Spanish Nutrition Agency issues menopause guidelines based on male studies

A menopause guide with an unexpected protagonist: men. The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) will review its report on diet and healthy habits during the menopause after several scientists questioned the fact that some of its recommendations on nutrients and women's nutritional needs at this stage are based on studies carried out exclusively on men.

The agency has asked its scientific committee to carry out the review. The controversy stems from the fact that the document, published last March, uses values from research by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) without explicitly warning that the reference studies were conducted on male populations.

AESAN has acknowledged there was an "omission of a warning" and has argued for the need to expand research specifically focused on women during the menopause.

The report sets out a series of recommendations designed to reduce the risks associated with this stage, such as loss of bone and muscle mass or cardiovascular problems. These include a diet rich in protein, omega-3, fibre, calcium, iron and vitamins, as well as regular exercise, with particular emphasis on strength training.

The Spanish Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, has called for the document to be reviewed in a post on X and has urged that situations like this "do not happen again". "It is about time women were present in health agendas and studies, and the male body stopped being the universal reference point for everything, even for issues related to the menopause," the minister said.

The controversy also highlights a longstanding problem in medical research: for decades, men have been over-represented in clinical trials and other scientific studies, while women have been excluded or under-represented.

This gap has meant that part of our knowledge about diseases, symptoms, treatments or doses has been built around the male body as the standard, even though there are biological differences that can influence both the onset of certain conditions and the response to medicines and treatments. The result can be less accurate diagnosis, prevention and healthcare for women.