Last week a story came out that confirms something many women already suspected: even the institutions that are supposed to look after us still use the male body as the "norm" when talking about our health.
What happened?
In April 2026, Spain's Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN) published an official report on the nutritional risks women face during perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. The document included intake recommendations for iron and vitamin C... but those figures came directly from studies carried out in men, with no warning at all about that far-from-minor detail.
The person who spotted it was Sonia de Pascual-Teresa Fernández, a researcher at Spain's Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (CSIC) and a member of the Spanish Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT), while she was working on a vitamin C project specifically aimed at women in perimenopause. What's striking, and most infuriating, is that the original European source, EFSA, did repeatedly warn that the data came from studies conducted only in men and had been mathematically extrapolated to the rest of the population. That warning got lost along the way when it was adapted into the Spanish report.
Following the complaint, Spain's Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, publicly called for the report to be reviewed: "we hope this won't happen again," she said. AESAN has already asked its scientific committee to review it and has announced it will add a clarifying note about where the data came from. For now, though, the document remains published as is.
Why this isn't just a "technical detail"
During perimenopause and postmenopause, the body goes through hormonal and metabolic changes that genuinely affect how we absorb and how much we need of certain nutrients. Basing an official recommendation on data from men isn't just imprecise: it can mean millions of women receive guidance that was never designed for their bodies at this stage of life.
And this isn't an isolated case. It's one more example of a long-standing pattern in medicine and research: the male body as the standard, and ours treated as a variation with "statistical noise".
What can we do with this information?
- Question generic recommendations, respectfully. If a nutritional or medical guideline doesn't state which population the underlying study was based on, it's worth asking.
- Look for professionals who specialise in women's health at this stage of life. Not all general information applies equally during perimenopause and menopause.
- Keep demanding, as a community, more research specifically in women. Every complaint like this one helps get these gaps corrected.
At Vive Tu Balance we keep believing that the best defence is clear, verified information in your own language. That's why we keep publishing content that helps you understand what's happening in your body and ask the right questions when you see your doctor.
Important notice
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individualised medical or nutritional advice. If you have questions about your nutrition at this stage, consult your doctor or a specialised nutrition professional.
- elDiario.es (August 2026). Spain's Food Safety Agency publishes a report on menopausal women using data obtained from men.
- elDiario.es (August 2026). Equality Ministry calls for the menopause report using male data to be reviewed: "We hope this won't happen again".
- Infobae (26 August 2026). A study on nutrition in menopause uses data obtained in men: "There is no scientific evidence for women over 40".
- que.es (27 August 2026). AESAN corrects its menopause report after using data from studies conducted only in men.