Home Ingredients FemCool® (Menopause Support Blend)
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FemCool® (Menopause Support Blend)

Evidence Level
Limited
0 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

FemCool® is a botanical menopause-support blend combining HMR lignans (from Norway spruce), DIM (from cruciferous vegetables), cranberry, and tomato lycopene. It is positioned to ease hot flashes and support hormonal balance. As with menopause supplements generally, independent evidence is mixed, so expectations should be realistic. The blend itself has never been tested in a clinical trial. Everything below comes from separate studies of the individual components, sometimes at doses a blend serving may not deliver. In particular, the one human study of the spruce lignan in postmenopausal women had no placebo group, which matters because in a placebo-controlled trial of a different lignan just over a third of the women given placebo alone had their hot flash score halved.

Studied Dose There is no published clinical dose for the finished blend. The doses used in the studies cited below were: HMR lignan (7-hydroxymatairesinol from Norway spruce) 36 or 72 mg/day for 8 weeks, with hot flashes falling in both dose groups and the larger drop reported in the 72 mg/day group; DIM as 300 mg/day of a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex, which supplies roughly 75 mg of actual diindolylmethane, given for 14 days in the thyroid pilot, for 12 months in the tamoxifen trial and for 30 days in the randomized trial that found no effect, so those three DIM studies used the same daily amount and differed in duration and population rather than in dose; tomato juice 280 mL supplying 32.5 mg of lycopene daily for 2 months; and cranberry at doses and preparations that varied widely across the trials pooled in the urinary meta-analysis. Compare the FemCool label against these amounts, because a multi-ingredient serving often supplies less of each component than the single-ingredient studies used.
Active Compound Blend of HMR lignans (Norway spruce), DIM (diindolylmethane), cranberry, and tomato lycopene.

Benefits

Hot flash and night sweat support

HMR lignans, the lead component, have been studied for hot flashes in exactly one small human study. Twenty-two postmenopausal women took 36 or 72 mg/day orally for 8 weeks. In the 72 mg/day group, weekly hot flashes fell from 28.0 to 14.3, a 50% drop, and severe hot flashes fell 80% from baseline. That is the basis for FemCool's menopause positioning, and it is thin evidence. The study was single-blind with two active dose groups and no placebo arm, so the improvement cannot be separated from the placebo response, and the low-dose group improved almost as much as the high-dose group (44% versus 50%), which is not the pattern you would expect if the lignan were driving the change. Hot flashes were a secondary endpoint, the study was designed to measure absorption, and it was funded by the company that makes the lignan ingredient. In a larger placebo-controlled trial of a different lignan source, just over a third of women taking placebo also had their hot flash score halved. Treat this as a reasonable basis for trying the ingredient, not as evidence that it works.

Estrogen metabolism

DIM, from cruciferous vegetables, is studied for supporting the body's metabolism of estrogen, meaning the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone measured in urine. The results are mixed. A 12-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 130 women taking tamoxifen found that 300 mg/day of a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex significantly raised that ratio, and an uncontrolled 14-day study using the same product and amount in thyroid patients found the same shift. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial that gave the same 300 mg/day of that complex for 30 days to 60 premenopausal women found no significant change, so what separates the trials is duration and population rather than dose. None of this was measured in menopausal women taking FemCool, and a shift in a urinary metabolite ratio is a laboratory marker, not a symptom you would feel or a health outcome anyone has shown improves.

Antioxidant and urinary support

Cranberry has the strongest evidence of any component here for its own outcome. A meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials in 1,498 otherwise healthy women with a history of urinary tract infection found cranberry cut the risk of recurrence by about 26%. The pooled trials were mostly small, varied widely in dose and preparation, and it is not known whether the cranberry content of a multi-ingredient capsule matches what they used. The lycopene evidence is weaker and more indirect: the study cited here gave 280 mL of tomato juice daily for 2 months to 25 women aged 20 to 30, with no control group and no randomization. Cholesterol, an inflammatory marker and a marker of lipid peroxidation all fell, but with no comparison group, and in a young premenopausal population rather than a menopausal one, those changes cannot be credited to the lycopene.

