Amberen vs. Estroven: Which One Is Better for Menopause Relief?

Menopause can be a challenging time in a woman’s life. It’s defined as the point when she has gone 12 months without menstruation and generally happens in her 40s or 50s.

The life stage prior to menopause is called perimenopause, the beginning of which may be signaled by symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, sexual disinterest, and anxiety.

Perimenopause normally begins after age 35 and usually lasts for several years.

The symptoms of menopause can cause life-altering distress for women, which is why there is a huge market for both conventional medicines and alternative supplements.

Two popular, over-the-counter, alternative supplement brands for menopause are Amberen and Estroven.

Both supplements claim to treat the most common symptoms of menopause.

This article will help you gain the necessary knowledge about these products, so you can prepare yourself for a trip to the doctor or gynecologist to discuss which treatment may be best for you.

Quick Facts

What Is Amberen Menopause?

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Rating Breakdown

• Support for Claims:4.0
• Ingredient Safety:3.8
• Value for the Price:4.0
• Customer Service:4.0

Overall Rating:

4.0

Pros

• At least four studies are available for Amberen products to back its efficacy claims
• A nurse helpline is available for questions

Cons

• Does not have a third-party testing seal to verify its contents
• No long-term studies are available for review of product safety

Amberen Menopause is a supplement that has been tested in several clinical trials backing its claim to ease symptoms of menopause.

Amberen’s label does not list soy, hormones, or herbal ingredients and works by restoring hormone balance.

The product claims to ease symptoms within 30 days but encourages customers to try it for at least 90 days for the best results.

Amberen makes two similar products, Amberen Menopause and Perimenopause. The Amberen product covered in this article is Amberen Menopause.

The active ingredients for Amberen are succinates, amino acids, minerals, and vitamin E. The most relevant ingredient of these appears to be ammonium succinate.

The total combined amount of these ingredients is 400 mg per dose.

Amberen does not indicate how much of each ingredient is in the supplement, making it impossible to compare Amberen’s ingredients to effective doses in studies.

There is no seal on the product to indicate third-party testing for purity.

The website’s clinical history page shows a timeline of studies involving Amberen’s ingredients.

However, many of the studies listed could not be found with a scholarly search. A company representative told me that the only information available was already on their website.

What Is Estroven Complete Multi-Symptom Menopause Relief?

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Rating Breakdown

• Support for Claims:4.0
• Ingredient Safety:4.0
• Value for the Price:5.0
• Customer Service:4.0

Overall Rating:

4.3

Pros

• There is some long-term research backing the efficacy and safety of Estroven
• The main active ingredient has been used as an alternative treatment for perimenopausal women since at least the 1950s

Cons

• No third-party testing seal to verify content purity of the product
• The mechanism of action of ERr 731 is not completely understood

Estroven Complete Multi-Symptom Menopause Relief is an over-the-counter, plant-based supplement with only one ingredient: Rhapontic Rhubarb Extract or ERr 731.

Estroven also claims to ease some of the most common symptoms of menopause, though their list of symptoms is slightly different than Amberen’s.

The brand makes 6 other menopause supplements, but the ingredients in those products are different and won’t be covered in this article.

Estroven does not carry a third-party testing seal to verify its ingredients or purity.

ERr 731 has been tested in several studies. Variations of Rhapontic Rhubarb Extract have been used in Germany since the 1950s, but ERr 731 was standardized and commercially registered there in 1993.

The compound was introduced to the United States under the brand Estroven in 2012.

While its mechanism of action is not completely understood, ERr 731 seems to work by mimicking hormones that are reduced in women during perimenopause. (1)

Comparison of Effectiveness

Amberen

A five-week study in 2007 using Amberen involved both mice and a randomized control trial of 70 women. (2)

The mice showed improvements in skin, coat, and fertility. The human portion of the study showed sharp increases in blood serum estradiol and favorable improvements in standardized questionnaire scores.

