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Home > Health Conditions > Menopause

Menopause

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  • Resveratrol alleviates salivary gland dysfunction induced by ovariectomy in rats - Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022 Sep 17 - "Resveratrol (Res), found abundant in many medicinal plants, exerts multiple biological functions in the body, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties. Xerostomia is a major symptom of salivary gland dysfunction in menopausal women, which significantly compromises the quality of life ... Collectively, Res effectively improved estrogen deficiency-induced hyposalivation, which may provide a novel, safe, and practical approach to protect the salivary glands of estrogen-deficient females against xerostomia" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com.
  • Effect of an ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) root extract on climacteric symptoms in women during perimenopause: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study - J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021 Sep 22 - "Ashwagandha intake demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in total MENQoL scores (p < 0.0001) and was also associated with a statistically significant increase in serum estradiol (p < 0.0001) and a significant reduction in serum FSH (p < 0.0001) and serum LH (p < 0.05) compared with the placebo ... These findings suggest that ashwagandha root extract can be a safe and effective option to relieve mild to moderate climacteric symptoms during perimenopause in women" - [Nutra USA] - See Ashwagandha at Amazon.com and iHerb.
  • Efficacy of black rice extract on obesity in obese postmenopausal women: a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled preliminary clinical trial - Menopause 2021 Sep 20 - "Postmenopausal obesity is a paramount health concern among older women. Black rice is a well-known pigmented rice variety with a higher anthocyanin content. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the effects of black rice on obesity ... BRE supplementation for 12 weeks seems to be effective in reducing fat accumulation in postmenopausal women" - See black rice extract at Amazon.com.
  • The Effects of a Saffron Extract (affron®) on Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Perimenopause: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study - J Menopausal Med. 2021;27 - "There is preliminary evidence suggesting saffron may effectively treat menopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the tolerability and efficacy of a standardised saffron extract (affron®) on menopausal complaints in perimenopausal women ... 86 perimenopausal women experiencing menopausal complaints received either a placebo or 14 mg of a saffron extract (affron®), twice daily. Outcome measures included the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) ... Based on data collected from 82 participants, saffron was associated with greater improvements in mood and psychological symptoms compared to the placebo. Results from the GCS revealed a significantly greater reduction in the GCS psychological score (P = 0.032), characterised by a 33% reduction in anxiety and a 32% reduction in depression scores from baseline to week 12. There was also a significantly greater reduction in the PANAS negative affect score (P = 0.043) compared to the placebo. However, compared to the placebo, saffron was not associated with greater improvements in vasomotor symptoms, somatic symptoms, or other quality of life measures. Saffron intake was well tolerated with no reported major adverse events" - [Nutra USA] - See saffron supplements at Amazon.com.
  • The effect of Fennel seed powder on estradiol levels, menopausal symptoms, and sexual desire in postmenopausal women - Menopause 2020 Nov;27 - "The intervention and control groups received four capsules of Fennel seed powder (2 gr) and starch-containing capsules (2 gr) daily over 8 weeks, respectively ... The results of the present study indicated that daily use of Fennel seed significantly improved menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women over 8 weeks, though its effect on estradiol levels and sexual desire was not significant" - See fennel seed at Amazon.com and iHerb.
  • Long-term resveratrol supplementation improves pain perception, menopausal symptoms, and overall well-being in postmenopausal women: findings from a 24-month randomized, controlled, crossover trial - Menopause 2020 Aug 31 - "These results confirm the pilot study finding that resveratrol supplementation can reduce chronic pain in age-related osteoarthritis and improve menopause-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. These improvements are sustained by supplementation for at least 12 months and are associated with enhancement of circulatory function" - [Nutra USA] - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com and resveratrol at iHerb.
  • Long-term resveratrol supplementation improves pain perception, menopausal symptoms, and overall well-being in postmenopausal women: findings from a 24-month randomized, controlled, crossover trial - Menopause 2020 Aug 31 - "These results confirm the pilot study finding that resveratrol supplementation can reduce chronic pain in age-related osteoarthritis and improve menopause-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. These improvements are sustained by supplementation for at least 12 months and are associated with enhancement of circulatory function" - See resveratrol products at Amazon.com and resveratrol at iHerb.
  • Actaea racemosa L. Is More Effective in Combination with Rhodiola rosea L. for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study - Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 May; 13(5): 102 - "The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a new herbal preparation (Menopause Relief EP®), the hybrid combination of Actaea racemosa L. (black cohosh, BC) and Rhodiola rosea L. (RR) root extracts, compared with the most effective dose of BC extract in women with menopausal complaints ... A total of 220 women were randomly assigned to receive two capsules either BC (6.5 mg), BC500 (500 mg), Menopause Relief EP® (206,5), or placebo once per day for 12 weeks. The efficacy endpoints were relief of menopausal symptoms, measured using the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI), Menopause Relief Score (MRS), and menopause Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) index ... The menopause symptom relief effects of RR-BC were significantly superior in all tests to the effects of BC and placebo after their repeated administration for 6 and 12 weeks. There was no statistically significant difference between the effects of BC and BC500 over time. RR-BC significantly improved the QOL index in patients, compared to BC, BC500, and placebo, mainly due to the beneficial effects on the emotional and health domains ... BC is more effective in combination with RR in relief of menopausal symptoms, particularly psychological symptoms" - [Nutra USA] - See black cohosh at Amazon.com and iHerb and Rhodiola rosea at Amazon.com and iHerb.
