Menopause supplements costing over £400 a year offer no more benefit than cheap multivitamins, Which? finds

Menopause supplements costing more than £400 a year are no more effective than a multivitamin costing around £22 a year, according to new analysis from the consumer watchdog Which?.

The investigation examined a range of popular supplements marketed specifically at women aged over 45 who are going through menopause or perimenopause. Which? found that many of these products lack meaningful quantities of key nutrients, despite retailing at prices up to 20 times higher than standard multivitamins that, according to the analysis, can offer comparable nutritional value.

A growing and costly market

The findings highlight the scale of the menopause supplement market, which has expanded rapidly in recent years as awareness of menopause symptoms has grown and more products have been marketed directly at women seeking relief from symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances and mood changes. Despite this growth, Which?'s analysis suggests that price and marketing claims are not always a reliable indicator of a supplement's nutritional content or effectiveness.

Consumer advocates have long cautioned that supplements marketed for specific life stages or conditions can carry a significant price premium without necessarily delivering added nutritional or health benefits compared with cheaper, general-purpose alternatives. Which?'s findings add to that body of consumer research, suggesting that women considering menopause-specific supplements may want to scrutinise product labels closely and compare nutrient content rather than relying on marketing claims or price as an indicator of quality.

The watchdog's analysis is likely to renew scrutiny of the supplement industry's marketing practices, particularly around products targeted at menopausal and perimenopausal women, a demographic that has become an increasingly prominent focus for wellness and supplement brands in recent years.