A randomized controlled study in 2016 involving 125 women demonstrated significant improvements in hormone levels, symptoms, anxiety. In addition, some women experienced decreases in waist circumference. (3)

A 2019 review pooled the information from two identical 90-day studies, with a total of 114 postmenopausal women in the treatment group. (4)

Significant improvements were reported in 15 menopausal symptoms during the study for subjects who took Amberen.

I did notice that one of the researchers was disclosed as a paid staff member of Biogix, Inc, which owns the rights to Amberen.

Estroven

Several studies back the claims of the single ingredient ERr 731 as a treatment for menopause symptoms.

In 2008, a study of 363 menopausal women taking ERr 731 for 6 months resulted in a significant and favorable reduction of standard questionnaire scores from 14.5 to 6.5. (5)

The results were more significant for women with higher baseline scores.

Estroven also claims to work faster than other products, alleviating some symptoms in as little as 28 days.

In 2007, a randomized, double-blind study of 109 perimenopausal women used both the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and a standardized questionnaire, showing reduced symptoms within four weeks of treatment with ERr 731. (6)

The study continued for 12 weeks and showed a further drop in symptoms.

Comparison of Safety

Amberen

The studies document no adverse effects during their 90-day course. However, because menopause symptoms last for years, longer-term safety needs to be established.

Amberen’s clinical history page lists a 3-year observational study involving Enerlit-Clima, described as Amberen’s ingredient equivalent.

The website claims the study involved 245 women, showing that the ingredients were safe and effective.

However, the actual research study is not available for review, according to an Amberen representative.

Estroven

This product is contraindicated for women with some estrogen-dependent cancers and may not be safe for several other conditions.

The above 2007 and 2008 studies reported no adverse effects for ERr 731. (5, 6)

ERr 731 also had a long-term, 2-year study available for review. The study published in 2009 used the same 109 women involved in a previously mentioned 2007 study. (7)

Results showed a significant reduction of symptoms using a standardized questionnaire.

Hot flashes were reduced to an average of 1.4 mild episodes daily. No adverse effects were reported.

A safety history paper was written in 2016 regarding adverse effects to date of Err 731. (8)

When the paper was written, there had been only 5.9 adverse effects reported in Germany for every 6.7 million doses sold since 1993.

14.6 adverse effects for every 2.4 million doses sold were reported in North America.

Please note that these were doses put on the market, not doses ingested.

Cost Comparison

The cost between these two products is not significantly different.

Ameren costs slightly more at $30 for a 30 day supply, whereas Estroven costs $20 for a 28-day supply.

Both products are available on Amazon and most national retailers.

Our Pick: Choosing Between Amberen and Estroven

Ultimately, no one should choose between these two products without visiting their doctor to determine what is safest for them.

While both products have some solid research to back their claims, if I had to choose between the two products, I would lean toward Estroven.

This is mainly because it has a stronger history of safety studies.

I’m also uncomfortable with Amberen’s lack of transparency with their proprietary blend of ingredients.

These factors give Estroven a little edge over Amberen, in my opinion.

Buy on Amazon

Estroven Complete Menopause Relief

Estroven Complete Multi-Symptom Menopause Relief has a fair amount of evidence-based research for both efficacy and safety and has a little edge over Amberen.

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The Bottom Line

A visit to the doctor is warranted with the onset of perimenopause and is the best course of action when deciding which treatments are right for you.

It is best not to manage your hormones via dietary supplements alone but always consult with a physician.

This article is intended to equip women with some knowledge about available over-the-counter products.

Underlying conditions are a great factor when it comes to safety while choosing a product.

Many women seek alternative treatments to hormone therapy because they think they may be safer than conventional medicine.

However, this is not necessarily the case. Dietary supplements can alter hormones in negative ways; therefore, you should always use them with caution under the care of a physician.

Remember that good nutrition is important in all stages of life. That can be especially true as we age. It’s wise to follow a balanced diet so that your healthcare team can help you live your best life.