  • Phytoestrogenic effect of fenugreek seed extract helps in ameliorating the leg pain and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study - PharmaNutrition, 9 July 2020 - "The present randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of a unique extract of fenugreek (FHE), at a dose of 250 mg × 2/day for 42 days on hormone balance and postmenopausal discomforts. Postmenopausal women (n = 48) having characteristic postmenopausal symptoms, as assessed by MRS questionnaire, were randomized either to FHE (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) groups ... The FHE-treated participants reported the feel of well-being within two weeks of supplementation and further improvement, in somatic, psychological and urogenital scores towards the end of the study period. There were 2.9, 4.2 and 7.2 times reduction respectively in hot flashes, night sweats and pain on leg muscles and joints with significant improvement in irritability and vaginal dryness when compared to placebo. Hormone analysis revealed significant increase in estradiol, free testosterone, progesterone and decrease in FSH, SHBG and CTX-1 concentrations, though within the safe range, indicating the trend towards attaining a hormonal balance" - [Nutra USA] - See fenugreek at Amazon.com and iHerb.
  • The effect of Hypericum perforatum on postmenopausal symptoms and depression: A randomized controlled trial - Complement Ther Med. 2019 Aug;45:109-113 - "Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) is an herbal plant that has antidepressant activity and contains ingredients such as flavonols derivatives, bioflavonoids, proanthocyanidins, xanthones, phloroglucinol, and naphthodianthrones ... The frequency and intensity of hot flashes and the score of Kupperman scale significantly decreased in the H. perforatum group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, the intensity of depression significantly decreased in the H. perforatum group compared to the control group. At the end of the study, 80% of women in the intervention group did not have depression compared to only 5.7% in the control group (p < 0.001)" - [Nutra USA] - See St. John's wort at Amazon.com.
  • Efficacy of a Proprietary Trigonella foenum-graecum L. De-Husked Seed Extract in Reducing Menopausal Symptoms in Otherwise Healthy Women: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study - Phytother Res. 2017 Jul 14 - "There was a significant reduction in menopausal symptoms in the active group compared with placebo as assessed by total MENQOL score (p < 0.001); reflected by significant improvements in the vasomotor (p < 0.001), psychosocial (p < 0.001), physical (p < 0.001) and sexual symptoms (p < 0.001) domains. Vasomotor outcomes correlated with hot flushes, the active group reporting significantly less daytime hot flushes and night sweats at 12 weeks" - [Nutra USA] - See Trigonella foenum-graecum at Amazon.com.
  • Efficacy of Tribulus terrestris for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial - Menopause. 2016 Oct 10 - "assigned to receive 750 mg/d of T terrestris or placebo for 120 days ... All participants answered the Female Sexual Function Index and the Sexual Quotient-female version questionnaires ... FSFI questionnaire results demonstrated an improvement in all domains in both groups (P < 0.05) except for lubrication which was improved only in the study group. QS-F results showed a significant improvement in the domains of desire (P < 0.01), arousal/lubrication (P = 0.02), pain (P = 0.02), and anorgasmia (P < 0.01) in women who used T terrestris, whereas no improvement was observed in the placebo group (P > 0.05). Moreover, free and bioavailable testosterone levels showed a significant increase in the T terrestris group" - See Tribulus terrestris at Amazon.com.
  • A Novel Extract of Fenugreek Husk (FenuSMART™) Alleviates Postmenopausal Symptoms and Helps to Establish the Hormonal Balance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study - Phytother Res. 2016 Jul 13 - "investigated the effect of 90-day supplementation of a standardized extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) (FenuSMART™), at a dose of 1000 mg/day ... There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in plasma estradiol (120%) and improvements on various postmenopausal discomforts and quality of life of the participants in the extract-treated group, as compared with the baseline and placebo. While 32% of the subjects in the extract group reported no hot flashes after supplementation, the others had a reduction to one to two times per day from the baseline stages of three to five times a day. Further analysis of haematological and biochemical parameters revealed the safety of the extract and its plausible role in the management of lipid profile among menopausal women" - See fenugreek at Amazon.com.
  • Clinical Evaluation of Effects of Chronic Resveratrol Supplementation on Cerebrovascular Function, Cognition, Mood, Physical Function and General Well-Being in Postmenopausal Women-Rationale and Study Design - Nutrients. 2016 Mar 9;8(3) - "Healthy postmenopausal women were recruited to participate in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled (parallel comparison) dietary intervention trial to evaluate the effects of resveratrol supplementation (75 mg twice daily) on cognition, cerebrovascular responsiveness to cognitive tasks and overall well-being ... This trial provides a model approach to demonstrate that, by optimising circulatory function in the brain, resveratrol and other vasoactive nutrients may enhance mood and cognition and ameliorate the risk of developing dementia in postmenopausal women and other at-risk populations" - See Reserveage Nutrition - Resveratrol with Pterostilbene 500mg, Cellular Age-Defying Formula, 60 veg capsules.
  • Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on menopausal symptoms, body composition, and cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study - Menopause. 2014 Feb 10 - "double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 96 women aged 40 to 60 years who had at least one menopausal symptom. The study participants were randomized to receive grape seed extract tablets containing either low-dose (100 mg/d) or high-dose (200 mg/d) proanthocyanidin, or placebo, for 8 weeks ... The following significant changes were observed during the course of the study: (1) physical symptom score, hot flash score, and (2) Athens Insomnia Scale score decreased in the high-dose group after 8 weeks of treatment; (3) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety score and (4) systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 4 weeks; and, (5) lastly, muscle mass increased in the low-dose and high-dose groups after 8 weeks of treatment" - See grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
  • Genistein in the Metabolic Syndrome: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial - J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Jul 3 - "Patients included 120 postmenopausal women with MetS ... postmenopausal women with MetS were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 60) or 54 mg genistein daily (n = 60) for 1 year ... At 1 year in genistein recipients, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR (mean from 4.5 to 2.7; P < .001) decreased and were unchanged in placebo recipients. Genistein statistically increased HDL-C (mean from 46.4 to 56.8 mg/dL) and adiponectin and decreased total cholesterol, LDL-C (mean from 108.8 to 78.7 mg/dL), triglycerides, visfatin, and homocysteine (mean from 14.3 to 11.7) blood levels. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also reduced in genistein recipients. Genistein recipients neither experienced more side adverse effects than placebo nor discontinued the study" - See genistein at Amazon.com.
  • Soy isoflavone intake and breast cancer risk in Japan: From the takayama study - Int J Cancer. 2013 Feb 6 - "We assessed the associations of soy and isoflavone intake with breast cancer incidence in a population-based prospective cohort study in Japan. Participants were members from the Takayama study, aged 35 years or older in 1992 ... Soy and isoflavone intakes were assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire ... The relative risks of postmenopausal breast cancer were lower among women with higher intakes of soy (trend p=0.023) and isoflavone (trend p=0.046), although the relative risks of premenopausal breast cancer were not associated with intakes of soy and isoflavone. Decreased risks of breast cancer were found even among women with a moderate intake of soy and isoflavone. These results suggested that soy and isoflavone intake have a protective effect on postmenopausal breast cancer"
  • The Impact of Supplemental n-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Dietary Antioxidants on Physical Performance in Postmenopausal Women - Nutr Health Aging. 2013;17(1):76-80 - "126 postmenopausal women. Intervention: 2 fish oil (1.2g eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) or 2 placebo (olive oil) capsules per day for 6 months ... Physical performance, measured by change in walking speed, was significantly affected by fish oil supplementation. Dietary intake of antioxidants (selenium and vitamin C) and changes in TNFα also contributed to change in walking speed suggesting LCPUFA may interact with antioxidants and inflammatory response to impact physical performance" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
  • Pine bark extract may ease menopause symptoms: Study - Nutra USA, 3/8/12 - "A daily dose of the branded ingredient Pycnogenol for eight weeks was associated with improvements in signs and symptoms menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods, loss of libido and vaginal dryness" - [Abstract] - See Pycnogenol at Amazon.com.
  • Menopause pill may boost sex life - USATODAY.com, 12/20/11 - "This is the first evidence that low doses of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, can help sexual function as well as menopausal symptoms ... women taking DHEA had a statistically significant increase in sexual interest and activity, with similar results for women in the HRT group. Sexual activity was also higher among the women taking tiboline, but the increase was not statistically significant" - See DHEA at Amazon.com.
  • Effects of red ginseng supplementation on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women: a double-blind randomized controlled trial - Menopause. 2011 Oct 24 - "The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of red ginseng (RG) on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women ... either an RG group (supplemented with 3 g of RG, including 60 mg of ginsenosides, per day) or a placebo group for 12 weeks ... Significant improvements in the Kupperman index (P = 0.032) and in the menopause rating scale (P = 0.035) scores were observed in the RG group compared with the placebo group. Total cholesterol (P = 0.009) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.015) significantly decreased in the group receiving RG. The RG group also showed a significant decrease in carotid intima-media thickness (P = 0.049). Serum estradiol levels were not influenced by RG supplementation" - See ginseng at Amazon.com.
  • Valerian may ease menopausal sleep woes - msnbc.com, 8/30/11 - "For the new study, researchers in Iran randomly assigned 100 postmenopausal women with insomnia to take either two valerian capsules or inactive placebo capsules every day for a month ... Overall, the study found, 30 percent of the women assigned to valerian reported an improvement in their sleep quality -- which includes factors like how long it takes to fall asleep at night and how often a person wakes up overnight ... In contrast, only four percent of women taking the placebo reported better sleep ... Women in this study reported no side effects ... Women in the current study took two valerian capsules a day, each containing 530 milligrams of valerian root extract. Both the valerian and placebo capsules they used were made specifically for the study ... A recent report by ConsumerLab.com, an independent testing company, found that of nine valerian supplements sold in the U.S., five had lower amounts of the herb than indicated on the packaging. That included one product with no valerian in it at all" - See valerian root at Amazon.com.
