A new food state multivitamin and mineral formula is now available from my dispensary which should be of interest to women who have passed the menopause and may be worried about bone loss and osteoporosis.

On average, women over the age of 52 lose bone at the rate of about two per cent a year. The orthodox recommendation is to go on to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, there is a definite cancer risk with this treatment, which increases the longer a woman stays on it.

The alternative is to use herbal treatment for the menopause (see my book "All About The Menopause and Its Treatment By Natural Methods", published by Foulsham, which is available from local libraries).

In addition, bones need exercise, sunlight, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, calcium and magnesium.

The new formula, called Food State CMB, provides vitamin D, which works with calcium, magnesium and phosphorous in the body to form bones and teeth. It also includes vitamin C and folic acid, which maintain collagen, the substance that binds cells together.

Boron is also included. This reduces the loss of calcium and magnesium from bone, thus helping to prevent, or to slow down, the onset of osteoporosis. In fact, boron reduces the loss of calcium in the urine by up to 44 per cent. Boron is also needed for vitamin D to work correctly as it converts vitamin D from an inactive to an active form.

As a side benefit, boron is helpful in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis.

Food sources of boron include: soya, prunes, raisins, almonds, peanuts, dates, and most dairy foods. It is also found in royal jelly.

The CMB formula includes the following food state nutrients:

Vitamins D, C, and B6, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, kelp (providing natural iodine), boron, molybdenum, silicon and sulphur. Food state vitamins and minerals are better absorbed and retained in the body than the standard over-the-counter vitamins and minerals.

The formula provides 90 tablets, recommended dose: three a day. The price is £10.95.