Can antioxidant nutraceuticals benefit the menopause?

Abstract

The antioxidants glutathione, selenium and vitamins C and E meet the criteria for nutraceuticals and their in vivo concentrations can undoubtedly influence and improve many disease processes. In an attempt to quantify and correlate their individual roles as nutritional supplements with their therapeutic potential to improve symptoms and lifestyle during the menopause, we conducted a literature search covering the 15 years up to 2001. Few publications were found dealing specifically with menopausal women. Approximately 90% reported research with vitamins and/or selenium and only one paper investigated a possible correlation between glutathione and breast cancer. This relatively low level of research interest in nutritional or antioxidant aspects of the menopause may just reflect a preoccupation with the more general chronic diseases of an ageing population, without necessarily acknowledging the important physiological changes that occur in women. The little encouraging data in the literature should stimulate more research into the prognostic value, mechanisms and efficacy of nutraceutical supplementation that specifically relate to menopausal women.