Nutritional supplementation and its role in Indian women's health: An expert perspective study

• Author Details:   
• Manjula S ^*
• Krishna Kumar M

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Background: Although there are several studies regarding nutritional supplements, there is a dearth of specific data regarding multivitamin use among experts in Indian contexts. So, this study gathers expert perspectives on women's awareness and nutritional supplementation needs across different life stages, with a focus on pregnancy, lactation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) management, and the use of myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) in Indian settings.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Indian experts using a 23-item questionnaire designed to assess nutritional practices. The questions covered topics such as patient awareness, protein requirements, pregnancy care, PCOS management, and supplement adherence. The effectiveness of MI–DCI supplementation was also evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results: The study included 63 experts, of whom 92% reported that pregnant and lactating women most commonly require protein supplementation. Among them, 38% recommended protein supplementation to 51–75% of their patients. Low haemoglobin levels (Hb <9>

Conclusion: The study findings are consistent with existing literature on micronutrient deficiencies in Indian women and support the clinical efficacy of the 40:1 MI–DCI ratio in enhancing ovarian function and improving reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS.

Keywords: Nutrition, Supplementation, Pregnancy, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol