What is this ingredient? Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a fat‑soluble vitamin and prohormone that the body can synthesize in the skin from sunlight or obtain from diet and supplements. After conversion to 25‑hydroxyvitamin D in the liver and then to active 1,25‑dihydroxyvitamin D in the kidney, it binds the vitamin D receptor to regulate genes involved in calcium and phosphate balance, bone remodeling, muscle function, and aspects of immune and cell growth control. Around menopause, falling estrogen accelerates bone loss, and adequate vitamin D becomes especially important for supporting bone mineral density and helping maintain normal neuromuscular function.

Randomized controlled trials in postmenopausal or older women show that vitamin D3 supplementation effectively raises serum 25(OH)D and reduces secondary hyperparathyroidism; when given with calcium it can help prevent bone loss and modestly reduce fracture risk in older adults [, ]. Trials comparing standard versus high doses indicate that while higher doses further increase 25(OH)D, they do not necessarily provide additional benefit for hip or spine bone mineral density beyond typical replacement doses [].

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm extract, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh—clearly targeting menopausal bone health, vasomotor and mood symptoms, and overall hormonal balance. Within this architecture, vitamin D3 is the foundational “bone and neuromuscular” pillar. By helping maintain adequate 25(OH)D status, it supports intestinal calcium absorption and parathyroid hormone regulation, which are central to mitigating menopause‑related bone loss [, ].

Stable vitamin D status also contributes to muscle strength and balance in older women, indirectly influencing fall and fracture risk []. While botanicals like black cohosh, soy isoflavones, dong quai, lemon balm, and chasteberry primarily address hot flashes, mood, and cycle‑related complaints, vitamin D3 ensures that the skeletal and neuromuscular system is not neglected as estrogen declines. In concert with magnesium and B‑vitamins, it underpins the structural and metabolic resilience that allows symptom‑focused herbs to work on a more robust mid‑life foundation.

References

• [1] Prevention of bone loss by vitamin D supplementation in elderly women: a randomized double‑blind trial
• [2] Bone microstructure in response to vitamin D3 supplementation in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo‑controlled trial
• [3] Effect of high‑dose versus standard‑dose vitamin D3 on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with low bone mass: a randomized controlled trial
• [4] Effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on lean mass, muscle strength, and BMD during weight loss in postmenopausal women: a double‑blind RCT

What is this ingredient? Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a water‑soluble B vitamin that the body converts into the coenzymes FMN (flavin mononucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). These flavin cofactors are essential for dozens of flavoenzymes that drive mitochondrial energy production (in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain), fatty‑acid oxidation, and parts of one‑carbon metabolism. Because of its central role in redox reactions, riboflavin is fundamental for maintaining steady ATP production and supporting antioxidant systems such as glutathione reductase.

Deficiency or marginal intake can manifest as fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, cheilitis, glossitis, and seborrheic skin changes—symptoms that can overlap with the tiredness and low resilience some women experience around menopause. Adequate riboflavin helps keep mitochondrial enzymes and antioxidant defenses functioning efficiently as hormonal shifts change metabolic demands.

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh. Together, these ingredients target vasomotor and mood symptoms, hormone balance, and long‑term skeletal and metabolic health in mid‑life women. Within this architecture, riboflavin is the "mitochondrial and redox" B‑vitamin pillar. It supports FAD/FMN‑dependent dehydrogenases in the Krebs cycle and β‑oxidation, which is important for maintaining energy levels and coping with the increased fatigue many women report during the menopausal transition.

By helping keep the flavoprotein side of mitochondrial metabolism running smoothly, riboflavin complements vitamin B6 (neurotransmitter synthesis), magnesium (neuromuscular calm and energy enzymes), and vitamin D3 (bone and muscle function). The botanical components—black cohosh, soy isoflavones, dong quai, lemon balm, and chasteberry—focus more on hot flashes, sleep, mood, and cycle‑related hormonal shifts. Riboflavin underpins these symptom‑oriented supports with a basic metabolic foundation, helping ensure that as hormones change, the cell’s energy machinery and antioxidant capacity remain as robust as possible.

