Spanish agency criticised for menopause guidelines based on male studies

Spain’s food safety agency will review menopause guidance after women researchers criticised recommendations based on studies conducted only on men.

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has asked its scientific committee to review its report on diet and healthy habits during the menopause.

Published last March, the document uses values from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) research without explicitly stating that the reference studies involved male populations.

AESAN has acknowledged there was an “omission of a warning” and said more research focused specifically on women during the menopause is needed.

The report includes recommendations aimed at reducing risks associated with menopause, including loss of bone and muscle mass and cardiovascular problems.

It recommends a diet rich in protein, omega-3, fibre, calcium, iron and vitamins, alongside regular exercise, with particular emphasis on strength training.

Spanish equality minister Ana Redondo has also called for the document to be reviewed and urged in a post on X that situations like this “do not happen again”.

She said: “It is about time women were present in health agendas and studies, and the male body stopped being the universal reference point for everything, even for issues related to the menopause.”

The criticism reflects concerns about the longstanding under-representation of women in clinical trials and other scientific studies, where men have been over-represented for decades.

As a result, some knowledge about diseases, symptoms, treatments and doses has been based on the male body as the standard, despite biological differences that can influence the onset of certain conditions and responses to medicines and treatments.

This can result in less accurate diagnosis, prevention and healthcare for women.