  • Vitamin D intake from foods and supplements and depressive symptoms in a diverse population of older women - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Aug 24 - "After age, physical activity, and other factors were controlled for, women who reported a total intake of ≥800 IU vitamin D/d had a prevalence OR for depressive symptoms of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.89; P-trend < 0.001) compared with women who reported a total intake of <100 IU vitamin D/d. In analyses limited to women without evidence of depression at baseline, an intake of ≥400 compared with <100 IU vitamin D/d from food sources was associated with 20% lower risk of depressive symptoms at year 3 (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.95; P-trend = 0.001). The results for supplemental vitamin D were less consistent, as were the results from secondary analyses that included as cases women who were currently using antidepressant medications ... Overall, our findings support a potential inverse association of vitamin D, primarily from food sources, and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
  • Eating protein throughout the day preserves muscle and physical function in dieting postmenopausal women, study suggests - Science Daily, 8/10/11 - "higher protein intake during weight loss can offset negative effects on muscle mass by maintaining more muscle relative to the amount of weight lost. Women who ate more protein lost 3.9 percent more weight and had a relative gain of 5.8 percent more thigh muscle volume than woman who did not ... 31 healthy, postmenopausal obese women were divided into two groups. Each group followed a 1,400-calorie weight-loss diet based on USDA's My Pyramid, but one group received a powdered whey protein supplement in the morning and again in the afternoon or evening; the other received a placebo that contained carbohydrates ... We hypothesize that more vigorous exercise -- in particular, resistance training -- would preserve even more muscle" - See whey protein at Amazon.com or try the yogurt recipe at the top of my yogurt page.
  • Increased Consumption of Dairy Foods and Protein during Diet- and Exercise-Induced Weight Loss Promotes Fat Mass Loss and Lean Mass Gain in Overweight and Obese Premenopausal Women - J Nutr. 2011 Jul 20 - "Weight loss can have substantial health benefits for overweight or obese persons; however, the ratio of fat:lean tissue loss may be more important. We aimed to determine how daily exercise (resistance and/or aerobic) and a hypoenergetic diet varying in protein and calcium content from dairy foods would affect the composition of weight lost in otherwise healthy, premenopausal, overweight, and obese women. Ninety participants were randomized to 3 groups (n = 30/group): high protein, high dairy (HPHD), adequate protein, medium dairy (APMD), and adequate protein, low dairy (APLD) differing in the quantity of total dietary protein and dairy food-source protein consumed: 30 and 15%, 15 and 7.5%, or 15 and <2% of energy, respectively. Body composition was measured by DXA at 0, 8, and 16 wk and MRI (n = 39) to assess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume at 0 and 16 wk. All groups lost body weight (P < 0.05) and fat (P < 0.01); however, fat loss during wk 8-16 was greater in the HPHD group than in the APMD and APLD groups (P < 0.05). The HPHD group gained lean tissue with a greater increase during 8-16 wk than the APMD group, which maintained lean mass and the APLD group, which lost lean mass (P < 0.05). The HPHD group also lost more VAT as assessed by MRI (P < 0.05) and trunk fat as assessed by DXA (P < 0.005) than the APLD group. The reduction in VAT in all groups was correlated with intakes of calcium (r = 0.40; P < 0.05) and protein (r = 0.32; P < 0.05). Therefore, diet- and exercise-induced weight loss with higher protein and increased dairy product intakes promotes more favorable body composition changes in women characterized by greater total and visceral fat loss and lean mass gain" - Note:  See the yogurt recipe on my yogurt page.
  • Effect of valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial - Menopause. 2011 Jul 14 - "About 50% of postmenopausal women experience sleep disturbances such as insomnia ... A randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial design was used for this study. Participants consisted of 100 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 years who were experiencing insomnia. A demographic data form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to collect data. The women were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received either 530 mg of concentrated valerian extract or a placebo twice a day for 4 weeks. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data ... A statistically significant change was reported in the quality of sleep of the intervention group in comparison with the placebo group (P < 0.001). Also, 30% of the participants in the intervention group and 4% in the placebo group showed an improvement in the quality of sleep" - Note:  My sleep combo is two Nature's Way, Valerian Nighttime, Odor Free, 100 Tablets, one Jarrow Formulas, Theanine 200, 200 mg, 60 Capsules and three Source Naturals, Melatonin, Peppermint Flavored Sublingual, 1 mg, 300 Tablets.
  • Myo-inositol in Postmenopausal Women With Metabolic Syndromed (printer-friendly) - Medscape, 2/7/11 - "In conclusion, this first report concerning myo-inositol supplementation for 6 months in postmenopausal women affected by metabolic syndrome demonstrated that it may improve some of the metabolic features of the syndrome such as carbohydrate metabolism, lipid profile, and blood pressure. Further studies and a longer time of treatment are needed to determine if the improvement in risk markers might provide a decrease in cardiovascular morbidity among these women" - See Inositol products at iHerb.
