The amount and quality of ingredients in dietary supplements intended to treat symptoms of menopause varies widely, according to a recent report by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY.

Supplements tested included those containing black cohosh, soy isoflavones, and red clover isoflavones, as well as progesterone creams. While many products provided ingredients that may be effective, a few contained little of their listed ingredient or were contaminated with lead, the report states. One supplement provided only 30% of the isoflavones that it was “guaranteed to contain.” Another provided only 65% of its claimed amount of glycitein, a specific isoflavone.

Lead contamination was detected in one supplement and two products violated FDA labeling requirements by not specifying the plant parts used as ingredients.

Seven products met ConsumerLab.com’s quality standards and provided the “50 mg to 70 mg” of total soy isoflavones associated by some researchers with reducing menopause-related hot flashes. Two of these supplements also provided 15 mg or more of the specific isoflavone genistein, an amount considered to be particularly important in such treatment.

Two products provided the “40 mg” of total red clover isoflavones associated with reduced hot flashes and met other quality standards. Six black cohosh-containing supplements met quality standards. And three creams were found to provide their listed amount of progesterone, ranging from 15 to 21 mg per gram.

A total of 19 products were evaluated (13 selected by ConsumerLab.com and six others were tested at the request of their manufacturers through ConsumerLab.com’s  Voluntary Certification Program). Five additional products are listed that are similar to ones that passed testing but sold under different brand names.

The report also provides information about the effectiveness, dosage and potential side effects of each type of supplement. Brands included in the report are Balance, Herbalife, Kevala, Life-flo, LifeWise, Natrol, Nature’s Answer, Nature’s Bounty, Nature Made, NOW, Nutrilite, Oöna, Puritan’s Pride, Rainbow Light, Swanson, TruNature (Costco), Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World and Vitanica.