aging and sagging skin, and brittle nail quality. Collagen helps rebuild and repair hair, skin, and nails. It is recommended to include collagen in your daily supplement routine to combat these unwanted effects of Surgical Menopause.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the body, it has also been shown to reduce hot flashes in some women. Studies have shown that Vitamin E can help with depression, stress, and ward off cell-damaging free radicals. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is 400 IU per day
Evening Primrose Oil: Evening Primrose Oil is taken from the evening primrose plant (Oenothera biennis), and it is a traditional remedy for menopausal symptoms. It is a gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which means an essential fatty acid that can assist in influencing prostaglandin synthesis and relieve moderate menopausal symptoms. The recommended dose for women in Surgical Menopause is 240mg per day.