Top 5 Menopause Supplements for Women Over 40

Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, moodiness, sleeplessness, bloating, low sex drive and ugh…vaginal dryness. Welcome to menopause (yay!).

Many women feel like their ‘glory days' are over the moment menopause hits. Thankfully, that's not true. 

There are several options that women can turn to for relief from the hellish symptoms.

Your options

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) — Most menopausal symptoms result from a rapid decline in the hormone estrogen. HRT reintroduces estrogen through pills or topical applications. But here's what doctors won't tell you – HRT is expensive and it is not covered by many insurance plans. Studies also show^{1, 2} HRT increases risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.

Pharmaceutical approaches — Doctors may prescribe medications for certain symptoms such as depression, hot-flashes, restlessness, anxiety, and osteoporosis. But pharmaceuticals come with their own side-effects and risks and, as the saying goes, sometimes “the treatment is worse than the symptoms.”

Nutritional Supplements — Several all-natural supplements are available to get you looking and feeling your post 40 best. Taking the right supplement daily can support weight management, decrease hot flashes, aid sleep, improve mood, and support healthy bones — naturally. 

Our team independently reviewed 29 menopause relief brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 menopause supplements for women over 40. 

We discovered there's only ONE thing that makes or ‘breaks' a menopause supplement – its blend of ingredients.

Here are some popular ingredients in menopause supplements & we'll tell you which are the ‘must-haves' and which you should avoid.

Popular Natural Ingredients In Menopause Supplements

Probiotics

More than half of the roughly 69 trillion cells in your body are microbial³. Tiny living organisms populate your entire body but are especially prevalent in the gut, vagina, colon, and gastrointestinal tract. Microbial cells regulate and support nearly every vital function including vaginal health, weight management, mood, blood pressure (hot flashes), and bone density. 

The bad news? Hormonal imbalance during menopause can cause harmful bacteria overgrowth leading to increased frequency and intensity of hot flashes, bloating, joint pain and weight gain. 

Seeding your microbiome with high doses of healthy microorganisms restores balance and improves overall health. When you restore cell function, symptoms lessen. You look and feel better because you are literally “healthier.”

Soybeans and Soy Isoflavone 

Soy has mild estrogenic effects. A systematic review of 19 clinical trials showed soy reduced the severity of hot flashes 11%-26%⁶. Another study found that while soy was beneficial to hot flashes, time to experience benefits ranged from several weeks to months⁷. Notably, reviewers of the systematic clinical trial review are affiliated with the Soy Nutrition Institute and could have vested interest⁶. Soy may help with hot flashes but doesn’t seem to have any effect on other menopausal symptoms like weight gain and reduced bone density.

Moringa Leaf

Known as the “Miracle Tree,” and largely unknown in the west, the moringa tree is the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Moringa leaf contains a host of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and micronutrients. Besides powerful antioxidant effects and improving cellular function, moringa leaf boosts energy and metabolism by lowering blood glucose levels⁸. Moringa leaf is especially effective at combating menopausal weight gain and promoting stable moods. 

Two large clinical studies confirm moringa leaf’s weight loss benefits. One 8 week study found subjects taking a combination of moringa, turmeric, and curry lost 6.4 pounds compared with the placebo group⁹. Another study reported weight loss of 9.9 pounds compared with the placebo group¹⁰. Moringa leaf has also shown promise in reducing hot flashes and improving sleep¹².

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is a traditional medicine with a long history of use among Native Americans and European settlers for treating menstrual irregularities, musculoskeletal pain, and women’s reproductive issues. And although it has been widely studied for menopause relief over 70 years, no studies ever reported a conclusive mechanism of action¹¹. 

One study of 351, 45-55 year old women reported black cohosh had no effect on reducing hot flashes or night sweats compared with the placebo group. In fact, after 12 months, women taking a black cohosh multibotanical formula with soy foods reported a significant increase in symptom intensity¹¹.

Simply put: Black Cohosh may not be as effective in cooling hot flashes as advertised.

Dong Quai 

Known as the “Female Ginseng,” dong quai is a Chinese traditional medicine used for thousands of years for treating women’s health issues. Clinical studies are mixed with no conclusive outcomes. One study observed no statistically significant reduction in hot flashes¹². Another reported a 73% decrease in hot flash symptoms at three months. Mount Sinai medical center warns women with bloating, digestive problems, or with higher risk of cancer should avoid dong quai. May cause rashes and women on blood thinners or hormone therapies should avoid dong quai.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are beneficial in maintaining health. The best source of vitamins and minerals is a healthy diet. However, it’s important to note that some of the vitamins and minerals beneficial to women over 40¹³ are difficult to get through diet. These include vitamin D, omega-3, vitamin K, magnesium, vitamin B2, B6, B12, and iodine. Vitamins and minerals maintain bone density, prevent thinning hair, boost cognition, blood flow, immunity, and metabolism. Magnesium is especially effective at reducing the severity of hot flashes. 

5 Important Things To Look Out For When Buying Menopause Supplements

Third Party Certification

The FDA doesn't require third-party verification. However, responsible and honest supplement manufacturers get third-party verifications as an act of good faith to provide transparency and distinguish products. Certifications verify ingredients and quantities claimed on the label. Look out for these important certifications before buying a supplement – GMP, USP, NSF, Certificed Organic, NON-GMO certified.

Clinically Studied Ingredients

Never buy a supplement just on ‘hearsay' or just because it has ingredients that are used in traditional medicine. Let the facts speak for themselves. Always look out for clinically-studied ingredients whose efficacy are supported by a body of evidence.

