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The effect of sex and menopause on carotid intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity in morbid obesity.
van Mil, SR, Biter, LU, van de Geijn, GJM, Birnie, E, Dunkelgrun, M, Ijzermans, JNM, van der Meulen, N, Mannaerts, GHH, Castro Cabezas, M
European journal of clinical investigation. 2019;(7):e13118
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Women are relatively protected from cardiovascular disease compared with men. Since morbid obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the current study investigated whether the association between sex and cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes can be demonstrated in subjects suffering from morbid obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred subjects enrolled in a study on cardiovascular risk factors in morbid obesity underwent extensive laboratory screening, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements. Gender differences were analysed using univariate and multivariable linear regression models. In addition, the effect of menopause on cIMT and PWV was analysed. Results of these models were reported as B coefficients with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS The group consisted of 52 men and 148 women, with a mean age of 41 (±11.8) years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 42.7 (±5.2) kg/m2 . Both, cIMT and PWV were significantly higher in men than in women, although the difference in cIMT disappeared after adjustment for covariables such as waist circumference, age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mean arterial pressure. PWV was associated with sex after adjustments for covariables in morbidly obese patients. Postmenopausal women had significantly increased cIMT and PWV when compared with premenopausal women. CONCLUSION Sex differences in PWV persist in subjects suffering from morbid obesity. However, no difference was found in cIMT between morbidly obese men and women after adjustment for classic cardiovascular risk factors. Premenopausal morbidly obese women are protected for cardiovascular disease when compared with postmenopausal morbidly obese women.
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The effect of ginseng on sexual dysfunction in menopausal women: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
Ghorbani, Z, Mirghafourvand, M, Charandabi, SM, Javadzadeh, Y
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2019;:57-64
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sexual problems constitute a largely-overlooked problem for women during menopause. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of Ginseng on sexual function (primary outcome), quality of life and menopausal symptoms (secondary outcomes) in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction. DESIGN This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 62 women who were randomly assigned to the intervention/control groups using block randomization. INTERVENTION The intervention group received 500 mg of Panax Ginseng and the control group received placebo twice daily for four weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Standard questionnaires including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) and the Greene Menopausal Symptom Scale were completed before and four weeks after the intervention. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and the baseline scores of sexual function, quality of life and menopausal symptoms (P > 0.05). After the intervention, the mean total score of FSFI (Adjusted Mean Difference = 6.32, 95% CI = 3.48 to 9.16, P < 0.001) was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. The mean total score of quality of life (AMD=-20.79, 95% CI=-25.83 to -15.75, P < 0.001) and menopausal symptoms (AMD=-8.25, 95% CI=-10.55 to -5.95, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group. CONCLUSION Ginseng has significant effects in improving sexual function and quality of life and mitigating menopausal symptoms. As a multipotent plant, Ginseng can be a suitable alternative for conventional therapies to promote the health of menopausal women.
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Habitual dietary lactose and galactose intakes in association with age at menopause in non-galactosemic women.
Rostami Dovom, M, Moslehi, N, Mirmiran, P, Azizi, F, Ramezani Tehrani, F
PloS one. 2019;(3):e0214067
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rodent models and studies on women with galactosemia suggest the ovo-toxicity effect of galactose. However, the association between galactose intake from dietary sources and the ovarian function in women without galactosemia has not yet been described. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations between both dietary galactose and lactose intake, and ovarian dysfunction as the odds of early menopause in women without galactosemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 821 women without galactosemia, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), who experienced natural menopause. Habitual dietary intakes of lactose and galactose during the past 12 month were assessed, using a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). In this study, early menopause was defined as natural menopause before the age of 45 years. RESULTS Mean- and menopausal age of women were reported as 59.3±7.94 and 48.6±4.81 years, respectively. No statistically significant linear association was observed between the daily intakes of lactose and galactose and the odds of early menopause. After adjusting for age, energy intake, and age at menarche, women in the middle tertiles of lactose (62%, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.46) and galactose (58%, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.39) intake had significantly higher odds of early menopause, than those in the first tertile. When the daily intake of lactose and galactose were expressed as the percentage of energy intake, the higher odds of early menopause among women in the middle tertile compared to those with the first tertile were reduced and became non-significant. CONCLUSION No statistically significant linear associations were reported between the intake of lactose and galactose and age of menopause. However, the odds of early menopause in those women with the middle tertile of lactose and galactose intake were significantly higher than those women in the first tertile.