What is this ingredient? Vitamin B6, provided here as pyridoxine HCl, is converted in the body to its coenzyme form, pyridoxal‑5′‑phosphate (PLP). PLP is required for more than 100 enzymes that participate in amino‑acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis (including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA), and one‑carbon/transsulfuration pathways. Because of these roles, vitamin B6 status can influence mood, stress tolerance, and neural excitation–inhibition balance, all of which are relevant to how women experience the menopausal transition.

Beyond its classic deficiency states, B6 supplementation has been shown to modulate anxiety and neural inhibition. A recent double‑blind trial in young adults found that one month of high‑dose vitamin B6 significantly reduced self‑reported anxiety compared with placebo and showed changes consistent with enhanced GABAergic inhibitory tone [2]. In postmenopausal women with mild cognitive impairment, 25 mg/day pyridoxine over six months improved Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores and lowered homocysteine levels compared with baseline, indicating benefits for cognitive function and one‑carbon metabolism in this age group [8]. Observational work has also linked higher dietary B6 intake with less severe vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes [6].

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm extract, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh. Together, these ingredients target vasomotor complaints, mood and sleep problems, and long‑term skeletal and metabolic health. Within this architecture, pyridoxine HCl is the central "neurotransmitter and homocysteine" pillar. By providing PLP, it supports serotonin and GABA synthesis, which can help buffer mood swings, anxiety, and sleep disruption that often intensify during perimenopause.

Its role in lowering homocysteine and supporting one‑carbon metabolism complements riboflavin and B12 from the diet, while magnesium adds further neuromuscular calming. Botanical ingredients—black cohosh, soy isoflavones, dong quai, lemon balm, and chasteberry—focus more on hot flashes, cycle‑related complaints, and direct calming effects. Vitamin B6 helps ensure the brain’s chemical milieu (neurotransmitters and methylation status) is better balanced, so these symptom‑targeting herbs and minerals can work against a more stable emotional and cognitive background throughout the menopausal transition.

References

• [2] High‑dose Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces anxiety and strengthens visual surround suppression
• [6] Severity of hot flushes is inversely associated with dietary intake of vitamin B6 and oily fish
• [8] A randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of pyridoxine and ascorbic acid on cognitive function and quality of life in post‑menopausal women

What is this ingredient? Magnesium citrate is a form of magnesium in which the mineral is bound to citric acid. Once absorbed, it provides elemental magnesium for use throughout the body. Magnesium is required for more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in ATP production, nerve signaling, muscle relaxation, and regulation of vascular tone. Around and after menopause, low‑grade magnesium insufficiency is common and can aggravate issues such as poor sleep, muscle tension, palpitations, and cardiometabolic risk.

Experimental depletion–repletion work in postmenopausal women has shown that even moderate dietary magnesium deficiency—at intakes that might appear typical—can induce cardiac arrhythmias, impair glucose homeostasis, and alter cholesterol and oxidative‑stress markers, effects that reversed with magnesium repletion [0]. In older adults with poor sleep quality, 320 mg/day of magnesium as magnesium citrate for 7 weeks significantly improved sleep efficiency, sleep time, and sleep onset latency, while increasing serum magnesium and reducing inflammatory stress markers compared with placebo [2]. A 12‑week pilot trial in normomagnesemic adults with metabolic syndrome found that 400 mg/day magnesium as citrate significantly reduced blood pressure and HbA1c versus placebo [6].

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm extract, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh. Together, these ingredients target vasomotor symptoms, mood and sleep disturbances, and long‑term bone and metabolic health. Within this architecture, magnesium citrate is the "calming electrolyte and cardiometabolic" pillar. By supporting neuromuscular relaxation and sleep quality in older adults [2], it helps ease tension, restlessness, and sleep disruption that often worsen during the menopausal transition.

