Ashley Harmon, the founder of Mela Vitamins, highlights the significant impact of genetics, socioeconomic factors, and high-stress levels on health outcomes. Her mission is to tackle these challenges within Black communities.
Harmon herself faced chronic fatigue, digestive issues, and persistent skin breakouts for years, eventually being diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Frustrated by the lack of effective vitamins on the market, she dedicated her life to developing her own supplements aimed at bridging the wellness gap for women of color.
Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, low mood, and decreased vitality. This deficiency also can heighten the risk of bacterial vaginosis in Black women. According to the National Library of Medicine, it has been scientifically proven that Black people have more difficulty achieving the optimal intake of vitamin D.
“Melanin is fantastic because it protects us against skin cancer, but in doing so, it blocks the UVB rays that your body needs to make vitamin D,” explained Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, a board-certified physician at One Medical in North Carolina. “It means that we have to work a little harder to get enough of the sunlight we need for our body to make vitamin D. So it’s our melanin, that’s helping save us. But also, we have to work against [it] a little bit to get that vitamin D.”
Supplements are one way that this deficiency can be addressed. Recognizing this need, Ashley Harmon created Mela Vitamins, introducing the first multivitamin specifically for melanated women, to prioritize wellness in the Black community.
“There has been a long history of racism and exploitation in the health industry, and Black people continue to experience bias in medical treatment, underrepresentation in clinical studies and a lack of effective preventative health products,” Harmon said in an interview with ESSENCE. “This history has also created generational distrust that has kept many people in our community from accessing preventative health care, managing chronic diseases and even taking vitamins.
Mela Vitamins is committed to addressing the disparities by “recognizing and accounting for the unique nutritional needs of melanated bodies.”
“We believe that our supplements can be the first step in building a healthy foundation in communities of color by not only addressing health risk factors and nutritional needs, but also in providing educational campaigns that build awareness and trust,” Harmon said.
To learn more about Mela Vitamins, please visit melavitamins.com.