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Urtica dioica in comparison with placebo and acupuncture: A new possibility for menopausal hot flashes: A randomized clinical trial.
Kargozar, R, Salari, R, Jarahi, L, Yousefi, M, Pourhoseini, SA, Sahebkar-Khorasani, M, Azizi, H
Complementary therapies in medicine. 2019;:166-173
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of Urtica dioica in comparison with placebo, acupuncture and combined therapy on hot flashes and quality of life in postmenopausal women. METHODS In a double-blinded randomized controlled trial, patients were treated for 7 weeks then followed up 4 weeks. Seventy-two postmenopausal women who reported at least 20 hot flashes attacks per week were randomly allocated into one of the 4 groups of Urtica dioica 450 mg/day and acupuncture 11 sessions (A), acupuncture and placebo (B), sham acupuncture and Urtica dioica (C), and sham acupuncture and placebo (D). The primary outcomes were the change in hot flashes score from baseline to the end of treatment and follow up; and the change in the quality of life (MENQOL) from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes in FSH, LH, and ESTRADIOL levels from baseline to the end of treatment. The trial was conducted from October 2017 to July 2018 in Acupuncture clinic of a teaching hospital in Iran. RESULTS A total of 72 women 45-60 years old were enrolled, and 68 were included in the analyses. The median (IQR) hot flashes score decreased in the A group by 20.2 (31.7) and 21.1 (25.1), B group by 19 (18) and 17.3 (27), C group by 14.6 (25.4) and 20.8 (13), and D group by 1.6 (11.6) and 1 (13.3) at the end of treatment and follow up (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001); no significant difference between A, B and C groups. The mean (SD) of MENQOL score decreased in the A group by 42.6 (21.1), B group by 40.7 (29.8), C group by 37.8 (26.8) and D group by 9.8 (14.3) at the end of treatment (P = 0.001); no significant difference between A, B and C groups. CONCLUSIONS Urtica dioica can decrease menopausal hot flashes and increase the quality of life of postmenopausal women better than placebo-sham control but same as acupuncture. The combination of Urtica dioica and acupuncture did not add to the effects of those therapies.
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Profiling of Phenolic Metabolites in Feces from Menopausal Women after Long-Term Isoflavone Supplementation.
Guadamuro, L, Jiménez-Girón, AM, Delgado, S, Flórez, AB, Suárez, A, Martín-Álvarez, PJ, Bartolomé, B, Moreno-Arribas, MV, Mayo, B
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2016;(1):210-6
Abstract
Phenolic compounds were screened by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS in the feces of 15 menopausal women before and after long-term isoflavone treatment. In total, 44 compounds were detected. Large intertreatment, interindividual, and intersample variations were observed in terms of the number of compounds and their concentration. Four compounds, the aglycones daidzein and genistein and the daidzein derivatives dihydrodaidzein and O-desmethylangolensin, were associated with isoflavone metabolism; these were identified only after the isoflavone treatment. In addition, 4-ethylcatechol, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 3-phenylpropionic acid differed significantly in pre- and postintervention samples, whereas the concentration of 4-hydroxy-5-phenylvaleric acid showed a trend toward increasing over the treatment. The phenolic profiles of equol-producing and -non-producing groups were similar, with the exceptions of 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-phenylpropionic acid, which showed higher concentrations in equol-non-producing women. These findings may help to trace isoflavone-derived metabolites in feces during isoflavone interventions and to design new studies to address their biological effects.
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The effects of flaxseed on menopausal symptoms and quality of life.
Cetisli, NE, Saruhan, A, Kivcak, B
Holistic nursing practice. 2015;(3):151-7
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of flaxseed on menopausal symptoms and quality of life throughout the menopausal period. The empirical research was conducted in an obstetrics and gynecology outpatient department of a university hospital and involved 140 menopausal women who were divided into 4 groups. The menopausal symptoms decreased and the quality of life increased among the women who used flaxseed for 3 months.
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Postprandial triglycerides and adipose tissue storage of dietary fatty acids: impact of menopause and estradiol.
