Types of Vitamins and Their Benefits for Women

The use of vitamins and other dietary supplements for women has increased along with the rise in awareness about the importance of nutrition in health and wellness. In 2020 alone, the sale of vitamins for women was up 19.6% as compared to sales in 2019, totaling USD 474 million.[i] It is also worth noting that women’s requirements for essential vitamins and minerals change with age, which means that women in their thirties will need different amounts of these nutrients than they will once they reach their post-menopausal years.[ii]

Dietary supplement brand owners have capitalized on the fact that more people are taking the initiative to keep themselves healthy.

Here's a look at some of the most popular vitamins and how they benefit women.

Different Vitamins and Their Importance

Vitamins are broadly classified into two types "Water soluble" and "Fat soluble". While both these types are equally essential vitamins for women, they play different roles in the body.

Water-soluble and Fat-soluble Vitamins

Water-soluble vitamins are those that can dissolve in water. More importantly, water-soluble vitamins are generally not stored in the body.

There are eight types of water-soluble vitamins:

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Folate (Vitamin B9)
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Water-soluble vitamins are not readily stored in the body, making it essential that women replenish them through their diet or dietary supplements.

Fat-soluble vitamins are those that dissolve in fats and oils. Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed along with fats in the diet and stored for a period of time in the liver and in the body's fatty tissue.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins. These are best absorbed in the body best when eaten with foods that have a higher fat content.[iii] [iv] [v]

Water-soluble Vitamin Supplements and How They Benefit Women

Thiamine/Vitamin B1

What does thiamine do for women?

Thiamine helps converts nutrients into energy
It also has a role in maintaining proper cellular function

Who can benefit from thiamine supplements?

Pregnant women
Women who have a diet high in refined grains (e.g. white rice - bran and germ removed) instead of whole grain rice
Women who suffer from malabsorption of thiamine [vi]

Riboflavin/Vitamin B2

What does riboflavin do for women?

It helps in the production of energy
Aids growth and development of the body
It supports healthy vision

Who can benefit from Riboflavin supplements?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women
Athletes
Older women [vii]

Niacin/Vitamin B3

Benefits of Niacin for women

Niacin aids in the proper functioning of the nervous system
It supports heart health
Niacin helps turn food into energy

Who can benefit from Niacin supplements?

Women under stress
Women who wish to support their heart health.

Pantothenic Acid/Vitamin B5

What does Pantothenic Acid do for women?

It helps support the adrenal glands (aka, the “stress glands”)

Who can benefit from Vitamin B5 supplements?

Women under stress

Pyridoxine/Vitamin B6

What does Pyridoxine do for women?

Pyridoxine is essential for macronutrient metabolism
It helps maintain immune functioning
It aids in neurotransmitter production

Who can benefit from Vitamin B6 supplements?

Women who want to maintain a healthy weight
Pregnant and breastfeeding women [viii]

Biotin/Vitamin B7

Why is Biotin more important for women?

It enables efficient energy production
It supports healthy hair
It plays a role in the regulation of oxidative stress

Who can benefit from Biotin supplements?

Pregnant women
Women who want to support hair health

Folate/Vitamin B9

Out of all the different kinds of vitamins, folate has scientifically proven to be one of the most important for women. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the minimum amount of folate required for women of reproductive age is 400 mcg, in addition to that obtained from dietary sources.

Folate benefits for women

Folate is an essential ingredient in the production of DNA, RNA, RBCs, proteins, and neurotransmitters
It helps in the normal development of the fetus during pregnancy

Who can benefit from Folate supplements?

Those who have an inadequate dietary intake
Women with malabsorption conditions or medication interactions
Pregnant women [ix][x]

Cobalamin/Vitamin B12

What does Cobalamin do for women?

It has a vital role in proper neurological functioning
It aids in the production of RBCs and DNA

Who can benefit from Cobalamin supplements?

Women who want to support energy production
Women who have issues with malabsorption of B12 from dietary sources

Ascorbic Acid/Vitamin C

What does Ascorbic Acid do for women?

Ascorbic Acid is a powerful antioxidant
It helps in maintaining immune functions
It aids in the production of neurotransmitters

Who can benefit from Vitamin C supplements?

Women who want to support immune health

Fat-Soluble Vitamin Supplements and How They Benefit Women

As the name suggests, these vitamins are usually present in fatty foods, and they are absorbed into the body the same way dietary fat is.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins for Women

Vitamin A

What are Vitamin A’s topmost benefits for women?

Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision
Promotes proper immune function
It plays a role in cellular growth
It facilitates the normal development of the fetus

Who can benefit from Vitamin A supplements?

Pregnant women
Women who have a poor or limited diet
Women who want to support healthy vision

Vitamin D

How does Vitamin D benefit women?

Vitamin D helps in maintaining calcium levels
It has a role in the production of insulin
Promotes proper immune function

Who can benefit from Vitamin D supplements?

Women who want to maintain a healthy weight
Older women
Women who want to support immune health

Vitamin E

What are the topmost Vitamin E benefits for women?

It aids in cellular communication
Maintains immune and blood vessel health
It is an antioxidant

Who can benefit from Vitamin E supplements?

Women who want protection against free radicals
Women who want to promote cardiovascular health

Vitamin K

How does Vitamin K benefit women?

Vitamin K helps in maintaining bone and heart health
It aids in blood coagulation

Who can benefit from Vitamin K supplements?

Women who are concerned about maintaining healthy bones
Women who want to support heart health

Each of these vitamins plays a unique role in helping the body function. Absorption of vitamins through diet alone becomes more difficult as a woman's age increases. The demand for nutrient fulfillment through vitamins and supplements has led to supplement brand owners creating vitamins and supplements specifically designed for women.

The global women's healthcare market is projected to reach USD 17.8 billion by 2024. In 2019, vitamins held over 35% in the women's health & beauty supplements market.[xi]

The factors driving this market expansion:

Growing awareness among women about nutritional requirements and health issues
Consumer willingness to spend on dietary supplements
Increasing prevalence of micronutrient deficiency among women
The increasing female population in all aspects of the workforce
Favorable awareness programs & initiatives by governments and other organizations towards improving women's health

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References:

[i] https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/multivitamins-sales-skyrocketed-during-covid-19-what-about-in-2021-2021-ingredient-trends-to-watch

[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6349991/

[iii] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320310#vitamin-a

[iv] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamins-for-women#vitamin-overview

[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56068/table/summarytables.t2/?report=objectonly

[vi] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537204/

[vii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525977/

[viii] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-Consumer/

[ix] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-folate/art-20364625

[x] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html

[xi] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/women-health-beauty-supplements-market