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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416337
Research Project: Energy Met.: Novel Approaches to Facilitating Successful Energy Regulation in Aging--Obesity & Met.: Role of Adipocyte Metabolism in the Development of Obesity and Associated Metabolic Complications

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Sex differences across the life course: a focus on unique nutritional and health considerations among women

Author
item BAILEY, REGAN - Texas A&M University Institute For Advancing Health Through Agriculture
item LOW DOG, TIERAONA - Healthy Lifestyle Brand
item SMITH-RYAN, ABBIE - University Of North Carolina
item DAS, SAI KRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BAKER, FIONA - Sri International
item MADEK-ERDOGAN, ZEYNEP - University Of Illinois
item HAMMOND, BILLY - University Of Georgia
item SESSO, HOWARD - Brigham & Women'S Hospital
item EAPEN, ALEX - Cargill, Incorporated
item MITMESSER, SUSAN - Pharmavite, Llc
item WONG, ANDREA - Council For Responsible Nutrition
item NGUYEN, HAIUYEN - Council For Responsible Nutrition

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2022
Publication Date: 3/16/2022
Citation: Bailey, R.L., Low Dog, T., Smith-Ryan, A., Das, S., Baker, F.C., Madek-Erdogan, Z., Hammond, B.R., Sesso, H.D., Eapen, A., Mitmesser, S.H., Wong, A., Nguyen, H. 2022. Sex differences across the life course: a focus on unique nutritional and health considerations among women. Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxac059.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxac059

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the United States, women, while having a longer life expectancy than men, experience a differential risk for chronic diseases and have unique nutritional needs based on physiological and hormonal changes across the life span. However, much of what is known about health is based on research conducted in men. Additional complexity in assessing nutritional needs within gender include the variations in genetics, body compositions, hormonal milieus, underlying chronic diseases, and medication usage, with this list expanding as we consider these variables across the life course. It is clear women experience nutrient shortfalls during key periods of their lives, which may differentially impact their health. Consequently, as we move into the era of precision nutrition, understanding these sex- and gender-based differences may help optimize recommendations and interventions chosen to support health and weight management. Recently, a scientific conference was convened with content experts to explore these topics from a life-course perspective at biological, physiological, and behavioral levels. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop and provides an overview of important nutrition and related lifestyle considerations across the life course. The landscape of addressing female-specific nutritional needs continues to grow; now more than ever, it is essential to increase our understanding of the physiological differences between men and women, and determine how these physiological considerations may aid in optimizing nutritional strategies to support certain personal goals related to health, quality of life, sleep, and exercise performance among women.