Phoenix 24
A technical omission has exposed a much larger gender gap in medical research.
MADRID, SPAIN | AUGUST 2026
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition will review its official guide on diet and healthy habits during menopause after scientists identified recommendations supported by studies conducted exclusively on men. The agency, known as AESAN, has referred the document to its scientific committee following criticism of the evidence used for certain nutritional values.
The controversy does not mean that the entire guide was based on male participants. It concerns specific recommendations involving nutrients such as iron and vitamin C that relied on data from the European Food Safety Authority without clearly stating that some underlying studies involved only male populations. AESAN acknowledged that this limitation should have been disclosed and described its absence as an omitted warning.
Published in March, the guide seeks to reduce health risks associated with menopause, including declining bone and muscle mass and increased cardiovascular vulnerability. Its recommendations include consuming sufficient protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, calcium, iron and vitamins, alongside regular physical activity with particular attention to strength training. Many of these principles remain consistent with established health guidance, but the reliability of specific numerical recommendations depends on whether the evidence adequately represents menopausal women.
Equality Minister Ana Redondo called for a formal revision and said the male body should no longer be treated as the universal reference, especially for a biological transition experienced by women. AESAN also recognised the need for more research specifically focused on women during menopause. The review will determine which sections require additional context, modification or stronger evidence.
The dispute reflects a longstanding problem in medical science. Women were excluded or underrepresented in many clinical trials for decades, creating gaps in knowledge about how diseases develop, how symptoms appear and how bodies respond to medication, nutrition and treatment. Hormonal changes, metabolism and other biological differences can influence health outcomes, meaning that findings from male populations cannot always be transferred directly to women without careful validation.
Public health guidance depends not only on offering reasonable recommendations but also on clearly communicating the quality and limitations of the evidence behind them. AESAN’s decision to review the document is therefore necessary, but the deeper challenge is ensuring that women are adequately represented from the beginning of the research process rather than added as an afterthought.
Cada silencio habla. / Every silence speaks.