The consumer group Which? has reported that menopause supplements costing more than £400 a year are no better than a £22-a-year multivitamin. Its nutritionists examined the active ingredients in 26 popular supplements sold through retailers including Holland & Barrett, Boots and Amazon, and reported that none contained the correct nutrients in the right amounts to support their use for menopause. The review was published on 25 September 2026 and was picked up by the national press on 30 September. The most expensive product examined, Love Mushrooms' Empower, cost £1.33 a day, or £485 a year, and Which? said it did not contain magnesium or calcium. The highest scoring menopause product in the analysis, Vitabiotics' Menopace Max, cost 93p a day, or £340 a year. Which? set both against Asda's A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals at 6p a day, or £22 a year, which it said carried all the essential vitamins.
Which? says the marketing is outrunning the regulation
Shefalee Loth, a public health nutritionist at Which? who co-led the research, said: "Which? is concerned that the supplements industry has become a wild west and regulators are not doing enough to get a grip on dubious marketing and unchecked quasi-medical claims from firms apparently seeking to cash in on people's health anxiety and insecurities." Which? reported that key nutrients often appeared at levels too low to be useful, or were left out altogether, and that botanical ingredients were frequently present well below the amounts used in published trials. Martin Last, director general of the Health Food Manufacturers' Association, said manufacturers are encouraged "to formulate and recommend supplements as required by the many food regulations that apply to food supplements".
What this means for your supplement routine
Which? reported that a standard multivitamin, with targeted products added where needed, was often cheaper and potentially more effective than an all-in-one menopause blend. Calcium and vitamin D were the two nutrients it identified as best supported during this life stage, and both carry authorised wording on the Great Britain nutrition and health claims register stating they contribute to the maintenance of normal bones. Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU register. Which? ran its comparison on cost per day, the same basis on which member pricing works at Perqen.
How Perqen members save
Perqen membership is £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year and applies member pricing across 1,393 products from established brands. The membership page sets out what the subscription costs and what it covers, so the arithmetic can be done before signing up.
This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.