Vitamins and Supplements - Managing Menopause

The metabolic changes that occur during menopause need to be considered when determining a woman's daily requirement of vitamins and supplements. Certain vitamins and supplements can help to curb the symptoms of menopause, but also may help to reduce other health risks, like heart attack, stroke, and metabolic syndrome, that increase at the onset of menopause.

The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes. Over three-fourths of women experience them. During a hot flash, the body's core temperature rises. The woman's body seems to be more sensitive to even slight temperature changes during menopause.

The temperature change can cause the skin to suddenly become flush and women report sweating profusely. An episode can last several minutes and can occur multiple times a day. Most women overcome hot flashes naturally after one to five years, but some women continue to experience them for the rest of their lives.

Some women successfully manage hot flashes by taking estrogen, but the side effects can bothersome or even dangerous. Side effects, such as an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and dementia shy many women away from treating menopause symptoms with estrogen, especially since the risk of heart attack and stroke are already increased by the menopausal phase itself.

Cholesterol increases at the onset of menopause, which contributes to many of the risks that are associated with menopause. Certain vitamins and supplements help with controlling cholesterol levels and can greatly reduce your risk of developing these diseases.

Soluble fiber can drastically reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels by as much as 20% when consumed through diet or through supplement form. Omega-3 fatty acids, like DHA and EPA, can greatly reduce triglycerides.

Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) helps the body use and distribute the estrogen that it is making.

Vitamin E has been shown to reduce hot flashes by as much as 50% in many studies.

Niacin helps raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL levels.

It is especially effective when combined with vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps many vitamins and supplements to move through glucose, increasing their effectiveness, especially in diabetics. Vitamin C also works with CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) to produce collagen and elastin needed to repair and strengthen arterial walls, reducing plaque in the heart and the other risks associated with heart disease and menopause.

Cholesterol medications can disrupt the production of CoQ10, so ask your doctor about supplementing if you are taking them.

Hot flashes disrupt sleep and interrupt the lives of menopausal women. But, they also deplete the body of vitamin C. During menopause, hormone production switches over from the ovaries to the adrenal glands.

Higher levels of vitamin C are necessary for the support and function of the adrenal glands, but most menopausal women do not have enough vitamin C in their diets or supplement regimens to support this need.

If you are menopausal or post-menopausal, talk to your doctor about which vitamins and supplements may help you with your symptoms. When you buy vitamins, remember that your need for vitamin C can be much higher than the normal daily recommendation.

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