A survey of the availability in Canadian pharmacy chains of over-the-counter natural health products for menopause symptoms

Abstract

BackgroundMenopause is a natural phase in a woman’s aging process, characterized by the cessation of menstruation. Women who are going through the menopause transition can experience physiological symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. Concern about adverse effects of traditional hormone therapy often leads women to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) natural health products (NHPs). The goal of this study was toinvestigate the range of OTC NHPs for menopause available to Canadian women, and the packaging information they can access to make self-management decisions.MethodsEdmonton stores belonging to each of nine Canadian pharmacy chains were visited to identify NHPs marketed for the relief of menopausal symptoms. Details were extracted from the packaging: a) product name and manufacturer, b) Health Canada license number, c) medically active ingredients, d) claims of efficacy, e) contra-indications and warnings, and f) daily cost. Data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.ResultsWe identified 20 OTC NHP menopausal products, 19 of which had Health Canada license numbers. Twenty-eight medically active ingredients were identified, with the most common being black cohosh (in 14 products) and soy isoflavones (n = 7), chaste tree (n = 5), and dong quai (n = 3). Most products claimed they would relieve vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes (n = 14) and night sweats (n = 10). Each product had a labeled contraindication for at least one specific condition. Costs per recommended daily dose ranged from $0.07 to a maximum of $2.50 (CAD$).ConclusionNatural health products for menopausal symptoms are easily available to Canadian women. The lack of clear evidence of product efficacy makes the need for easily accessible, balanced information on this topic important for women to make well informed choices.

Utilization of Isoflavones in Soybeans for Women with Menopausal Syndrome: An Overview

“…Since that time, postmenopausal women and healthcare workers have been searching for an alternative therapy. A Canadian study has shown that many postmenopausal women consider the use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) for alleviating menopausal syndrome yet have concerns regarding its cost and efficacy [ 9 ]. Most women using CAM chose not to inform their physicians because they felt physicians were not good enough for judging the effects of CAM [ 10 ].…”

Isoflavone Supplements for Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review

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Health claims using the term ‘sustained energy’ are trending but glycaemic response data are being used to support: is this misleading without context?

“…Finally, to mitigate further consumer confusion, harmonisation of evidence required for health claims between food and dietary supplements should also be investigated. In some jurisdictions, such as Canada, standards of evidence for claims on natural health products have undergone considerable scrutiny (15,16) . Unfortunately, unlike the food industry, criticism in the supplement industry extends beyond the context provided in claim wording and stems from concerns over a lack of efficacy to support reported claims and the absence of bioactive ingredients that are reported on ingredient lists.…”