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Why are American women nutritionally depleted?

Nutrient-Deficient Soil

Detrimental farming practices mean that soil nutrients are declining. Research shows that you could eat the same diet–the same foods in the same amounts–as your parents or grandparents did, and you’d get fewer nutrients.

Low Prenatal Care Standards

Nutrition is largely ignored in the US standard of prenatal care. The average prenatal appointment is just 12 minutes long. Most women receive bare minimum nutritional advice and are left to do their own nutritional research in a category that’s crowded with misinformation. A Needed study reveals that nearly 80% of women reported receiving little to no nutritional advice from their OBGYN.

Women Ignored in Research

Women’s health research is critically underfunded and systematically marginalized. In 1977, the FDA issued a guideline banning most women of “childbearing potential” from participating in clinical research studies. This policy was formally rescinded in 1993. Nevertheless, women are still grossly underrepresented in research.

Modern Diets

Diets are increasingly high in processed foods and low in whole foods. Regularly consuming processed foods (which often contain refined carbohydrates, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and high amounts of sodium), while limiting nutrient-dense whole foods, leaves women with inadequate amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other beneficial compounds it needs for optimal functioning.

Chronic Stress

When you’re under chronic stress, your body enters a heightened physiological state that increases its metabolic and nutrient needs. This leads to greater utilization and depletion of certain nutrients, including vitamins like B-complex and minerals like magnesium.

The evidence is in our blood.

We don’t just advocate for women’s health research. We do it. Our first Institutional Review Board approved study through Needed Labs examined the nutritional status of 235 pregnant women across seven U.S. cities, revealing striking insights into how maternal nutrition status differs by the type of prenatal vitamin used during the current pregnancy.

We compared nutritional characteristics in pregnant women taking either standard prenatal vitamins or Needed’s Prenatal Multi supplement. Women taking our Needed Prenatal Multi capsules had significantly higher blood levels of multiple key nutrients for pregnancy including vitamin D, vitamin B6, Riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin K2, and selenium, compared to the women taking the standard prenatal.

Learn more about the results of our IRB approved study here.

Maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels during pregnancy supports several critical health outcomes, including a healthy immune system, strong bones and teeth, healthy blood pressure, bone health, and the absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus (key perinatal nutrients). Women taking Needed had significantly higher blood levels of Vitamin D compared to women taking a standard prenatal.

Maintaining sufficient Vitamin B6 during pregnancy offers multiple important health advantages. It supports brain and nervous system development, nervous system function, healthy mood through the production of several key neurotransmitters, energy producing metabolism, and magnesium absorption (a key perinatal nutrient). Women taking Needed had significantly higher blood levels of Vitamin B6 compared to women taking a standard prenatal.

Maintaining sufficient Selenium during pregnancy provides critical support for maternal and fetal health, including healthy thyroid function, healthy immune system and immune function, protection of cells from oxidative stress in its role as an antioxidant. 35% of women taking a standard prenatal fell below the sufficient range for levels of Selenium in their blood, versus 0% of women taking Needed.