  • Protective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits via alleviating inflammatory injury in endothelial cells - Atherosclerosis. 2010 Aug 3 - "The risk for atherosclerosis is increased in postmenopausal women. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is postulated to have anti-atherogenic properties ... DHEA administration alleviates efficiently the early pathologic damage of atherosclerosis, increases the serum NO level, and up-regulates the endothelial cell estrogen receptor (ER) expression of ovariectomized rabbits. DHEA in vitro significantly promotes NO synthesis, suppresses MDA and MCP-1 secretion of endothelial cells, and decreases ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression in HUVECs; neither selective ERα antagonist (methyl-piperidino-pyrazole, MPP) nor ERβ antagonist (R,R-tetrahydrochrysene, R,RTHC) can abolish these effects. Furthermore, DHEA reduces CCR2, LFA-1 and VLA-4 expression in U937 cells, which in turn inhibits the adherence of monocytes to the injured endothelial cells. DHEA significantly decreased the LPS-induced NF-κB transcription" - See DHEA at Amazon.com.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder associated with the menopausal transition: a preliminary open trial - Menopause. 2010 Oct 27 - "The pretreatment and final mean MADRS scores were 24.2 and 10.7, respectively, reflecting a significant decrease in MADRS scores (P < 0.0001). The response rate was 70% (MADRS score decrease of ≥50%), and the remission rate was 45% (final MADRS score of ≤7). Responders had significantly lower pretreatment docosahexaenoic acid levels than nonresponders did (P = 0.03). Hot flashes were present in 15 (75%) participants. Among those with hot flashes at baseline, the number of hot flashes per day improved significantly from baseline (P = 0.02) and Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale scores decreased significantly ... These data support further study of omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder and hot flashes in women during the menopausal transition" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
  • Effects of myo-inositol supplementation in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome: a perspective, randomized, placebo-controlled study - Menopause. 2010 Aug 31 - "Myo-inositol plus diet improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HOMA index, cholesterol, and triglyceride serum levels with highly significant differences, compared with the groups treated only with diet and placebo. In the group treated with myo-inositol, a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-11%), HOMA index (-75%), and serum triglycerides (-20%) and an improvement in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (22%) were shown ... CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with myo-inositol may be considered a reliable option in the treatment of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women" - Note:  See raysahelian.com/inositol.html  and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol which claim myo-inositol and inositol are the same.  See myo inositol at Amazon.com.
  • Isoflavones decrease insomnia in postmenopause - Menopause. 2010 Aug 19 - "Polysomnography revealed a significant increase in sleep efficiency in the isoflavone group (from 77.9% to 83.9%) when compared with the placebo group (from 77.6% to 81.2%). Isoflavones induced a decrease in the intensity and number of hot flashes and the frequency of insomnia: among the women in the placebo group, 94.7% had moderate or intense insomnia at the beginning of the study, compared with 63.2% at the end, whereas in the isoflavone group, these percentages were 89.5% and 36.9%, respectively" - See soy isoflavones at Amazon.com.
  • Red clover extract: a source for substances that activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and ameliorate the cytokine secretion profile of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages - Menopause. 2010 Feb 5 - "In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, red clover extract and its compounds reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, increased the secretion of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10, and/or reduced the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and/or cyclooxygenase 2. Tumor necrosis factor alpha production was most efficiently reduced by biochanin A and genistein. Interleukin-6 levels were most efficiently reduced by genistein and equol. CONCLUSIONS:: Owing to its PPARalpha activation and modulation of the secreted cytokine profile, red clover extract is a putative candidate for preventing atherosclerosis and, thus, cardiovascular disease" - See Trinovin at Amazon.com.
  • Isoflavone Use May Improve Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women - Medscape, 12/11/09 - "In the overall analysis, isoflavone use significantly increased FMD"
  • Effects of a Combination of Hypericum perforatum and Vitex agnus-castus on PMS-Like Symptoms in Late-Perimenopausal Women: Findings from a Subpopulation Analysis - J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Sep;15(9):1045-8 - "At the end of the 16-week treatment phase, analyses of covariance showed the herbal combination to be superior to placebo for total PMS-like scores (p = 0.02), PMS-D (p = 0.006), and PMS-C clusters (p = 0.027). The active treatment group also showed significant reductions in the anxiety (p = 0.003) and hydration (p = 0.002) clusters, using paired-samples t tests. Results of trend analyses showed significant treatment group effects across the five phases for total PMS and all subscales, all in the clinically expected direction" - See St. John's wort at Amazon.com and chaste berry products at iHerb.
  • 10 Ways to Ease Those Menopause Symptoms - US News and World Report, 9/8/09
  • Curcumin delays development of medroxyprogesterone acetate-accelerated 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors - Menopause. 2009 Jul 22 - "Combined hormone therapy (HT) containing estrogen and progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA]) leads to increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, compared with HT regimens containing estrogen alone or placebo ... Treatment with curcumin delayed the first appearance of MPA-accelerated tumors by 7 days, decreased tumor incidence by the end of the experiment, and reduced tumor multiplicity in DMBA-induced MPA-accelerated tumors. Curcumin also prevented many of the gross histological changes seen in the MPA-treated mammary gland. Immunohistochemical analyses of mammary tumors showed that curcumin decreased MPA-induced VEGF induction in hyperplastic lesions, although it did not affect the levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors" - See curcumin products at Amazon.com.