Magnesium’s roles in glucose control, blood pressure regulation, and arrhythmia prevention are also highly relevant as cardiometabolic risk rises after menopause [0,6]. It works alongside vitamin D3 and calcium (from diet) for musculoskeletal health, with B‑vitamins for energy metabolism, and with lemon balm and ashwagandha‑like adaptogens (noted in other formulas) for nervous‑system steadiness. Meanwhile, botanical extracts such as black cohosh, soy, dong quai, and chasteberry focus more on hormone‑linked symptoms. In this context, magnesium citrate provides the ionic and metabolic foundation that allows those symptom‑directed botanicals to act in a body whose stress, sleep, and cardiovascular systems are better supported.

References

• [0] Dietary magnesium deficiency induces heart rhythm changes, impairs glucose tolerance, and decreases serum cholesterol in postmenopausal women
• [2] Magnesium supplementation improves indicators of low magnesium status and inflammatory stress in adults older than 51 years with poor quality sleep
• [6] Magnesium citrate supplementation decreased blood pressure and HbA1c in normomagnesemic subjects with metabolic syndrome: a 12‑week, placebo‑controlled, double‑blinded pilot trial

What is this ingredient? Dong quai root comes from Angelica sinensis, a traditional Chinese herb often referred to as “female ginseng.” It has a long history of use in formulas for menstrual irregularities, pelvic discomfort, and recovery after blood loss. Chemically, it contains phthalides (such as ligustilide), ferulic acid, and polysaccharides that influence smooth‑muscle tone, microcirculation, and mild inflammatory pathways. Unlike a classic phytoestrogen, dong quai is better viewed as a gentle circulatory and uterine‑tone herb rather than a strong estrogen mimic.

Modern clinical data on dong quai alone for menopausal symptoms are limited and mixed, but combination products that include dong quai with other botanicals have shown improvements in hot flashes, fatigue, and quality of life in peri‑ and postmenopausal women. Overall, its most established roles are in traditional formulations that support pelvic circulation, normal menstrual or postmenopausal comfort, and general vitality.

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai root, lemon balm extract, chasteberry fruit, soy bean extract, and black cohosh root. This clearly targets hot flashes, mood and sleep issues, and long‑term bone and metabolic health through both nutritional and botanical pathways. Within this architecture, dong quai root is the "pelvic circulation and uterine‑comfort" pillar.

While black cohosh and soy extract are the primary vasomotor and phytoestrogen supports, and chasteberry modulates pituitary–ovarian signaling, dong quai fills a more classical TCM role: supporting blood flow and smooth‑muscle balance in the pelvic region, which can be helpful for women who continue to experience irregular or heavy perimenopausal cycles and pelvic discomfort. Its gentle tonic properties complement lemon balm’s calming effects and magnesium/B‑vitamins’ support for neuromuscular and energy metabolism. Together, these ingredients create a more holistic menopausal formula that addresses not just hot flashes and mood, but also underlying circulation and pelvic comfort as hormone levels fluctuate.

What is this ingredient? Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) extract from the whole aerial plant is a traditional calming herb used for tension, restlessness, and sleep difficulty. Its main phenolic constituents, especially rosmarinic acid, can inhibit GABA‑transaminase in vitro, thereby increasing GABAergic tone in the brain and contributing to anxiolytic and sedative effects ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19165747/?utm_source=openai)). Modern clinical trials support these traditional uses. A recent randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study in adults with emotional distress and poor sleep found that 400 mg/day of a phospholipid‑based lemon balm extract for 3 months significantly improved depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia scores versus placebo, with no serious adverse events ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37927585/?utm_source=openai)).

Other trials in stressed volunteers and in people with benign palpitations show that lemon balm extracts reduce anxiety, improve insomnia measures, and lower agitation compared with baseline or placebo, reinforcing its role as a gentle “calming” botanical for the nervous system ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22207903/?utm_source=openai)).

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm extract, chasteberry fruit, soy bean extract, and black cohosh root. Together, these ingredients target vasomotor symptoms, mood and sleep disruption, and long‑term skeletal and metabolic health in mid‑life women. Within this architecture, lemon balm extract is the primary "calming and sleep‑support" pillar. By enhancing GABAergic tone and demonstrating significant improvements in anxiety, stress, and sleep quality in randomized trials ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37927585/?utm_source=openai)), it directly addresses some of the most common menopausal complaints: feeling on edge, difficulty winding down at night, and non‑restorative sleep.

