2023 Metabolites

Consuming bicarbonate-calcium mineral water, low in sodium, can help manage calcium imbalance and support bone health in perimenopausal women.

The study involved 120 perimenopausal women who consumed 2 liters of a specific bicarbonate-calcium mineral water (Lete) daily for six months. This water was chosen because it is rich in calcium and bicarbonate but low in sodium. The study aimed to determine the impact of this water on bone health and overall metabolism. The participants’ urine and blood serum were analyzed using NMR-based metabolomic procedures. These analyses were conducted to assess the effects of the water not only on calcium metabolism but also on the broader systemic metabolism.

The findings indicated that the Lete water effectively compensated for calcium dysmetabolism and supported bone health and integrity in perimenopausal women. While the study primarily focused on bone metabolism, it also provided insights into the potential system-wide metabolic effects of this specific type of mineral water. This suggests that such water could be a valuable dietary supplement for addressing calcium-related metabolic issues, particularly in perimenopausal women.

Supplementing Low-Sodium Bicarbonate–Calcic (Lete)® Water: Effects in Women on Bone and Systemic Metabolism Marino C, Pagano I, Castaldo G, Grimaldi M, D’Elia M, Santoro A, Conte A, Molettieri P, Parisella C, Buonocore M, D’Ursi AM, Rastrelli L

2023 Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Soybean intake can potentially reduce risks of several cancers, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and hot flashes, and it may negatively impact some drug treatments and cause allergies.

This research primarily involves review and analysis of current clinical studies focusing on the benefits and risks of soybean ingredients. The method appears to be a systematic review of various epidemiological studies which were investigating the correlation between soybean consumption and the risk of developing multiple types of cancers including breast, prostate, colorectal, ovarian, and lung cancers. Besides cancer, other common diseases such as type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes were also investigated. Moreover, any potential adverse effects of soybean, including its possible detrimental impact on certain drug treatments and its allergenicity, were also factors of study in these clinical evidences.

In the discussion of results, the researchers found a significant inverse association between soybean intake and cancer risks, wherein an increase in the consumption of soybean foods was associated with a reduced likelihood of cancer. Besides showing potential anticancer properties, soybean consumption was found inversely correlated with risks of type 2 diabetes. Soy isoflavones, compounds present in soybeans, also showed potential benefits in the management of osteoporosis and hot flashes. On the other hand, the adverse effects of soybean, including interference with certain drug therapies and causing allergies, were also duly noted. Therefore, the research concludes that while soybean promises several significant health benefits, caution should be exercised for individuals under specific drug treatments or with allergies to soy.

Benefits of Soybean in the Era of Precision Medicine: A Review of Clinical Evidence Kang JH, Dong Z, Shin SH

2023 Modern Care Journal

Saffron shows promising improvements in dealing with women's health issues related to labor, childbirth, premenstrual syndrome and menopause.

For the methodology, the investigators implemented a systematic review by utilizing the PICO process to explore various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, among others, until February 2023. A strategically designed search was conducted using a set of keywords related to saffron and women's health conditions. From a pool of 164 articles, 20 randomized controlled trials that met the minimum score based on the Jadad scale were included in the study.

In terms of results, the investigation revealed that saffron holds positive impacts on labor and childbirth, such as enhancing Bishop's score, fostering labor progression, and reducing labor pain intensity and fatigue. Moreover, it helps with episiotomy healing and ameliorates mood swings and psychological symptoms associated with menopause and premenstrual syndrome. The study also acknowledges some influence of saffron on postpartum depression.

Efficacy of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Premenstrual Syndrome, Labor, Childbirth, and Menopause: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Irani M, Rahmanian A, Soltani N

2022 Medicine

High prevalence of insomnia, anxiety, and depression among perimenopausal women, emphasizing the importance of exploring acupuncture as a potential green therapy for effectively addressing these interconnected issues.

This passage discusses the prevalence of insomnia among perimenopausal women, its association with anxiety and depression, and the potential of acupuncture as a green therapy for treating these issues. The passage outlines the objectives and methods of a systematic review aiming to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in improving sleep quality and alleviating anxiety and depression in perimenopausal women, highlighting the need for safer alternatives to conventional medications and the significance of such a study.

Can acupuncture improve sleep quality and anxiety among women during perimenopause? Ping Y, Liang C, Fan X, Zhang L, Ying D, Wang Z

2021 Acupuncture in Medicine

Acupuncture's potential in reducing menopausal hot flush frequency compared to sham acupuncture, and its similarity in impacting hormone levels to hormone therapy.

