Advancing Women’s Health Across the Lifecourse

Amy R. Nichols, PhD, MS, RDN is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis who is leading innovative research focused on how nutrition influences women’s health across major life stages. Her work takes a lifecourse approach by examining critical reproductive transitions, such as puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause, and how these sensitive periods impact long-term cardiometabolic health.

“Women’s health across the lifecourse needs more attention,” Dr. Nichols explains. “For decades, women were largely excluded from clinical trials, which means we still have significant gaps in understanding how nutrition can influence long term health outcomes.”

Reproductive Health as an Early Indicator of Risk

Dr. Nichols’ lab is currently involved in several multidisciplinary projects aimed at improving prevention strategies and nutrition guidance for women.

One research project focuses on prenatal and pregnancy stages where Dr. Nichols is working alongside the National Institutes of Health Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Consortium. This project aims to improve how prenatal folate and folic acid intake is measured across diverse populations and to better understand how folate/folic acid may be linked to child neurodevelopment.

Emerging research about postpartum women has Dr. Nichols’s lab examining cardiometabolic health in individuals using GLP-1receptor agonist medications after childbirth. She is interested in investigating how dietary patterns change with anti-obesity medication therapy and whether these treatments increase the risk for iron deficiency postpartum.

Rounding out her work on women’s health, Dr. Nichols’s additional projects explore how women make nutr

ition-related decisions during menopause, including the novel Nutrition and Menopause Research Initiative (NutriPause). This research is related to her studies on whether participation in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program during reproductive years contributes to healthier outcomes later in life for both mothers and their children.

Reproductive History as an Early Risk Indicator 

Dr. Nichols emphasizes that reproductive experiences can provide valuable insight into future cardiometabolic health. “Reproductive history can function as an early risk marker years before clinical disease develops,” she says. Research has shown that infertility and pregnancy loss are associated with less favorable cardiovascular health indicators in midlife, thus highlighting the importance of earlier screening, prevention strategies, and targeted nutrition counseling.

Nutrition Needs Across Life Stages 

As women move through different phases of life their nutrition priorities also shift. During puberty, specific nutrients, such as protein, calcium, vitamin D, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin B12, are essential for growth, bone development, and to support hormonal changes. During perimenopause and menopause, energy needs may decrease, while nutrients that support bone, muscle, and cardiovascular health become increasingly important. 

Dr. Nichols notes that nutrition may also play a role in managing menopause-related symptoms, but this is an underexplored area of research. “Right now, we know that higher protein and fiber intake can support body composition and cardiometabolic health, while adequate calcium and vitamin D are critical for protecting bone health. But further research needs to address this critical reproductive phase of the lifecourse,” she explains. She emphasizes that nutrition strategies are most effective when combined with medical care and guidance from registered dietitian nutritionists.

Beyond the Lab

Outside of research, Dr. Nichols enjoys exploring global flavors and preparing colorful shareable meals. She especially enjoys dumplings, fermented foods, and experimenting with bold ingredients, such as Sichuan peppers, reflecting her curiosity about culture and food traditions.

Looking Ahead 

Through interdisciplinary collaborations and a strong lifecourse perspective, Dr. Nichols’s research is helping expand understanding of how nutrition influences women’s health from adolescence through midlife and beyond. Her work reflects a commitment to solving complex nutrition challenges, while advancing prevention strategies that strengthen evidence-based nutrition guidance and inform public health programs that promote healthier outcomes for women and future generations.