Menopause supplements marketed at women and costing hundreds of pounds a year are no better than a 6p-a-dose multivitamin, according to a Which? investigation. The consumer group's nutrition experts found that many products aimed at perimenopausal and menopausal women were overpriced and lacked meaningful doses of key nutrients, while costing 20 times more than a standard multivitamin.
Review of 26 supplements
The researchers reviewed 26 supplements targeted at women going through the perimenopause, menopause, or over the age of 45, cross-checking them with the latest scientific evidence on more than 78 active ingredients. None of the supplements contained the right combination of nutrients at appropriate doses to support their use specifically for menopause, the experts concluded.
The most important nutrients during menopause are calcium and vitamin D, which support bone health as oestrogen levels decline, while magnesium, iron, B vitamins, vitamins C, E and K, iodine, selenium, and zinc can also help. Which? suggested that buying a high-quality multivitamin and adding targeted supplements where needed could be cheaper than an all-in-one menopause blend while being potentially more effective.
Asda's A-Z multivitamin
Which? found that Asda's A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals, costing 6p a day or £22 a year, contained all essential vitamins as well as 200mg of calcium and 100mg of magnesium. Many menopause supplements also contained key nutrients in doses too low to be beneficial, known as "fairy-dusting", while others omitted important vitamins and minerals altogether, the study found.
Many products combined vitamins and minerals with botanical ingredients, but Which? found the evidence for botanicals such as black cohosh, soy, and red clover was "mixed", with products often containing them at doses far below those used in clinical trials.
Industry concerns and advice
Which? said it was concerned that the supplements industry had become a "wild west" and regulators were not doing enough to get a grip on "dubious marketing" and "unchecked quasi-medical claims from firms apparently seeking to cash in on people's health anxiety and insecurities". It advised shoppers not to be "swayed" by the marketing of specialist menopause or menopause-friendly supplements, and to check what they were actually getting for their money before paying a premium.
Which? nutritionist Shefalee Loth said: "Navigating mid-life is tricky enough but with so many products making big claims about how they can help, finding what actually works can be completely overwhelming and costs can spiral."
Loth added: "Our research shows that despite these big claims the vast majority of these products lack the nutritional basics to cover the deficiencies most likely to happen with menopause despite some costing hundreds and hundreds of pounds a year. Our advice is to look beyond the marketing hype and think carefully about what you actually need. A higher price doesn't automatically mean a product will be effective and a cheap multivitamin could do the same job without breaking the bank."
