“No over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement
or herbal therapy has been found to be effective
on menopause symptoms”.1
Umbrella
What may the Dietary Supplements Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Dietary Supplements
- Nutritional Supplements
- Supplements
- Vitamins and Minerals
Definition
What is a dietary supplement?
DotS the definition of a dietary supplement may vary. In Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) definition is:
Foods or Drugs
Can dietary supplements be “foods” not drugs?
Depending on the Country this may vary. In Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? the FDA explain for the United States:
Types
What are types of dietary supplements?
The (United States) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) explain:
Forms
What forms may dietary supplements come in?
In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know the ODS note:
Popular
What are popular dietary supplements?
In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know the ODS explain:
Natural or Not
Are dietary supplements natural?
In Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You: “Natural” Does Not Mean “Safe” the FDA explain:
Furthermore, these products may also be contaminated or contain potentially harmful chemicals or drug ingredients not listed on the label”.7
Safe or Not
Are dietary supplements safe?
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) also note:
In Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Safety and Side Effects of Dietary Supplements the (United States) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health caution:
- “Some dietary supplements may harm you if you have a particular medical condition or risk factor or are taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications. For example, the herbal supplement St. John’s wort makes many medications less effective”.9
Menopause Symptoms
Are dietary supplements effective on menopause symptoms?
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? the NAMS elaborate on:

“A. No over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement or herbal therapy has been found to be effective on menopause symptoms. If you still want to try a dietary supplement for your hot flashes, you must continue only with the appropriate oversight of your healthcare provider”.10
Record
Is it a good idea to keep a record of the dietary supplements I choose to take?
Yes. In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know – Talk With Your Health Care Providers the ODS explain:
Health Care Provider
What if I choose to take dietary supplements?
If you choose to take dietary supplements it may also be in your best interest to also choose to tell all your health care providers you are doing this.
In Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Use of Dietary Supplements – Q. How Do I Know If I Need A Dietary Supplement? the ODS caution:
On page four in Complementary & Alternate Therapies: Complementary and Alternative Therapies – New Developments the (British) Women’s Health Concern note:
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Dietary Supplements?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Dietary Supplements?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Emerging Research In the Management of Menopausal Symptoms
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
- Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work? [20 September 2023]
- The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry [01 July 2023]
- Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
- Advice To Women About Supplements — Use Selectively
- BMS TV: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
- Botanical Dietary Supplements – Background Information
- Botanical Supplement Fact Sheets
- Calcium
- Calcium Supplements
- Complementary & Alternative Therapies
- D-pleted – the Vitamin Many of Us Are Low on
- Dietary Supplements
- Dietary Supplements
- Dietary Supplements
- Dietary Supplements [Topics]
- Dietary Supplements: Are Dietary Supplements Safe?
- Dietary Supplements: What Are Dietary Supplements?
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
- Do Multivitamins Work? Who Should and Shouldn’t Take Them
- Don’t Buy Into Dietary Supplements for Heart Health
- Drugs and Supplements: Herbs, Supplements and Vitamins [Topics]
- Drugs, Herbs and Supplements
- Emerging Research In the Management of Menopausal Symptoms
- FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix
- Herbs and Phytoestrogens
- Herbs and Supplements [Topics]
- Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Brain Fog? Here’s What We Know About Phytoestrogens for Menopausal Symptoms
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
- I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause. Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
- Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
- Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements: Thinking About Taking A Dietary Supplement? [Video]
- Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’
- Is Too Much Vitamin C Harmful?
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Lots of Women Try Herbs Like Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Like Hot Flushes – But Does It Work?
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptom [Video]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Can Medications and Supplements Interact With One Another?
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Osteoporosis and Supplements for Bone Health
- Medications and Supplements That Can Raise Your Blood Pressure
- Menopause & Herbs
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms?
- Menopause Management Options: Natural Therapies (Complementary Medicine and Therapies)
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
- Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
- Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements
- My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 5 Tips: What Consumers Need To Know About Dietary Supplements
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Black Cohosh
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Evening Primrose Oil
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Hoodia
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Placebo Effect
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Natural Therapies & Supplements
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
- Office of Dietary Supplements [United States]: Background Information: Dietary Supplements
- Office of Dietary Supplements [United States]: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
- Office of Dietary Supplements [United States]: Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
- Phytoestrogens
- SAMe [S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine]
- Should You Take Dietary Supplements? A Look At Vitamins, Minerals, Botanicals and More
- Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You
- Supplements for Menopause Symptoms: Are They Safe?
- Supplements: A Scorecard
- Supplements: They’re Not As Safe As You Might Think
- The Placebo Effect: Amazing and Real
- The Power of the Placebo Effect
- The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
- Top 7 Benefits of Vitamin B6
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
- Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Vitamins and Minerals for Women
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
- What Are Adaptogens and Are They Healthy?
- What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Menopause
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
- Wild Yam
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? Content Current As of: 07 January 2015. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100102.htm Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? Content Current As of: 07 January 2015. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100102.htm Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023.Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You: “Natural” Does Not Mean “Safe”. Content Current As of 10 April 2020. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/some-imported-dietary-supplements-and-nonprescription-drug-products-may-harm-you Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Safety and Side Effects of Dietary Supplements. Last Updated: January 2019. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/using-dietary-supplements-wisely Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know – Talk With Your Health Care Providers. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Use of Dietary Supplements – Q. How Do I Know If I Need A Dietary Supplement? Reviewed: 21 March 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ODS_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx Accessed: 12 November 2023
- Complementary & Alternate Therapies: Complementary and Alternative Therapies – New Developments. Publication Date: September 2020:4. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/03-WHC-FACTSHEET-Complementary-And-Alternative-Therapies-NOV2022-B.pdf Accessed: 12 November 2023