  • Comparison of dietary conjugated linoleic acid with safflower oil on body composition in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus - Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun 17 - "Supplementation with CLA reduced body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.0022) and total adipose mass (P = 0.0187) without altering lean mass. The effect of CLA in lowering BMI was detected during the last 8 wk of each 16-wk diet period. In contrast, SAF had no effect on BMI or total adipose mass but reduced trunk adipose mass (P = 0.0422) and increased lean mass (P = 0.0432). SAF also significantly lowered fasting glucose (P = 0.0343) and increased adiponectin (P = 0.0051). No differences were observed in dietary energy intake, total fat intake, and fat quality in either diet period for either intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with CLA and SAF exerted different effects on BMI, total and trunk adipose mass, and lean tissue mass in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes" - See conjugated linoleic acid at Amazon.com.
  • Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is related to indicators of overall physical fitness in healthy postmenopausal women - Menopause. 2009 Jun 6 - "Serum 25(OH)D was the common contributor to physical fitness indices (androidal fat mass, lean mass, balance, handgrip strength) in healthy postmenopausal women" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
  • Conjugated Linoleic Acids Reduce Body Fat in Healthy Postmenopausal Women - J Nutr. 2009 Jun 3 - "Isomers of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) reduce fat mass (FM) and increase insulin sensitivity in some, but not all, murine studies. In humans, this effect is still debatable. In this study, we compared the effect of 2 CLA supplements on total and regional FM assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, changes in serum insulin and glucose concentrations, and adipose tissue (AT) gene expression in humans. In a double-blind, parallel, 16-wk intervention, we randomized 81 healthy postmenopausal women to 1) 5.5 g/d of 40/40% of cis9,trans11-CLA (c9,t11-CLA) and trans10,cis12-CLA (t10,c12-CLA) (CLA-mix); 2) cis9, trans11-CLA (c9,t11-CLA); or 3) control (olive oil) ... The CLA-mix group had less total FM (4%) and lower-body FM (7%) than the control (P = 0.02 and < 0.001, respectively). Post hoc analyses showed that serum insulin concentrations were greater in the CLA-mix group (34%) than the control group (P = 0.02) in the highest waist circumference tertile only ... In conclusion, a 50:50 mixture of c9,t11- and t10,c12-CLA isomers resulted in less total and lower-body FM in postmenopausal women and greater serum insulin concentrations in the highest waist circumference tertile" - See conjugated linoleic acid at Amazon.com.  As with all CLA studies, I wish they would state brand names instead of leaving it to the reader to figure out which mixture corresponds to which brand name.  I've seen studies where some isomers increase insulin sensitivity while others have the opposite effect.
  • Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (Prasterone), the physiological and a highly efficient treatment of vaginal atrophy - Menopause. 2009 May 8 - "All three doses (0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) of DHEA ovules applied daily intravaginally induced a highly significant beneficial change in the percentage of vaginal parabasal and superficial cells and pH as well as in the most bothersome symptom at 2 weeks. At the standard 12-week time interval, 0.5% DHEA caused a 45.9 +/- 5.31 (P < 0.0001 vs placebo) decrease in the percentage of parabasal cells, a 6.8 +/- 1.29% (P < 0.0001) increase in superficial cells, a 1.3 +/- 0.13 unit (P < 0.0001) decrease in vaginal pH, and a 1.5 +/- 0.14 score unit (P < 0.0001) decrease in the severity of the most bothersome symptom. Similar changes were seen on vaginal secretions, color, epithelial surface thickness, and epithelial integrity. Comparable effects were observed at the 0.25% and 1.0% DHEA doses ... Local Prasterone, through local androgen and estrogen formation, causes a rapid and efficient reversal of all the symptoms and signs of vaginal atrophy with no or minimal changes in serum steroids, which remain well within the normal postmenopausal range. This approach avoids the fear of systemic effects common to all presently available estrogen formulations and adds a novel physiological androgenic component to therapy"
  • Serum steroid levels during 12-week intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone administration - Menopause. 2009 May 8 - "The present data show that local daily intravaginal DHEA administration at DHEA doses of 3.25-13 mg was able to rapidly and efficiently achieve correction of all the signs and symptoms of vaginal atrophy and improve sexual function and caused no or minimal changes in serum sex steroid levels, which all remain within the normal postmenopausal range, thus avoiding the risks of all estrogen formulations"
  • Efficacy and safety of low-dose regimens of conjugated estrogens cream administered vaginally - Menopause. 2009 May 8 - "At week 12, improvements in VMI with daily and twice-weekly use of low-dose CE cream (27.9% and 25.8%, respectively) were significantly greater compared with placebo (3.0% and 1.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). Improvements in vaginal pH with daily and twice-weekly CE cream (-1.6 for both) were also significantly greater relative to placebo (-0.4 and -0.3, respectively; P < 0.001). VMI and vaginal pH responses were sustained through 52 weeks. Both CE cream regimens significantly reduced most bothersome symptom scores compared with placebo (P </= 0.001), including those for dyspareunia (P </= 0.01). There was no report of endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma. Adverse events occurred with similar frequency among the active and placebo groups during the double-blind phase"
  • Soybean Component Reduces Menopause Effects - Science Daily, 4/11/09
  • Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) on hot flashes and quality of life in perimenopausal women: a randomized pilot trial - Menopause. 2009 Feb 3 - "After 3 months of treatment, compared with the placebo group, women in the St. John's wort group reported significantly better menopause-specific quality of life (P = 0.01) and significantly fewer sleep problems (P = 0.05) ... Hypericum perforatum may improve quality of life in ways that are important to symptomatic perimenopausal women" - See St. John's wort at Amazon.com.
