Menopause can span numerous years and bring various effects; ingredients such as botanicals, vitamins, and probiotics may offer support.
According to UCLA Health – Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Menopause is defined as the point in time when menstrual cycles permanently cease due to the natural depletion of ovarian oocytes from aging.” Typically, the diagnosis is made after a woman has gone a full year without menstruating. UCLA.edu noted, “It marks the permanent end of fertility,” with the average age of menopause at 51. The range of unpleasant experiences during menopause can vary in assortment, severity, and duration for each woman, posing challenges for product developers aiming to support women through this phase. Reviewing clinical research to select effective ingredients is crucial. Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract, or fenugreek, has demonstrated hormone modulatory activity, providing biological plausibility for relieving menopausal symptoms (Phytother Res. 31[9]:1316-1322). A 2017 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a standardized T. foenum‐graecum de‐husked seed extract (Libifem, from Gencor) in reducing menopausal symptoms in healthy aging women aged 40 to 65. Participants took 600 mg/d of Libifem or placebo for 12 weeks. Results showed a significant reduction in menopausal symptoms in the active group, as measured by the Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire, including improvements in vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms. The active group reported fewer daytime hot flushes and night sweats at 12 weeks, though serum estradiol levels were similar between groups. Botanical blends are another strategy for addressing menopausal symptoms. A patented blend of Crateva nurvala, Lindera aggregata, and Equisetum arvense (Urox from Seipel Group) was studied in a 2018 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 150 participants, approximately 60% female with a mean age of 63. Taking two 420 mg Urox capsules daily with food for eight weeks resulted in significant reductions in urinary day frequency, nocturia, urgency symptoms, and total incontinence, along with improved quality of life compared to placebo. A host of other ingredients have shown potential in clinical research.To read the complete article, download the Women’s Health digital magazine.
