Alternatives to hormone replacement.

• Position: Menopause research - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Just as the largest number of American women in history are reaching menopause, the "treatment of choice"--prescribed for millions of women for over 30 years--is suddenly being called into question. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)--the standard treatment for discomforts of menopause and much-heralded for the prevention of heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease--is being looked at anew by American women and their physicians. The latest research raises provocative questions. A report sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, among others, maintains that recent scientific studies show that HRT offers little or no measurable protection against any of these diseases. The only certain benefit is relief from the hot flashes and night sweats some women experience.

For the estimated 42,000,000 women in the U.S. over age 50, and for the 20,000,000 more who will reach menopause in the next decade, there is a clear need for alternatives. According to the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (DSIB), women today have a wide range of natural choices. "Walk into any supermarket, drugstore, health food store, or mass merchandise outlet and you'll see whole sections devoted to vitamins, minerals, and herbs," says Elliott Balbert, chairman of the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance. "There are often entire subsections devoted to women's health. The DSIB urges women concerned about HRT to educate themselves about the safe, effective alternatives millions of women are finding there."

Women who take a multivitamin tablet every day are already supplementing with some of the vitamins and minerals they need. In addition, there are multivitamins and various formulations that offer precise combinations of ingredients for perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women. Among the individual vitamins, minerals, herbs, and special supplements women may want to consider are the following:

For hot flashes and night sweats, eat a healthy diet that is low in animal fats and includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit alcohol and caffeine, eliminate smoking, and get plenty of exercise. Adding soy protein to...