  • Flaxseed combined with low-dose estrogen therapy preserves bone tissue in ovariectomized rats - Menopause. 2009 Jan 29 - "Flaxseed + low-dose estrogen therapy resulted in the highest bone mineral density and peak load at the lumbar vertebrae, with no effect on bone mineral density or strength in the tibia and femur. Flaxseed and flaxseed + low-dose estrogen therapy resulted in significantly higher relative levels of alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid and lower levels of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and n-6/n-3 ratio in the lumbar vertebrae and tibia compared with all other groups" - See flax seed at Amazon.com.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids Ease Depressive Symptoms Related To Menopause - Science Daily, 1/28/09 - "Their study, published in the February issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, presents the first evidence that omega-3 supplements are effective for treating common menopause-related mental health problems ... Test results before and after the eight-week period indicate that omega-3s significantly improved the condition of women suffering symptoms of psychological distress and mild depression ... Women with hot flashes also noted that their condition improved after consuming omega-3s. At baseline, the number of daily hot flashes was 2.8 and dropped by an average of 1.6 in the group taking omega-3s and by 0.5 in the control group" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
  • Too Much Body Fat Bad for Bones? - WebMD, 10/31/08 - "postmenopausal women with a higher proportion of body fat tend to have lower bone mineral content"
  • Pine bark extract may ease menstrual pains: study - Nutra USA, 6/20/08 - "Pycnogenol, 60 mg per day ... At the end of the study, Suzuki and co-workers found that, while women in the low pain group showed no benefits from pine bark supplementation, women with dysmenorrhea did significantly benefit. In addition to a reduction in the use of NSAIDs, a reduction in the number of painful days due to dysmenorrhea from 2.1 days before supplementation to 1.3 days during the third and fourth menstrual cycle" - See Pycnogenol at Amazon.com or grape seed extract at Amazon.com (some say the grape seed extract is the same without the patent markup).
  • Daidzein-rich isoflavone aglycones are potentially effective in reducing hot flashes in menopausal women - Menopause. 2007 Jul 18 - "DRI supplementation may be an effective and acceptable alternative to hormone treatment for menopausal hot flashes"
  • Daidzein-rich supplement shows menopause potential - Nutra USA, 1/11/08 - "The new study, led by George Blackburn, assigned the subjects to receive daily supplements of the daidzein-rich isoflavone-aglycone (DRI) supplement at a dose of either 40 or 60 milligrams, or placebo for 12 weeks ... At the end of the study, the researchers report that the number of hot flushes in the group receiving the lower dose was reduced by 52 per cent, while the women receiving the higher dose experienced a 51 per cent reduction in the number of hot flushes. The placebo group reported a 39 per cent reduction in hot flush frequency" - [Abstract]
  • Endocrine regulation of the course of menopause by oral melatonin: first case report - Menopause. 2007 Nov 8 - "The data obtained in this case report show that melatonin administration was able to delay the characteristic endocrine changes that occur during the course of menopause" - See melatonin at Amazon.com.
  • Flaxseed May Ease Hot Flashes - WebMD, 8/30/07
  • Flaxseed Shows Potential To Reduce Hot Flashes - Science Daily, 8/29/07 - "The frequency of hot flashes decreased 50 percent over six weeks, and the overall hot flash score decreased an average 57 percent for the women who completed the trial. Participants also reported improvements in mood, joint or muscle pain, chills and sweating; which significantly improved their health-related quality of life" - See flax seed at Amazon.com.
  • Flaxseed shows potential against hot flushes - Nutra USA, 8/29/07
  • Walking, Yoga May Enhance Quality of Life During Menopause - Doctor's Guide, 3/22/07
  • Isoflavone treatment for acute menopausal symptoms - Menopause. 2007 Feb 6 - "In women receiving 60 mg isoflavones daily, hot flashes and night sweats were reduced by 57% and 43%, respectively" - See soy isoflavones at Amazon.com.