Lemon balm’s neuromodulatory actions complement vitamin B6 and magnesium (which support neurotransmitter synthesis and neuromuscular relaxation) and sit alongside black cohosh and soy, which focus more on hot flashes and hormone‑linked symptoms, and chasteberry and dong quai, which modulate pituitary–ovarian and circulatory aspects. In this way, lemon balm helps ensure that this menopause blend supports not only hormones and bones, but also the emotional and sleep‑quality dimensions that strongly affect quality of life during the transition.

What is this ingredient? Chasteberry fruit comes from Vitex agnus‑castus, a Mediterranean shrub traditionally used for menstrual and reproductive complaints. Standardized extracts are typically titrated to agnusides and related diterpenes that act primarily at the pituitary level. Clinical and mechanistic work indicates that chasteberry can reduce elevated pituitary prolactin responses (latent hyperprolactinaemia), normalize shortened luteal phases, and restore luteal progesterone synthesis in women with luteal phase defects [11]. By modulating prolactin and, indirectly, gonadotropins, Vitex helps rebalance hormone patterns that influence breast tenderness, cycle regularity, and mood.

Randomized controlled trials in women with premenstrual syndrome show that Vitex agnus‑castus extracts significantly reduce PMS symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, headache, breast fullness, and bloating versus placebo over three cycles [9]. More recently, a double‑blind RCT in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found that Vitex extracts significantly improved Greene Climacteric Scale scores for total menopausal symptoms, anxiety, and vasomotor dysfunction compared with placebo after 8 weeks, indicating a role in menopausal complaints as well [1].

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” includes vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm, chasteberry fruit, soy extract, and black cohosh root. Together, these nutrients and botanicals target hot flashes, mood and sleep disruption, and longer‑term skeletal and metabolic health. Within this architecture, chasteberry fruit is the key "pituitary–ovarian axis and breast comfort" pillar. As estrogen and progesterone patterns fluctuate and eventually decline, subtle prolactin dysregulation and altered luteal function can contribute to breast tenderness, mood shifts, and vasomotor instability; Vitex’s prolactin‑modulating and climacteric‑symptom‑reducing effects directly address this neuroendocrine layer [1,9,11].

Chasteberry works alongside black cohosh and soy isoflavones, which focus more on vasomotor and estrogen‑receptor–related symptoms, and with lemon balm and magnesium/B‑vitamins, which calm the nervous system. By helping normalize pituitary hormone signaling, chasteberry can make hot flashes, breast discomfort, and emotional lability more manageable, fitting the product’s goal of providing multi‑pathway relief through the menopausal transition rather than relying solely on direct estrogenic stimulation.

References

• [1] Comparison of Vitex agnus‑castus Extracts with Placebo in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized Double‑Blind Study
• [9] Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study
• [11] Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinaemia: results of a randomized placebo‑controlled double‑blind study

What is this ingredient? Soy bean extract (40% isoflavones) is a concentrated form of the phytoestrogens found naturally in soy, primarily genistein, daidzein, and glycitein. These compounds are structurally similar to estradiol and can bind estrogen receptors (especially ERβ) with much weaker activity than the body’s own estrogens. In postmenopausal women, standardized soy isoflavone extracts have been studied as non‑hormonal support for vasomotor symptoms and bone health.

A double‑blind, randomized, placebo‑controlled trial in postmenopausal women with frequent hot flashes found that 100 mg/day of isoflavones from 250 mg/day soy extract significantly reduced daily hot‑flush frequency and severity over 10 months compared with placebo, without adverse effects on endometrium, breast, or lipid and hormone profiles ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17913408/?utm_source=openai)). Meta‑analyses of randomized controlled trials suggest that soy isoflavone extracts (typically ≈80–100 mg/day aglycone equivalents for 6–12 months) modestly attenuate lumbar spine bone loss, although findings are not uniform across all long‑term BMD trials ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18063230/?utm_source=openai)).