This study aimed to assess acupuncture's effectiveness and safety in treating menopausal hot flushes and its impact on hormone levels. Through meta-analyses of thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 1784 patients, it found that acupuncture reduced hot flush frequency compared to sham acupuncture, but didn't affect end scores of frequency or severity. Acupuncture demonstrated hormone level effects similar to hormone therapy. However, due to limited trial quality and quantity, further high-quality trials are necessary for definitive conclusions.

Effect of acupuncture on menopausal hot flushes and serum hormone levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis Liu C, Wang Z, Guo T, Zhuang L, Gao X

2021 Complementary Therapies in Medicine

The Licorice and Jujube formula is seen as commonly used and potentially effective for treating menopausal symptoms as per classical Chinese medicine.

The methodology of this study involved exploring classical Chinese medicine textbooks to find the most frequent herbal mix used for symptoms similar to menopause. The approach taken was to sort and identify the formulas from the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a comprehensive resource in this field. Following this, a thorough review of randomized controlled trials was performed in order to determine the efficacy of the most common formula.

In terms of results, it was discovered that the Licorice and Jujube formula (LJF) was the most commonly found, mentioned in 36% of the analyzed references. The review of controlled trials revealed that the LJF might be effectively utilized for the improvement of sleep-related symptoms. Additionally, experimental studies hinted at potential benefits of the LJF, including sedative, antidepressant-like, estrogenic, and antiprogestogenic effects.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) and jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) formula for menopausal symptoms: Classical records, clinical evidence and experimental data Coyle ME, Liu J, Yang H, Wang K, Zhang AL, Guo X, Lu C, Xue CC

2017 PLOS One

Acupuncture is non-inferior to hormone therapy or other applied relaxation therapies in alleviating the symptoms of menopause for its safety, non-invasive and especially considering the side effect of hormone therapy.

This meta-analysis of women with breast cancer confirms that acupuncture had no significant effect on the severity of hot flush, but did significantly alleviate the symptoms of menopause. We conclude that acupuncture is non-inferior to hormone therapy or other applied relaxation therapies in alleviating the symptoms of menopause for its safety, non-invasive and especially considering the side effect of hormone therapy. Recent studies show that use of acupuncture does not correlate with increased levels of plasma estradiol. Considering the safety and lack of serious adverse effects associated with acupuncture, in contrast to hormone therapy, acupuncture should be considered for treating hot flush and menopause syndrome in women with breast cancer.

Effect of acupuncture on hot flush and menopause symptoms in breast cancer- A systematic review and meta-analysis Chien TJ, Hsu CH, Liu CY, Fang CJ.

2017 Complementary Medicine Research

Both the total score and the subgroup analysis strongly indicated that acupuncture can alleviate menopause-related symptoms.

Six studies were included. Our analysis found that acupuncture can reduce the MRS score in menopausal women by the end of the treating period (2-3 months, on average) and even in the follow-up period (1-3 months), not only in the total score but also in each subscale score. But the grade of evidence is very low.

Both the total score and the subgroup analysis strongly indicated that acupuncture can alleviate menopause-related symptoms. However, the evidence is not very strong. Thus, further studies about the efficiency of acupuncture on menopausal symptoms based on well-designed trials are needed.

Acupuncture May Improve Quality of Life in Menopausal Women: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Li W, Luo Y, Fu W, Lei R.

2016 Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem

The study's analysis of 272 articles comparing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA) and Sham Acupuncture (SA) for managing hot flashes in menopausal breast cancer patients indicates that while 3 studies leaned towards TCA's effectiveness, 2 showed both interventions to be beneficial.

The study encompassed the analysis of 272 articles from five selected databases, resulting in the inclusion of five manuscripts meeting the eligibility criteria. The primary focus was on comparing the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCA) to Sham Acupuncture (SA) in managing hot flashes among menopausal women with breast cancer. Among the selected studies, three indicated that TCA was more effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, while two found both interventions to be beneficial, though not significantly distinct. These studies exhibited considerable diversity in their designs, sample sizes, treatment durations, and acupuncture protocols. TCA appeared to hold promise in mitigating hot flashes, yet several methodological limitations and potential biases within the reviewed studies were noted. Consequently, there's a call for further comprehensive, large-scale, and long-term trials to elucidate TCA's true potential and overcome the limitations observed in the current body of research.

Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture versus Sham Acupuncture: a Systematic Review Carlos, Luís et al.

2016 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics

Acupuncture appears to be a potentially effective treatment for reducing hot flashes in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

In this systematic review, seven extensive databases including internationally recognized sources like PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched without any language restrictions to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the impacts of acupuncture on hot flashes in women with breast cancer. The timeframe of these searches spanned from the inception of each database to June 2015.

The results of the 12 identified RCTs suggested an overall potential therapeutic effect of acupuncture on hot flashes in women with breast cancer. Notably, out of these, three studies highlighted a significant difference compared with control groups while one showed encouraging trends. Six studies suggested no notable difference between acupuncture and control treatments. A further two trials revealed negative results when compared to hormone therapy. A meta-analysis of the results also suggested differences in the number of hot flashes post-treatment and during subsequent follow-ups compared with control groups. In three trials, Kupperman index scores were reported, indicating a significant difference between acupuncture and controls after treatment and during follow-up. However, due to the overall relatively small number and inconsistent quality of the reviewed studies, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Acupuncture for hot flashes in women with breast cancer: A systematic review Chen YP, Liu T, Peng YY, Wang YP, Chen H, Fan YF, Zhang L

2015 Menopause

Acupuncture improves hot flash frequency and severity, menopause-related symptoms, and quality of life (in the vasomotor domain) in women experiencing natural menopause.

Of 104 relevant studies, 12 studies with 869 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. We found that acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Acupuncture significantly decreased the psychological, somatic, and urogenital subscale scores on the Menopause Rating Scale. Acupuncture improved the vasomotor subscale score on the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. Long-term effects (up to 3 mo) on hot flash frequency and severity were found.

This meta-analysis confirms that acupuncture improves hot flash frequency and severity, menopause-related symptoms, and quality of life (in the vasomotor domain) in women experiencing natural menopause.

Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Chiu HY, Pan CH, Shyu YK, Han BC, Tsai PS.

2012 Menopause

Soybean isoflavones, whether extracted or synthesized, prove significantly effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The examination in this study began with a database search on PubMed and The Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register for articles shedding light on double-blinded randomized controlled trials conducted until December 14, 2010. Additionally, the authors kept a keen eye out for other peer-reviewed articles containing potentially useful information. Any articles discovered were scrutinized for information on the effects of isoflavones on the frequency or severity of hot flashes in comparison to a placebo. 19 trials were found suitable for inclusion in a systematic review, while 17 of these made it to the meta-analysis stage.

Among the 19 trials under review, data revealed that soybean isoflavones' ingestion, on a median of 54 mg for 6 weeks to 12 months, seemed to lead to a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes. A similar trend was discerned with hot flash severity, which reportedly reduced with isoflavone intake. Interestingly, it was found that isoflavone supplements with over 18.8 mg of genistein were more than twice as powerful in reducing hot flash frequency as supplements with a lower genistein count. These results, compiled over the course of the study, strongly suggest that soy isoflavone supplements are quite effective in mitigating the issue of hot flashes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Extracted or synthesized soybean isoflavones reduce menopausal hot flash frequency and severity Taku K, Melby MK, Kronenberg F, Kurzer MS, Messina M

2011 Climacteric

Pumpkin seed oil supplementation may increase good cholesterol levels, lower diastolic blood pressure, and alleviate menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

In this pilot study employing a randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled design, 35 women that were either naturally menopausal or had prematurely entered menopause due to benign surgical intervention partook. Over the span of 12 weeks, participants received either pumpkin seed oil or wheat germ oil (serving as the placebo) at a dosage of 2 grams daily. Measurements of serum lipids, fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure and completion of a questionnaire regarding menopausal symptoms were taken before and after the supplementation period, and changes across these factors were evaluated.

Following supplementation, women who received pumpkin seed oil displayed increased concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly known as good cholesterol) and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure. Additionally, there was a notable decline in the severity of menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, headaches, and joint pain, thanks to this supplementation. Contrarily, symptoms of depression and feelings of being unloved heightened among women in the group that received wheat germ oil.

Improvement in HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women supplemented with pumpkin seed oil: pilot study Gossell-Williams M, Hyde C, Hunter T, Simms-Stewart D, Fletcher H, McGrowder D, Walters CA