Research shows that hormonal changes and chemical imbalances in perimenopausal and menopausal women contributes to higher levels of cholesterol, increased fat storage, acne, stress, anxiety and depression. Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in men and women. Their incidence, rapidly growing in the perimenopausal and menopausal period, is related to increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The body has a natural tendency to store away any excess calorie intake in its fat depot, this natural tendency increases in perimenopausal and menopausal women. Coenzyme-A is the key that unlocks this fat depot and is the agent that converts the stored fat into energy through lipid metabolism, which reduces cholesterol and triglycerides by increasing fat utilization. The cumulative effects of 30 years or so of reproductive cycles

reduces the availability of Coenzyme-A from the body's total Coenzyme-A pool. Each reproductive cycle depletes some Coenzyme-A from a resource that is very often deficient from the start. Added to this is pregnancy and nutritional deficiencies. Both of these deplete even more Coenzyme-A, allowing the deficiency to become even more severe. This is why many women gain a significant amount of weight after having children and also when they are perimenopausal and menopausal. Their Coenzyme-A pool is dwindling. Studies also show that Coenzyme-A plays a major role in the body's ability to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression and strengthen the immune system. In combating stress and anxiety, the body secretes hormones as a means to adapt to stress. These hormones are derivatives of cholesterol and an increased demand for them will draw on the available Coenzyme-A. Lipid (fat) metabolism and energy production may therefore be compromised, rendering the body more prone to depleted energy, weight gain, acne, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other diseases.