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Scoping review of micronutrient intake in midlife women across six Asian regionsMicronutrient gaps in Asian midlife women may harm bone health and daily life

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Key Takeaway
Consider the reported associations between micronutrient status and health outcomes in midlife Asian women, noting evidence gaps.

This is a scoping review that identified eighty-six publications and ten reports on micronutrient intake and status in midlife women across six Asian regions, including India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan. The review focused on B-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, and their associations with bone health, metabolism, cognition, quality of life, and menopausal transition health.

The authors synthesized that suboptimal intakes or deficiency of these micronutrients were common. They reported that adequate intake or status showed positive associations with better bone health, metabolism, cognition, and quality of life. No pooled effect sizes, absolute numbers, p-values, or confidence intervals were reported.

Key limitations noted by the authors include methodological differences across the identified studies and reports. The review did not report on specific interventions, comparators, follow-up periods, or safety data.

The authors suggest that strengthening surveillance and developing targeted interventions are critical to support healthy aging and disease prevention in this population. Practice relevance is framed cautiously, with available data suggesting associations rather than causation.

Many women in midlife across India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan face a hidden risk. They often do not get enough of key nutrients like B-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium. This review looked at eight sources to understand how these gaps affect their lives.

The findings point to a clear pattern. When women have better levels of these nutrients, they tend to have stronger bones, healthier metabolism, sharper thinking, and a better quality of life. The review connects these nutrient levels directly to how women feel during their menopausal transition.

However, the data comes from different studies with different methods. This mix makes it hard to draw one single conclusion. The review does not prove that taking supplements will fix these problems. Instead, it highlights the need for better monitoring and targeted actions to support healthy aging and prevent disease in these communities.

What this means for you:
Low nutrient intake is linked to worse health outcomes for midlife women in six Asian regions.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedMay 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Micronutrient status is critical for the health and well-being of midlife women during the menopausal transition. However, data on micronutrient intake and status among midlife Asian women remain limited. This review examined the landscape of micronutrient intake, deficiency, and health impact in this population. Using a scoping review approach guided by a Population-Concept-Contextframework, we descriptively synthesized evidence from population-level and peer-reviewed data across six Asian regions (India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan). The review focuses on B-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, due to their roles in metabolic, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and mental health. Eighty-six publications and ten reports were identified. Despite methodological differences, evidence consistently indicated suboptimal intakes or deficiency. Available data suggested associations between adequate intake or status and better bone health, metabolism, cognition, and quality of life. Micronutrient inadequacy among this population is common yet under-recognized. Strengthening surveillance and developing targeted interventions are critical to support healthy aging and disease prevention among women in midlife and beyond.
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