Beware of Fakes

Sadly, according to the New York Times,¹⁴ one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. Avoid buying supplements on Ebay. When you buy from Amazon, ensure you buy from the manufacturer’s Amazon store. Otherwise, buy directly from the manufacturer’s website. Buying fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — be extra cautious about authenticity.

Look for Products Made in the USA

All supplements made in the USA are regulated by the FDA. Ensure products you buy come from FDA regulated facilities using GMP certified manufacturing processes. Many supplements, especially those purchased on eBay and Amazon come from China and abroad. One study found 60%-70% of these ‘foreign’ supplements do not contain the ingredients or quantities claimed on labels¹⁵. 

Money Back Guarantee

A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience the results simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. Look for companies who have a “no-bottle-return' policy. This allows you to finish the supplements without incurring any risk. And it's also the best sign of how confident the company is in standing behind their promises.

These are the Top 5 Menopause Supplements for Women (even if you’re going through perimenopause)

1. Provitalize 

Why we like Provitalize

Provitalize is the only probiotic in our list that contains all 3 of the best strains for women experiencing menopause.  It’s uniquely marketed as a thermogenic probiotic with fat-burning & metabolism-boosting properties. According to their official website, over 1,200,000 women have shed the stubborn weight with just two capsules a day. The thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon, Trustpilot & Okendo are undeniable proof that Provitalize is worthy of our top spot.

In addition to probiotics, Provitalize contains a herbal blend with demonstrated benefits for premenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women including turmeric root extract, moringa leaf extract, and curry leaf extract. Together these have been shown to combat inflammation and bloating, decrease hot flashes, joint pain, and support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Bioperene (black pepper extract) and sunflower lecithin are shown to enhance absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial properties of herbal formulas.

Pros

• FDA, GMP, and Certified Organic
• Vegan, keto, paleo friendly
• 100% natural, safe ingredients
• Thermogenic herbal assisted probiotic formula
• 12,989 Amazon reviewers report 84% positive results
• 4.1 Star Trustpilot rating
• 62 Billion CFU
• Clinically proven probiotic strains
• Vegan DR CapsTM ensure the probiotics reach your gut safely
• Independently verified by Eurofins Testing Laboratory
• 90 day money-back guarantee

Cons

• No free trial
• <10% report no weight loss

2. **Best Value** Slim Gut Bundle (Provitalize + Previtalize)

Want 50% faster visible weight results from Provitalize? Then the Slim Gut Bundle is for you. This holistic bundle combines the weight-management powers of Provitalize with ‘super fiber’ prebiotics in Previtalize.

The probiotics in Provitalize feed on these ‘super fibers’ to multiply faster in the gut. This means women can see faster visible results such as reduction of belly fat & cravings.

These healthy fibers include fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and inulin. Previtalize also aids digestion and stabilizes mood naturally. 

We listed the Slim Gut Bundle 2nd only because it costs more than Provitalize alone. Other than that, we believe it’s the best-value-for-money bundle in the market right now.

Pros

• FDA, GMP, and Certified Organic
• Vegan, keto, paleo friendly
• 100% natural, safe ingredients
• Thermogenic herbal assisted probiotic formula
• 12,989 Amazon reviewers report 84% positive results
• 4 Star Trustpilot rating
• 62 Billion CFU
• Clinically proven probiotic strains
• Clinically studied prebiotics
• Vegan DR CapsTM ensure the probiotics reach your gut safely
• Independently verified by Eurofins Testing Laboratory
• 90 day money-back guarantee

Cons

• No free trial
• Slightly more expensive than Provitalize alone. 

3. Amberen

Amberen is a well established brand available at most major retailers. Amberen is a clinically studied succinate based formula with a long history. Amberen also contains magnesium which has been shown to be beneficial in hot flash relief. 

We ranked Amberen third because although many women are satisfied with the decreased severity of hot flashes night sweats, and overall mood stabilization, Amberen has no reported effectiveness at combating menopausal weight gain compared with Provitalize and/or the Slim Gut Bundle.

Pros

• 60 day money back guarantee
• Made in the USA
• 64% five-star Amazon ratings
• Complies with FDA regulations
• Clinically tested

Cons

• Proprietary formula does not reveal individual ingredient quantities
• Contains MSG
• Not vegan
• No third-party verification

4. Menofit

We listed Menofit fourth because it contains probiotics together with an herbal formula. While it contains only 25 billion CFU of clinically studied probiotics, it also contains prebiotics. Additionally, vitamins and herbs in the Menofit formula have been shown to increase energy, reduce food cravings, and alleviate menstrual cramps. 

However, some of the ingredients fall under the category of “traditional medicine,” and rely on historical, anecdotal evidence rather than clinical studies. 

Pros

• Clinically studied ingredients
• 2,805 Amazon reviewers report 86% positive results
• 4.9-star Google rating
• Good customer support
• 100% natural, safe ingredients
• 90 day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Not GMP, and Certified Organic
• Not all ingredients are clinically studied
• Expensive

5. Estroven

Estroven claims to be the “#1 Ranked Menopause Brand of Choice Among Women” with the disclaimer “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” Estroven is a popular plant-based formula sold at major retailers. Estroven contains mostly traditional medicines including black cohosh and soy. We ranked it fifth because it does contain clinically studied rhaptonic rhubarb, which has demonstrated benefits in reducing the intensity of hot flashes. 

Pros

• Clinically studied rhaptonic rhubarb
• Complies with FDA regulations
• 90 day money-back guarantee
• Vegan

Cons

• No third-party verification
• Expensive
• Contains soy and black cohosh
• Upset stomach and nausea reported by some