In 2020, 51.4% of Mexico´s census population was female, representing 64.5 million of the country´s inhabitants. The states with the highest percentage of female population were Oaxaca and Baja California.

In 2016 the WHO published the global life expectancy at birth was higher in women (74.2 years) compared to men (69.8 years), concluding that the female population is longer-lived.

Supplementation in pregnancy and lactation.

Pregnancy is a stage in which women have an increased need for energy, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The maternal diet must provide sufficient energy and non-energy nutrients (vitamins and minerals) for the development of the fetus and to maintain its metabolism during the nine months of gestation.

WHO reccomends that during the medical care that pregnant women receive at prenatal visits, counselling on healthy eating habits, optimal nutrition and vitamins or minerals they should take should be a topic that should be present, as having proper counseling can go a long way in helping women and their developing children stay healthy throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

During laxation, nutritional needs are considerably greater than during pregnancy. The breast milk produced in the the first 4 months of lactation represents an accumulation of energy approximately equivalent to the total energy expenditure of gestation.

The rationale for promoting breastfeeding as the optimal method of infant feeding is because of all the unique biological benefits it provides. The reccomendation to increase the intake of certain nutrients or the use of supplements for lactating women is because it can meet the needs of milk production and protect the infant and the mother against nutritional deficiencies.