Mechanism of action

1

Lignan phytoestrogen activity

HMR lignans are converted by gut bacteria to enterolactone, a compound with weak estrogen-like activity. The human study confirmed that the conversion happens: plasma enterolactone rose by 137% to 157% from baseline over 8 weeks, and plasma 7-hydroxymatairesinol rose far more at the higher dose. What it did not show was any hormonal change. That same study measured serum estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin and the urinary estrogen metabolite ratio, and reported no statistically significant change in any of them. So the step from more enterolactone to better hormonal balance is an inference the trial did not support. Conversion also depends on an individual's gut bacteria and varies considerably between people, so the same dose does not produce the same enterolactone level in everyone.

2

Estrogen-pathway support

DIM shifts estrogen metabolism toward 2-hydroxyestrone rather than 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, a pattern often described as the more favorable one. The shift itself is measurable in human urine and has been confirmed against placebo over 12 months at 300 mg/day of a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex. Whether that pattern translates into any menopause symptom relief, or any long-term health benefit, has not been established in anyone. A 30-day randomized trial using the same product at the same amount found no shift at all, so the effect is not reliable even at the amount that has actually been tested, and nothing is known about the smaller amount a four-ingredient blend is likely to supply.

Clinical trials

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. Safety here is borrowed from the individual components rather than tested on the combination: the spruce lignan was reported safe and well tolerated at up to 72 mg/day for 8 weeks in 22 women, with no significant safety issues identified, and a branded DIM complex at 300 mg/day was well tolerated for 12 months in a trial of 130 women, with adverse events no different from placebo. Nothing longer, larger, or on the blend itself has been published.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs. Because two of the four ingredients act on estrogen or estrogen metabolism, women with a personal or family history of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, or with endometriosis or uterine fibroids, should clear this with their doctor before starting rather than after.

Important Drug interactions

Hormone-sensitive conditions — consult a doctor before phytoestrogen blends.
Hormone therapy or tamoxifen — a documented interaction, not a theoretical one. In a 12-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial, a branded DIM complex at 300 mg/day significantly lowered plasma levels of tamoxifen's active metabolites, including endoxifen, the metabolite that gives tamoxifen most of its effect. That trial did not test whether the drop reduces how well tamoxifen works, and its authors called for research on exactly that question. Anyone taking tamoxifen should not add a DIM-containing blend without their oncologist agreeing to it.
Tell your doctor if you take medication for a hormone-related condition, and tell them specifically that the product contains a lignan phytoestrogen and DIM, since neither has been studied alongside hormone replacement therapy and the combined estrogenic effect is unknown.

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Frequently asked questions about FemCool® (Menopause Support Blend)

What is FemCool?

FemCool® is a botanical menopause-support blend combining HMR lignans (from Norway spruce), DIM (from cruciferous vegetables), cranberry, and tomato lycopene. It is positioned to ease hot flashes and support hormonal balance.

What is FemCool used for?

FemCool is researched primarily for Menopause Support and Women's Health. HMR lignans, the lead component, have been studied for hot flashes in exactly one small human study. Twenty-two postmenopausal women took 36 or 72 mg/day orally for 8 weeks. In the 72 mg/day group, weekly hot flashes fell from 28.0 to 14.

What is the recommended dosage of FemCool?