  • A Natural Approach to Menopause - Life Extension Magazine, 4/06
  • Exercise Eases Menopause Symptoms - WebMD, 3/24/06
  • Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms (Soy and Red Clover Isoflavones, Black Cohosh, and Progesterone Cream) review - ConsumerLab.com, 8/2/05
  • Sizing Up Alternatives to Hormones - Intelihealth, 3/30/05
  • Menopause at 20? - Dr. Weil, 8/26/04
  • Diet, Exercise Help Menopausal Women - WebMD, 8/3/04
  • DHEA Relieves Postmenopausal Symptoms - Healthwell Exchange Daily News, 3/18/04 - "DHEA supplementation can increase hormone levels in postmenopausal women toward premenopausal levels. They further suggest that women’s quality of life may be improved by DHEA supplementation after menopause. The increases in estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA levels observed in this study were 20 to 45% less than those observed in studies using 50 mg of DHEA per day, leading some to suggest that 25 mg per day might be a safer amount to use as a supplement" - See DHEA at Amazon.com.
  • Soy + Melatonin: Slight Effect in Menopause - WebMD, 2/20/04
  • Low-Dose DHEA Increases Androgen, Estrogen Levels in Menopause - Medscape, 12/12/03 - "Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone plasma levels, and plasma E1 and E2 levels increased significantly and progressively in both groups ... Cortisol F plasma levels progressively decreased throughout the study. Both groups also experienced significantly reduced LH and FSH plasma levels. GH and IGF-1 levels significantly increased in both groups. Supplementation did not induce changes in endometrial thickness ... These data support and confirm that DHEA must be considered a valid compound and drug for [hormone therapy] in postmenopausal women and not just a 'dietary supplement" - See DHEA at Amazon.com.
  • Managing Menopause Naturally - Health Supplement Retailer, 10/03
  • Soy Protein May Be Better Than Supplements for Menopause - WebMD, 4/24/03
  • Grape Seed Extract May Be A Useful Supplement To Blunt Hypertension In Postmenopausal Women - Intelihealth, 4/10/03 - "a diet moderately high in grape seed extract can blunt salt (sodium chloride)-sensitive hypertension to about the same extent as treatment with either plant estrogens or 17ß-estradiol. This suggests that mechanisms other than the estrogen receptor activation actually provides the beneficial effects of estrogen therapy and that grape seed extract may be a useful supplement to blunt hypertension and other cardiovascular symptoms in postmenopausal women" - See grape seed extract at Amazon.com.
  • Postmenopausal Women May Need Supplements To Suppress Parathyroid Hormone Levels - Doctor's Guide, 12/20/02 - "These findings may call for widespread supplementation with calcium and vitamin D may be required in postmenopausal women"
  • Diet Rich In Soy Protein Lowers Estrogens Associated With Breast Cancer - Intelihealth, 9/24/02 - "Consuming tofu and other soy-based foods significantly lowers levels of a class of estrogens normally associated with breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women ... The study found a link between soy-rich diets consumed by Asian women in Singapore and reduced levels of an estrogen called estrone, the predominant form of estrogen in women following menopause ... estrone levels did not decline in a linear manner with increasing soy intake; an apparent reduction was only seen among those in the top 25 percent of soy protein consumers ... The study also showed that hormone levels remained unaffected by other dietary and lifestyle choices. These included consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea, fat, fiber and various micronutrients, including vitamins A, C and E, along with calcium and carotenoids ... There is a suggestion that weight change (particularly weight increase) has a profound influence on breast cancer rates in Asian-American women"
  • Back Exercises Reduce Risk of Vertebral Fracture Even After Exercises are Discontinued - Doctor's Guide, 9/23/02
  • Herbs, Supplements Offer Menopause Solutions - Natural Foods Merchandiser, 9/02
  • Herb Fights Menopause Symptoms - WebMD, 3/28/02 - "New research suggests that a black cohosh extract, marketed as Remifemin, works differently from estrogen, which has been linked to an increase in breast cancer risk ... As many as 80% will experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, and bouts of insomnia ... These days, many different manufacturers market black cohosh supplements. But Remifemin is the only one that has been extensively studied"
  • Can Healthy Foods Replace Hormone Therapy? - Natural Foods Merchandiser, 10/01
  • Menopause Relief: From Burgers to Buttercups - WebMD, 7/23/01
  • Chaste Tree Bears Fruit for PMS Relief, Dried Fruit Extract Improves Symptoms in Half of Women Tested - WebMD, 1/19/01 - "A little more than half of the women who received the real Vitex reported improvements in five of six symptoms, including irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache, and breast fullness."
  • Sex . . . Power . . . and Health - Life Enhancement Magazine, 9/00 - "Whereas placebo did not alleviate any symptom in any member of the control group, Tribulus brought about some significant level of improvement in 98% (49 out of 50) of the women in the treatment group, including the alleviation of hot flashes, sweating, depression, insomnia, and anxiety. There were no significant changes in any measured hormone level, including FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. Tribulus was without significant side effects."
  • For Reducing Heart Disease Risk, Fish Oil Isn't Snake Oil - WebMD, 8/8/00
  • Postmenopausal Bone Loss Prevented With Low Dose HRT Plus Calcium - Doctor's Guide, 6/2/99
  • Menopause - Stopping The Symptoms Before They Stop You - Life Extension Magazine, 6/98

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