Summary

Ancient + Brave introduces Chloe Errington, their first funded PhD fellow at Loughborough University. In this Q&A, Chloe explains her research into how dietary supplement combinations impact women through midlife, menopause, and beyond — and why closing the female health data gap matters more than ever.

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At Ancient + Brave, we've made it our mission to reshape wellness through science-backed supplements and investments in women's health research. To truly make a positive impact, we partner with UK universities and fund studies that are helping to close the health data gap around women's midlife health.

Meet Chloe: Ancient + Brave's first funded PhD researcher

A Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University, Chloe Errington is a woman making strides in female supplement research. Ancient + Brave's first funded PhD fellow specialising in women's health, she's bravely leading investigations into how dietary supplement combinations impact women through midlife, menopause and beyond.

"I am delighted to be partnering with Ancient + Brave on this PhD. It is an exciting opportunity to combine academic research with industry innovation to create nutrition solutions that can make a real difference to women's health and wellbeing."

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— Chloe Errington, Doctoral Researcher

Ask the expert: Chloe Errington

We sat down with Chloe to find out why she believes midlife women's health research is so overlooked and how her work is advancing supplement science — helping women to make more informed choices about how they choose to support their health and longevity.

What sparked your interest in sport, nutrition and female health?

My interest in human physiology and women's health was sparked from a young age, inspired by my mum and aunt, who were both elite track athletes. I developed a passion for human biology during school and decided to complete a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University. As part of this, I completed a year in industry with the Gatorade Sport Science Institute, where I worked on female-specific nutrition and sport science education and research. I also supported the Loughborough Lightning Rugby team with their nutrition during my final year at university, which highlighted more of the specific issues women face within sport. After I graduated, I realised I wanted to work in research and focus on women's health, so when a PhD opportunity became available combining all my interests, I knew it would be the perfect role for me.

You're Ancient + Brave's first funded PhD Fellow. What does that mean in practice?

As a Doctoral Researcher funded by Ancient + Brave and Loughborough University, I am investigating how dietary supplement combinations can influence women's health and wellbeing. This research is focusing on common health issues that are reported by women, particularly those linked to the menstrual cycle and menopause, as well as ageing. Despite women being among the most frequent users of dietary supplements, there is still limited research in this area, with much of the previous research failing to account for hormonal fluctuations. By collaborating with Ancient + Brave, we are hoping that the application of this research will support improvements in women's health and wellbeing.

What will your PhD research focus on over the next few years?

This partnership allows me to carry out independent academic research while working closely with Ancient + Brave to ensure the work remains grounded in real-world application. The core focus is on the design and execution of randomised controlled clinical trials investigating the effects of multiple dietary supplement combinations on markers of health and well-being in women. This means, rather than isolating single nutrients, this research reflects a more holistic, real-world approach to nutrition, exploring how combinations may work together within the body. We are specifically interested in some of the health issues that are commonly reported in women in midlife, including changes in energy, recovery, sleep, and overall well-being. It's a unique opportunity to bridge rigorous scientific research with how women are actually living, supporting the development of evidence-based dietary supplements that are both meaningful and relevant.

For someone new to this topic, why is female health research so important right now?

Female health research has always been important, but unfortunately, historically, it has been underrepresented. Much of what we consider standard guidance in nutrition and health has been built on research conducted in men, which doesn't always translate directly to female physiology. Now, people are realising that there is a lot left to discover about women's bodies and how women's health may be impacted by diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors differently. As awareness of this gap grows, there is a real opportunity to build a more accurate and inclusive evidence base.

We often hear about the "female health data gap". What does that actually mean?

The female health data gap refers to the lack of research that specifically includes or focuses on women. For many years, women were either excluded from studies or not analysed separately, meaning that important physiological differences were overlooked. This has resulted in gaps in our understanding of how women respond to nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle interventions across different life stages.

Why has women's physiology historically been underrepresented in research?

One of the main reasons is that women's physiology is more dynamic. Women experience hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and with the menopause, which makes scientific research in women slightly less straightforward than investigating in men. For this reason, women were often excluded from studies, which created a female health data gap. This underrepresentation of women in research came at a cost, leaving us with an incomplete picture of female health.

How will this research help us better understand women's health and wellbeing?

Women experience physiological changes due to ageing, across the menstrual cycle, and during the menopause, which can influence sleep, fatigue, mood, and pain, among many other things. These factors can all influence how women feel day-to-day, recover and adapt to things like exercise as well as everyday stress. By exploring the effects of dietary supplement combinations on these measures, this research can help us to understand how to support women's recovery and resilience through nutrition.

What kinds of questions are you hoping your research will answer?

We want to explore potential changes in specific markers of health and well-being in women following intervention with specific combinations of nutrients and bioactives in dietary supplements. The studies will be nutritional interventions designed to reflect real-world supplement use. To do this, we will measure a range of physical and psychological outcomes before and after the participants take the supplements. We will also record information on the participants' menstrual cycle and menopause status, alongside the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

What impact could studies like this have on the future of nutrition and supplements for women?

We are placing women-specific health issues at the centre of our research by focusing on symptoms commonly reported with the menopause and throughout the menstrual cycle. This is a topic which has previously been overlooked, and if more nutrition research investigates this in the future, then evidence-based guidance can be formed. We are also exploring supplement combinations that have not previously been researched. Since many women take more than one dietary supplement at a time, this study aims to better reflect real-life, making the results more applicable to consumers.

What part of the research process are you most excited about?

I'm particularly excited to contribute to an area of research that is gaining long-overdue attention. There is a real opportunity to generate insights that feel both scientifically robust and genuinely useful — helping to close gaps in knowledge and support more informed conversations around women's health.

If there's one thing you wish more people understood about women's health, what would it be?

I wish that more people understood that every woman will have a different experience with her hormones, and this will change and evolve across the life course. Each woman's health and wellbeing may change from month to month across different menstrual cycles, as well as across their lifetime as they progress through the menopause. I would love there to be more open conversations about women's health, and no shame in talking about the symptoms and challenges women face. I think that the less these topics are treated as taboo, the easier it becomes to share knowledge, seek support, and allow women to understand and improve their health.