Plant extracts for the years after 45, without hormones and without guesswork
Optiolex Fem. combines standardised extracts of soybean, red clover, sage, hops and shaggy ink cap with vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid in one vegan capsule. It was formulated by Alexander Eigl in Lannach, Styria, as a hormone-free companion for the menopausal years: two capsules a day, one jar per month.
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Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity
1.4 mg per day, supplied as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (P-5-P), the coenzyme form the body uses directly. Vitamin B6 also contributes to normal psychological function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
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47.6 mg isoflavones a day, well inside the EFSA guidance
36 mg come from soybean seed extract standardised to 10% isoflavones, 11.6 mg from red clover leaf and flower extract standardised to 8%. EFSA's 2015 safety review cites 100 mg (soy) and 43.5 mg (red clover) per day as orientation values. Both are kept well below.
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Shaggy ink cap from the fruiting body, plus sage and hops
Coprinus comatus is used here as a fruiting-body extract with 30% polysaccharides, the part of the mushroom with a food history in Europe (mycelium powder would count as a novel food). Sage leaf extract and hop flower extract with 4% flavones complete the botanical side.
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Vegan capsule shell, no colourings, no preservatives, no hormones
The shell is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, the only filler is maize starch. The ingredient list carries no colourings or preservatives, and the product contains no hormones. 60 capsules cover 30 days at two a day.
Somewhere between 45 and 55 the body rewrites its rules. Not an illness, just a transition, and no two women go through it the same way. Anyone looking for a plant-based routine at this point faces a shelf of thirty jars and very little guidance. One thing tends to be clear, though: no hormones, and preferably one well-matched combination rather than a pile of single extracts.
Isoflavones are secondary plant compounds found mainly in soybeans and red clover. Chemically they belong to the phytoestrogens, a group whose molecular structure resembles the body's own oestradiol. Sage and hops have been part of European herbal tradition for centuries. The two vitamins anchor the formula in a different way: pantothenic acid contributes to normal synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters, and it contributes to normal mental performance. Six milligrams as calcium D-pantothenate cover 100% of the reference intake.
Optiolex is the brand of Alexander Eigl, based in Lannach near Graz. The name joins the Latin optio (free will) and lex (law), and the line is built around that idea: products that back up a conscious decision instead of replacing it. Every batch is produced to GMP guidelines. The dosing stays deliberately conservative: both isoflavone sources sit far below the EFSA orientation values, and the two vitamins are set at exactly 100% of the reference intake.
📋 Recommended intake
Take 1 capsule twice daily, unchewed, with plenty of water.
Composition per daily dose (2 capsules)
| Ingredient |
Amount |
% NRV* |
| Pantothenic acid |
6.0 mg |
100 |
| Vitamin B6 |
1.4 mg |
100 |
| Soybean extract |
360.0 mg |
** |
| of which isoflavones |
36.0 mg |
** |
| Sage leaf extract |
150.0 mg |
** |
| Red clover leaf and flower extract |
145.0 mg |
** |
| of which isoflavones |
11.6 mg |
** |
| Hop flower extract |
45.0 mg |
** |
| of which flavones |
1.8 mg |
** |
| Shaggy ink cap fruiting body extract |
25.0 mg |
** |
| of which polysaccharides |
7.5 mg |
** |
* Percentage of nutrient reference values (NRV) according to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. ** No NRV established.
Trade name: Food supplement · 60 capsules
Ingredients: Soybean seed extract (Glycine max; 10% isoflavones), glazing agent: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (capsule shell), sage leaf extract (Salvia officinalis), red clover leaf and flower extract (Trifolium pratense; 8% isoflavones), filler: maize starch, hop flower extract (Humulus lupulus; 4% flavones), shaggy ink cap fruiting body extract (Coprinus comatus; 30% polysaccharides), calcium D-pantothenate, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (P-5-P).
Net quantity: 60 capsules, 30.4 g
⚠️ Mandatory information: Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily dose. Seek medical advice before taking products containing isoflavones. Do not take more than 100 mg soy isoflavones or 43.5 mg red clover isoflavones per day, and do not take for longer than 3 months. Not recommended for children and adolescents under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women.
📦 Storage: Store closed, in a cool, dry place, protected from light and out of reach of young children.
💬 Frequently asked questions
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Does it contain hormones or replace hormone therapy?+
No on both counts. Isoflavones are plant compounds, not hormones; the term phytoestrogen describes their chemical shape, nothing more. Optiolex Fem. is a food supplement, not a treatment. If you take medication or are on HRT, clear the combination with your doctor before starting.
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Who is Optiolex Fem. made for?+
Adult women, typically from their mid-forties onwards, who want to complement their diet during the menopausal transition with standardised plant extracts and two B vitamins rather than with hormones. It is not intended for anyone under 18, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
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What does P-5-P mean, and why not plain vitamin B6?+
Most supplements use pyridoxine hydrochloride, which the liver first has to convert in two steps into pyridoxal-5'-phosphate before enzymes can work with it. Optiolex Fem. supplies P-5-P, the finished coenzyme form, at 1.4 mg. That is exactly the reference intake and well under the 3.5 mg per day that Germany's BfR suggests as a ceiling for supplements.
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I tried red clover capsules before and noticed nothing. How is this different?+
Single-extract red clover products often state no isoflavone content at all. Here soy and red clover are standardised, and sage, hops, shaggy ink cap and two vitamins with defined functions sit alongside them. Give it a fair run: one jar lasts 30 days. A short daily note over that period tells you far more than a week of guessing.
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I have a soy allergy. Can I take it?+
No. The main extract is made from soybean seed and soy is declared as an allergen. If you simply prefer to avoid soy foods, note that the daily dose is 360 mg of purified extract rather than tofu or soy milk. Our customer service can point you to a soy-free alternative in the range.
Distributor / Responsible Person (GPSR, EU 2023/988):
Alexander Eigl · Hauptstraße 20a · 8502 Lannach · Austria · office@optiolex.com
Manufactured to GMP guidelines in Germany.
Source: EFSA Journal 2015;13(10):4246, Risk assessment for peri- and post-menopausal women taking food supplements containing isolated isoflavones.
