Supplement Manufacturing Trends For Alleviating Menopause
Every day an estimated 6,000 American women reach menopause - that is approximately 2 million a year, according to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). As a result of declining hormone levels, many women experience physiological changes during this stage. Menopausal symptoms and their severity differ from women to women but the more common ones include hot flashes, fatigue, trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, mood swings, increased fat around the waist, hair loss, decrease in libido, and headaches.
The conventional treatment for menopause is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) but today more women are leaning towards menopause supplements for combating symptoms. Why? Herbal and nutritional supplements for menopause have support from the scientific community, show high potential efficacy and safety, and their low costs appeal to women who are searching for more natural remedies for menopause to support health during this challenging phase of life.
Popular Ingredients in Supplements for Menopause
Well-known ingredients that have support from traditional use and/or scientific research for alleviating menopausal symptoms include:
Phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that function in a way that is similar to the hormone, estrogen. Red clover isoflavone and isolated soy isoflavone are two phytoestrogens that are known to alleviate hot flashes and depression. Both isoflavones also have a beneficial influence on cardiovascular health, bone health and cognitive abilities. 1-2
Black Cohosh is a buttercup plant that grows in North America. This is one of the most popular herbs used in menopause supplements. Some studies suggest black cohosh promotes hormonal balance which helps to alleviate hot flashes and mood disorders. 3
Probiotics may help to support digestion. It can be found in supplements for menopause because research suggests it may help with the metabolism of estrogen and help support uro-genital health. 4
Vitamins and Minerals may help in a variety of ways. For example, Vitamin E may help to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps support skin health. The B vitamins may help women cope with stress during menopause. With bone loss being a major concern, calcium and magnesium supplements for menopause may help support bone health. 5
Evening Primrose Oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that supports the synthesis of prostaglandin. Although most studies conducted so far because it has been known to alleviate symptoms such as mood swings and irritability.
Dong Quai, a Chinese herb, has been used traditionally as a "female tonic". It contains iron and Vitamins E and is known to support hormonal balance. 6
St. John's Wort is a popular choice in herbal remedies for menopause. It may help maintain moods and tendencies towards depression during the menopausal stage. Recent studies show that it may help alleviate hot flashes. 7
Fish oil - Menopause supplements may contain fish oil. Fish oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which help support cardiovascular, skin and bone health. Some studies suggest that they may help alleviate menopausal symptoms such as depression and hot flashes. 8-9
Increasing Number of Women Entering Menopause
Women enter menopause typically around the age of 50. Taking into account the large baby-boom generation that will enter mid-life in subsequent years, NAMS estimates the number of women over 51 in the year 2020 to be over 50 million. The age range for menopause is between 40 to 58 years, but early menopause which may occur between the age of 30 and 40 is affecting more and more women. 10 Factors which may accelerate menopause could be related to lifestyle such as poor nutrition, smoking, a high intake of fat and cholesterol. 11
According to SPINS, a natural products industry information provider based in Schaumburg, IL., supplements and herbal products associated with women's health covered more than $1 billion in sales in 2008. 12
Supplement Manufacturers Can Help Meet the Growing Need for Menopause Supplements
Contact a high-quality supplement manufacturer, such as Nutricap Labs to help you formulate menopause supplements that meet the challenging needs of menopausal women. Our team at can help you customize your own menopause supplements or improve on an existing formula. You'll find the emphasis our team places on high-quality formulation and manufacturing within our GMP-certified facility will help you produce a quality product - one you will be proud to back up and stand behind. With nearly a decade of reputable manufacturing experience, manufacturing menopause supplements with Nutricap Labs will assure you of product that contain the full potential for safety, efficacy and consistent consumer satisfaction.
References:
1. Soy and red clover for mid-life and aging, Climacteric. 2006 Aug;9(4):245-63. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16857655]
2. Soy isoflavones: are they useful in menopause? Mayo Clin Proc. 2000 Nov;75(11):1174-84. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11075748]
3. Pilot evaluation of black cohosh for the treatment of hot flashes in women, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA. Cancer Invest. 2004;22(4):515-21.
4. Vaginal Microbiota and the Use of Probiotics, Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2008; 2008: 256490.
5. Alternative therapies for menopause, Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Mar;43(1):162-83.
6. Nonhormonal therapies for hot flashes in menopause. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(3):457-64.
7. Effect of St John's wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Menopause. 2010 Mar;17(2):326-31.
8. Sources: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 89, Pages 641-651. "Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial"
9. Menopause, Vol. 16, No. 2, doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181865386, "Effects of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on hot flashes and quality of life among middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial"
10 "Overview of Menopause and Aging", The North American Menopause Society. [http://www.menopause.org/Portals/0/Content/PDF/A.pdf]
11. Determinants of the age at natural menopause, Przegl Lek. 2002;59(3):165-9. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12184031]
12. The Evolving Natural Lifestyle: SPINS Natural Products Marketplace Review, SPINS and Mintel - http://www.spins.com/news/01.26.09_NPMR_2008.php



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