The FemHealth Nutrition Podcast

Niloufar Deilami, Registered Dietitian

The FemHealth Nutrition Podcast is a podcast by Registered Dietitian and host Nilou Deilami, founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Learning Hub.  The podcast is meant for dietitians and nutrition professionals who wish to learn more about all things related to female health and nutrition. You can find more information and resources at whnlearninghub.com 

  1. 11/06/2025

    The Role of Vitamin D in PCOS

    This episode explores the evidence on vitamin D and its role in the pathophysiology and clinical management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with a focus on metabolic and reproductive outcomes. We break down proposed biological mechanisms, key findings from recent trials and reviews, and practical considerations for screening and supplementation in clinical practice. Designed for dietitians and women’s health professionals, this episode supports evidence-informed decision making when caring for individuals with PCOS. Website: whnlearninghub.com Upcoming Webinar Registration: https://whnlearninghub.thinkific.com/products/live_events/micronutrientsandpmds Contact: hello@whnlearninghub.com References: Vitamin D and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Narrative Review (2025): [Akhter, D.S., Hannan, D.K., Chowdury, D.S., & Nasrin, D.S. (2025). Vitamin D and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Narrative Review. Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences.]Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial (2024): [Wen, X., Wang, L., Li, F., & Yu, X. (2024). Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Ovarian Research, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-024-01473-6Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial (2024)(2025): [Tóth, B. E., Takács, I., Valkusz, Z., Jakab, A., Fülöp, Z., Kádár, K., Putz, Z., Kósa, J. P., & Lakatos, P. (2025). Effects of vitamin D3 treatment on polycystic ovary symptoms: A prospective double-blind two-phase randomized controlled clinical trial. Nutrients, 17(7), 1246. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071246]The impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control and lipid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review of randomized control trials: [Yu, M., Chen, S., Liu, X., Dong, H., & Wang, D.-C. (2025). The impact of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control and lipid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC Endocrine Disorders, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-025-01920-5]Effect of vitamin D supplementation on lipid profile, and hormonal function in polycystic ovary syndrome: An umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis (2024): Tony Yin et.al.,: [Yin, T., Lin, W., Ming, K., Lv, H., Wang, Y., Yuanchao, L., Zhen, H., Yuan, J., & Asadi, H. (2024). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on lipid profile, and hormonal functions in polycystic ovary syndrome: An umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators, 175, 106913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2024.106913]

    15 min
  2. 10/08/2025

    Energy Balance Across the Menstrual Cycle

    In the episode, we discuss changes in appetite, cravings, energy intake and energy expenditure across different phases of the menstrual cycle  Menstrual Cycles and Disorders Couse for Dietitians:https://whnlearninghub.thinkific.com/courses/menstrualhealth Women's Health Nutrition Learning Hub:  www.whnlearninghub.com References: Gorczyca AM, Sjaarda LA, Mitchell EM, et al. Changes in macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group intakes throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women. Eur J Nutr. 2016;55(3):1181–1188. Tucker JAL, McCarthy SF, Bornath DPD, Khoja JS, Hazell TJ. The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Energy Intake: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2024;83(3):e866–e876. Rogan MM, Black KE. Dietary energy intake across the menstrual cycle: a narrative review. Nutr Rev. 2022;81(7):869–886. Salem AM, Latif R, Rafique N, et al. Variations of Ghrelin and Obestatin Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle of Women of Different BMIs. Int J Women’s Health. 2022;14:1297–1305. Reed SC, Levin FR, Evans SM. Changes in mood, cognitive performance and appetite in the late luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in women with and without PMDD. Horm Behav. 2008;54(1):185–193. (Control group details cited here). Lorenz TK, Gesselman AN, Vitzthum VJ. Variance in Mood Symptoms Across Menstrual Cycles: Implications for PMDD. Women’s Reprod Health. 2017;4(2):77–88. (Mood-focused; not directly used for appetite but included as provided.)

    16 min
  3. 06/12/2025

    Creatine and Women’s Health: What the Research Really Says

    In this episode of the FemHealth Nutrition Podcast, we explore why this well-known supplement is gaining traction across women’s health.  We’ll cover: The basics of creatine metabolismWhat the research says across different life stagesCreatine’s potential benefits for strength, cognition, mood, and reproductive healthEvidence-based dosing strategies and safety considerations References  Chilibeck, P. D., et al. (2023). A 2-year RCT on creatine and bone health. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 55(10), 1750–1760. de Guingand, D. L., et al. (2024). Creatine metabolism in human pregnancy. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 119(4), 838–849.Gordon, A. N., et al. (2023). Creatine and recovery in active women. Nutrients, 15(3567).Gualano, B., et al. (2008). Effects of creatine supplementation on muscle function and functional capacity in older women. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 102(2), 223–231.Gutiérrez-Hellín, J., et al. (2025). Creatine beyond athletics. Nutrients, 17(95). Muccini, A. M., et al. (2021). Creatine in female reproduction. Nutrients, 13(490).Ostojic, S. M., et al. (2024). Creatine intake and reproductive outcomes. Food Science & Nutrition, 12, 4893–4898.Ireland, Z., et al. (2020). Creatine supplementation during pregnancy improves neonatal survival after birth asphyxia in rats. Pediatric Research, 88(2), 254–260.Smith-Ryan, A. E., et al. (2021). Creatine across the female lifespan. Nutrients, 13(877).Buford, T. W., et al. (2007). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Creatine supplementation and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 4(1), 6.Dos Santos, L., et al. (2023). Effects of creatine supplementation in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1165912.Cooper, R., Naclerio, F., Allgrove, J., & Jimenez, A. (2012). Creatine supplementation with specific view to exercise/sports performance: an update. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 9(1), 33.Lyoo, I. K., Yoon, S., Kim, J. E., Hwang, J., Kim, T. S., Won, W., Bae, S., & Renshaw, P. F. (2012). A randomized, double‑blind placebo‑controlled trial of oral creatine monohydrate augmentation for enhanced response to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in women with major depressive disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(9), 937–945. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12010009 cureus.com+9pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+9link.springer.com+9Chilibeck, P. D., Kaviani, M., Candow, D. G., & Zello, G. A. (2017). Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: A meta-analysis. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 8, 213–226

    26 min

About

The FemHealth Nutrition Podcast is a podcast by Registered Dietitian and host Nilou Deilami, founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Learning Hub.  The podcast is meant for dietitians and nutrition professionals who wish to learn more about all things related to female health and nutrition. You can find more information and resources at whnlearninghub.com