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh root. The blend clearly targets hot flashes, mood and sleep disturbances, and long‑term skeletal support during and after the menopausal transition. Within this architecture, soy bean extract (40% isoflavones) is the primary "phytoestrogen vasomotor" pillar. By providing moderate‑dose isoflavones with weak estrogenic activity, it offers evidence‑based, non‑hormonal support for reducing hot‑flush frequency and severity in postmenopausal women ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17913408/?utm_source=openai)).

Any potential bone benefits from soy isoflavones complement vitamin D3 and magnesium, which are central to calcium handling and bone health ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18063230/?utm_source=openai)). At the same time, black cohosh and dong quai contribute additional climacteric‑symptom support via neuromodulatory and circulatory pathways, while lemon balm, B6, and magnesium help with anxiety, irritability, and sleep quality. Chasteberry modulates pituitary hormones around the peri‑menopausal period. In this context, soy bean extract helps address the hallmark vasomotor symptoms and potentially supports bone over time, as part of a broader, multi‑pathway menopause support strategy rather than as stand‑alone hormone therapy.

References

• [1] Efficacy and safety of a soy isoflavone extract in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17913408/?utm_source=openai))
• [2] Soy isoflavone intake increases bone mineral density in the spine of menopausal women: meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18063230/?utm_source=openai))
• [3] Effect of soy isoflavone extract supplements on bone mineral density in menopausal women: meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20199985/?utm_source=openai))

What is this ingredient? Black cohosh root comes from Actaea/Cimicifuga racemosa, a traditional North American herb used primarily for menopausal complaints. Standardized extracts contain triterpene glycosides and other constituents that appear to act mainly through central neuromodulatory mechanisms rather than as classic estrogens. In vitro, black cohosh interacts with serotonin (5‑HT) and μ‑opioid receptors, which may help explain its effects on vasomotor and mood symptoms without stimulating endometrial proliferation.

Clinical evidence for black cohosh in menopause is mixed but promising in certain settings. A randomized clinical trial in 84 postmenopausal women found that 8 weeks of black cohosh significantly reduced both the number and severity of hot flashes compared with placebo [9]. Another 3‑month RCT comparing isopropanolic black cohosh extract (40 mg crude drug/day) with tibolone in 244 women with climacteric complaints showed that black cohosh was non‑inferior to tibolone in reducing Kupperman Menopause Index scores, with a favorable safety profile [7]. Conversely, a large 1‑year trial in 351 women using 160–200 mg/day black cohosh (alone or in a multibotanical) found no benefit over placebo for vasomotor symptoms [10]. Overall, evidence suggests black cohosh can help some women, but responses are variable and extract‑specific.

Why include it in this formula? “Menopause Support - 60” combines vitamin D3, riboflavin, vitamin B6, magnesium, dong quai, lemon balm, chasteberry, soy bean extract, and black cohosh root—clearly targeting hot flashes, mood/sleep disruption, and long‑term skeletal and metabolic health. Within this architecture, black cohosh is the principal "vasomotor and mood" phytotherapy pillar. Short‑term RCTs showing meaningful reductions in hot‑flash frequency and intensity, and improvements in climacteric symptom scores comparable to tibolone, support its role as a non‑hormonal option for women seeking relief from early menopausal symptoms [7,9].

Black cohosh’s central neuromodulatory actions complement soy isoflavones (phytoestrogens) and chasteberry (pituitary modulation) on the hormonal side, as well as lemon balm and B6/magnesium on the anxiety and sleep side. Vitamin D3 and magnesium simultaneously address bone and cardiometabolic health. In this context, black cohosh helps focus the formula directly on vasomotor and climacteric complaints, while the other nutrients and herbs build a broader foundation for mood, bone, and vascular resilience through the menopausal transition.

References

• [7] Efficacy and tolerability of an isopropanolic Cimicifuga racemosa extract versus tibolone in Chinese women with menopausal symptoms
• [9] Effect of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) on vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial
• [10] Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: a randomized trial