Women Search for a Safe Alternative to Hormonal Replacement Therapy

On July 9, the National Institute of Health announced that it had stopped a major research study on combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of increased cases of breast cancer, as well as increased heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. Doctors have been prescribing hormonal replacement therapy to combat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms as well as the rapid bone loss accompanying the menopausal and postmenopausal years.

While some women using HRT are looking toward the possibility of help with natural forms of the hormones used in HRT, many of the 6 million women using some form of HRT are wondering what to do and are searching for a safe alternative.

Safe alternatives already exist. Records of scientific studies in the National Library of Medicine show that phytoestrogens from plants, like estrogen itself, can actually improve bone density. Other studies show that bone loss can be slowed and that bone can actually be regrown with supplemental intakes of 1200 to1700 mg of calcium and 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D.

Still other studies document that 1000 mg or more of vitamin C and 600 mg of magnesium each increase bone density. Further, and in line with Dr. Andrew Weil's recommendation on a recent Larry King show, the efficacy of 39 to 127.3 mg of black cohosh extract for reducing hot flashes is also documented in studies in the National Library of Medicine. These are safe, natural and effective, and are not associated with any breast cancer, heart attack or other risks that halted the NIH study on HRT.

SuperNutrition, a California supplement manufacturer, has recently introduced the first women's multivitamin and herb combination containing full potencies of all these nutrients called Menopause Multiple Blend. It contains1500 mg of calcium, 1000 IU of Vitamin D, 600 mg of magnesium, 1500 mg of vitamin C and 80 mg of black cohosh extract. Further, it contains a phytoestrogen-rich herbal formula including red clover, vitex and dong quai, to assist black cohosh in reducing hot flashes and to assist the vitamins and minerals in reducing bone loss.

This high-energy multipurpose multivitamin also contains the potencies of vitamin E (800 IU) and vitamin C (1500 mg) that research has shown to be effective in protecting against both heart problems and against the decline in cognitive function many women experience in the later postmenopausal years. It also contains the homocysteine-lowering 1000 mg of folic acid and its supporting vitamins, B12 and B6, as well as all the other essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

SuperNutrition's Menopause Multiple Blend is available at natural foods stores. For more information on SuperNutrition or for store locations in your area, call (800) 262-2116 or consult the SuperNutrition Web site at supernutritionusa.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, contact Mary Garrett at (602) 952-1222 or Kathy Mooney at (510) 446-7980. For a free brochure, please write to SuperNutrition, 1925 Brush Street, Oakland, CA 94612.

Sample Studies in National Library of Medicine

Calcium and Bone Regrowth

* Storm D, et al. "Calcium supplementation prevents seasonal bone loss and changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover in elderly New England Women." Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism Nov 1998;83(11):3817-25.

* Cumming RG. "Calcium Intake and Bone Mass: A Quantitative Review of the Evidence." Calcified Tissue International 1990;47:194-201.

* Heaney RP. "Calcium needs of the elderly to reduce fracture risk." Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2001 Apr;20(2 Supple):192S-197S

Calcium & Vitamin D and Bone Regrowth and Prevention of Hip Fractures

* Meuneir P. "Prevention of hip fractures by correcting calcium and Vitamin D insufficiencies in elderly people." Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology Supplement 1996;103:75-8.

Calcium & Vitamin D and Bone Density Increases

* Backsgaard L. "Calcium and vitamin D supplementation increases spinal BMD (bone mineral density) in healthy, postmenopausal women," Osteoporosis International 1998;8(3):255-60

Magnesium and Bone Density

* Abraham GE & Grewal H. "A Total Dietary Program Emphasizing Magnesium Instead of Calcium: Effect on Bone Mineral Density of Calcaneous Bone in Postmenopausal Women on Hormone Therapy." 1990 May;35(5);503-7

* Sojka JE. "Magnesium supplementation and osteoporosis." Nutrition Review 1995 Mar;53(3):71-4

Vitamin C and Bone Density

* Morton DJ et al. "Vitamin C Supplement Use and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women." Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism Research 2001;16(1):135-40

Phytoestrogens and Bone Density

* Arjmandi BH. "The Role of Phytoestrogens in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Ovarian Hormone Deficiency." Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2001; 20(5):398S-402S.

* Phillip B et al. "The effect of isoflavones extracted from red clover (Rimostil) on lipid and bone metabolism." Journal of the North American Menopause Society 2001;8(4):259-65

* Potter SM. "Soy Protein and isoflavones: their effects on blood lipids and bone density in postmenopausal women." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998 Dec;68(6 Suppl):1375S-1379S.

* Mei J et al. "High dietary phytoestrogen intake is associated with higher bone mineral density in postmenopausal but not premenopausal women." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism 2001 Nov;86(11):5217-21

Black Cohosh and Menopausal Symptoms (Hot Flashes)

* Lieberman S. "A review of the effectiveness of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) for the symptoms of menopause." Journal of Women's Health 1998 Jun;7(5):525-9.

* Liske E. "Therapeutic efficacy and safety of Cimicifuga racemosa for gynecologic disorders." Advances in Therapy 1998 Jan-Feb;15(1):45-53.

* Liske E et al. "Physiological investigation of a unique extract of black cohosh (Cimicifugae recemosae rhizoma): a 6-month clinical study demonstrated no systemic estrogenic effects." Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine 2002 Mar;11(2):163-74.

* McKenna DJ. "Black cohosh: efficacy, safety, and use in clinical and preclinical applications." Alternative Therapy Health Medicine 2001 May-Jun;7(3):93-100

Vitamins E & C and Heart Protection

* Losonczy KG et al. "Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplement use and risk of all cause and coronary heart disease mortality in older persons." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1996;64(2):190-6

Vitamins E & C and Cognitive Function

* Masaki KH et al. "Association of Vitamin E & C use with cognitive function and dementia in elderly men." Neurology 2000 Mar 28;54(6):1265-72