The clinically studied dose is There is no published clinical dose for the finished blend. The doses used in the studies cited below were: HMR lignan (7-hydroxymatairesinol from Norway spruce) 36 or 72 mg/day for 8 weeks, with hot flashes falling in both dose groups and the larger drop repo… Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is FemCool safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, FemCool is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. Safety here is borrowed from the individual components rather than tested on the combination: the spruce lignan was reported safe and well tolerated at up to 72 mg/day for 8 weeks in 22 women, with no signif… It may also interact with some medications. FemCool is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does FemCool interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Hormone-sensitive conditions — consult a doctor before phytoestrogen blends. Hormone therapy or tamoxifen — a documented interaction, not a theoretical one. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for FemCool?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for FemCool as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 7 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(7 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Udani JK, Brown DJ, Tan MO, Hardy M Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol and effects on serum enterolactone and clinical symptoms in postmenopausal women: a single-blinded, parallel, dose-comparison study Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2013;32(6):428-35. doi:10.1080/07315724.2013.849578.PubMedUsed to support: Dose-comparison clinical study showing HMR lignan (7-hydroxymatairesinol from Norway spruce, a FemCool component) reduced weekly hot flashes from 28.0 to 14.3, a 50% drop from baseline, in the 72 mg/day group, and cut severe hot flashes by 80% from baseline by week 8. This supports the hot flash claim in the benefits section, though the study measured hot flashes only and never assessed night sweats. The limits are substantial: only 22 women, single-blind, and both arms received active product at 36 or 72 mg/day, so there was no placebo group and the improvement cannot be separated from the placebo response that is well documented in hot flash research. The low-dose arm improved 44%, nearly as much as the high dose. Hot flashes were a secondary endpoint and the trial was designed to measure absorption. It also measured serum estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin and the urinary estrogen metabolite ratio and found no statistically significant change in any of them, which is why the page treats the hormonal balance idea as unproven. The evidence is for the HMR lignan component at a stated dose, not for the FemCool blend, and the trial was funded by the manufacturer of the branded lignan and conducted by a contract research organization.
  2. Rajoria S, Suriano R, Parmar PS, Wilson YL, Megwalu U, Moscatello A, Bradlow HL, Sepkovic DW, Geliebter J, Schantz SP, Tiwari RK 3,3'-diindolylmethane modulates estrogen metabolism in patients with thyroid proliferative disease: a pilot study Thyroid. 2011;21(3):299-304. doi:10.1089/thy.2010.0245.PubMedUsed to support: Phase I human pilot study demonstrating 300 mg/day DIM (diindolylmethane, a FemCool component derived from cruciferous vegetables) shifted urinary estrogen metabolite ratio toward the favorable 2-OHE1:16α-OHE1 pattern in treated patients, which is the basis for the estrogen metabolism claim in the benefits section. The limits are serious. This was an uncontrolled 14-day pilot with no placebo group, run in a small number of patients with thyroid cancer or goiter who were scheduled for thyroid surgery, not in menopausal women. It measured a urinary metabolite ratio rather than any symptom or clinical outcome, the DIM was supplied by its manufacturer, and it is not a study of the FemCool blend. The 300 mg/day figure refers to a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex supplying roughly 75 mg of diindolylmethane, the same product and the same amount used both in the placebo-controlled trial that found a shift and in the one that did not.
  3. Li YF, Chang YY, Huang HC, Wu YC, Yang MD, Chao PM Tomato juice supplementation in young women reduces inflammatory adipokine levels independently of body fat reduction Nutrition. 2015;31(5):691-6. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2014.11.008.PubMedUsed to support: Single-arm, uncontrolled before-and-after study in which 25 of 30 recruited women aged 20 to 30 drank 280 mL of tomato juice supplying 32.5 mg of lycopene daily for 2 months while continuing their usual diet and exercise. Serum lycopene rose, and cholesterol, the inflammatory marker MCP-1 and a marker of lipid peroxidation fell. There was no control group and no randomization, so seasonal effects and behavioral change are not ruled out. The population was young premenopausal women rather than the menopausal audience for this product, the source was tomato juice rather than a lycopene extract, and the product tested was not the FemCool blend. It is the weakest citation on this page.
  4. Pruthi S, Qin R, Terstreip SA, et al. A phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of flaxseed for the treatment of hot flashes: North Central Cancer Treatment Group N08C7. Menopause. 2012;19(1):48-53..PubMedUsed to support: Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 188 postmenopausal women, with and without breast cancer: a bar supplying 410 mg of dietary lignans daily for 6 weeks reduced hot flash scores no more than a placebo bar (mean reduction 4.9 versus 3.5, p = 0.29). In both arms, slightly more than a third of the women saw their hot flash score halved, including the women on placebo, and the authors concluded that the results do not support using 410 mg of lignans for hot flashes. This is the context needed to read the spruce lignan hot flash result in the benefits section honestly: a 50% reduction in hot flashes is roughly what placebo produces on its own in a controlled trial, which is why an uncontrolled 50% reduction cannot be credited to the ingredient. The lignan source differs, flaxseed lignans rather than spruce 7-hydroxymatairesinol, so this is not a direct test of the component in this blend and it does not prove the spruce lignan is inactive. It does mean the case for it is unproven rather than established.
  5. Thomson CA, Chow HHS, Wertheim BC, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of diindolylmethane for breast cancer biomarker modulation in patients taking tamoxifen. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017;165(1):97-107..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 130 women prescribed tamoxifen, of whom 98 completed: a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex at 150 mg twice daily, 300 mg/day in total and roughly 75 mg of actual diindolylmethane, taken for 12 months significantly raised the urinary 2 to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio compared with placebo, and raised sex hormone binding globulin, with adverse events no different between arms. This is the best-controlled human evidence behind the estrogen metabolism claim in the benefits section. The same trial is the source of the tamoxifen warning in the interactions section: plasma levels of tamoxifen's active metabolites, including endoxifen, were significantly lower in the women taking DIM, and the authors called for research into whether that reduces tamoxifen's clinical benefit. Limitations for this page: the population was breast cancer patients on tamoxifen rather than menopausal women seeking symptom relief, the product was a specific branded DIM rather than this blend, the outcome is a laboratory metabolite ratio rather than a symptom or a clinical event, and breast density did not change on mammography or MRI.
  6. Godínez-Martínez E, Santillán R, Sámano R, et al. Effectiveness of 3,3'-Diindolylmethane Supplements on Favoring the Benign Estrogen Metabolism Pathway and Decreasing Body Fat in Premenopausal Women. Nutr Cancer. 2023;75(2):510-519..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 premenopausal Mexican women selected for a low baseline estrogen metabolite ratio: 300 mg/day of a branded absorption-enhanced DIM complex, supplying 75 mg of diindolylmethane, taken for 30 days did not significantly raise the urinary 2-hydroxyestrogens to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio, with only a non-significant upward trend appearing 30 days after supplementation ended. Included so the estrogen metabolism claim in the benefits section is not read as settled. Worth being precise about why the trials disagree: this study used the same branded product at the same daily amount as the 12-month trial that did find a shift, so the difference is duration, population and baseline ratio rather than dose. The trial was short at 30 days, the women were premenopausal rather than menopausal, and it tested DIM alone rather than this blend.
  7. Fu Z, Liska D, Talan D, et al. Cranberry Reduces the Risk of Urinary Tract Infection Recurrence in Otherwise Healthy Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nutr. 2017;147(12):2282-2288..PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials in 1,498 generally healthy, non-pregnant adult women aged 18 or over with a history of urinary tract infection: cranberry reduced the risk of recurrence by 26% (pooled risk ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 0.98). This is the evidence behind the urinary tract support statement in the benefits section, which the page previously asserted without citing anything. Limitations worth knowing: the pooled trials were mostly small with only two enrolling more than 300 women, heterogeneity was moderate at an I-squared of 54%, the authors themselves called for larger high-quality trials, and cranberry dose and preparation varied widely across trials so the amount in a multi-ingredient capsule may not match what was tested. One author reported grant funding from a cranberry company, though the funder is stated to have had no role in the work.