Bessesen, DH, Cox-York, KA, Hernandez, TL, Erickson, CB, Wang, H, Jackman, MR, Van Pelt, RE
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2015;(1):145-53
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Postprandial lipemia worsens after menopause, but the mechanism remains unknown. The hypothesized menopause-related postprandial lipemia would be (1) associated with reduced storage of dietary fatty acids (FA) as triglyceride (TG) in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and (2) improved by short-term estradiol (E2 ). METHODS Twenty-three pre- (mean ± SD: 42 ± 4 years) and 22 postmenopausal (55 ± 4 years) women with similar total adiposity were studied. A subset of postmenopausal women (n = 12) were studied following 2 weeks of E2 (0.15 mg) and matching placebo in a random, cross-over design. A liquid meal containing (14) C-oleic acid traced appearance of dietary FA in: serum (postprandial TG), breath (oxidation), and abdominal and femoral SAT (TG storage). RESULTS Compared to premenopausal women, healthy, lean, postmenopausal women had increased postprandial glucose and insulin and trend for higher TG but had similar dietary FA oxidation and storage. Adipocytes were larger in post- compared to premenopausal women, particularly in femoral SAT. Short-term E2 reduced postprandial TG and insulin but had no effect on oxidation or storage of dietary FA. E2 increased the proportion of small adipocytes in femoral (but not abdominal) SAT. CONCLUSIONS Short-term E2 attenuated menopause-related increases in postprandial TG and increased femoral adipocyte hyperplasia but not through increased net storage of dietary FA.
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Weight gain since menopause and its associations with weight loss maintenance in obese postmenopausal women.
Sénéchal, M, Arguin, H, Bouchard, DR, Carpentier, AC, Ardilouze, JL, Dionne, IJ, Brochu, M
Clinical interventions in aging. 2011;:221-5
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between weight gain since menopause and weight regain after a weight loss program. METHODS Participants were 19 obese women who participated in a 15-week weight loss program and a 12-month follow-up. Main outcomes were: body composition, resting metabolic rate, energy intake, energy expenditure, and weight regain at follow-up. RESULTS All body composition measures significantly decreased after intervention (all P ≤ 0.01) while all measures of fatness increased significantly after the 12-month follow-up (P ≤ 0.01). Body weight gain since menopause was associated with body weight regain (r = 0.65; P = 0.003) after follow-up even after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSION Weight gain since menopause is associated with body weight regain following the weight loss program. Therefore, weight gain since menopause should be considered as a factor influencing weight loss maintenance in older women.
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The effect of soy-derived isoflavones over hot flushes, menopausal symptoms and mood in climacteric women with increased body mass index.
Chedraui, P, San Miguel, G, Schwager, G
Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. 2011;(5):307-13
Abstract
BACKGROUND Risk-benefit issues raised after the WHI have significantly increased the use of alternative treatments for the menopause. Despite this, data regarding the effect of soy isoflavones over mood and menopausal symptoms in high risk populations is still lacking. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of soy derived isoflavones over hot flushes, menopausal symptoms and mood in climacteric women with increased body mass index (BMI). METHODS Fifty symptomatic climacteric women aged 40 to 59 with increased BMI (≥ 25) were recruited to receive oral 100 mg/day of soy derived isoflavones (Climasoy) for 3 months. Hot flushes (frequency/intensity), menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale [MRS]) and mood (Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale [HDRS]) were evaluated at baseline and at 90 days. RESULTS A total of 45 women completed the study. After 3 months of soy isoflavone supplementation hot flushes significantly decreased in percentage, number and severity (100% to 31.1%; 3.9 ± 2.3 to 0.4 ± 0.8 and 2.6 ± 0.9 to 0.4 ± 0.8, respectively, p < 0.001). MRS scores (total and for subscales) reflecting general menopausal symptoms also significantly decreased compared to baseline. Regarding mood, after three months total HDRS scores and the rate of women presenting depressed mood (scores ≥ 8) significantly decreased (16.3 ± 5.4 to 6.9 ± 5.2 and 93.3% to 28.9%, respectively, p < 0.05). There was no effect on blood pressure levels or BMI values after treatment. CONCLUSION In this high risk climacteric population, soy derived isoflavone treatment improved mood as well as vasomotor and general menopausal symptoms. More research is required to determine if the positive effect over mood is a direct or an indirect one through hot flush alleviation.
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Challenges in the conduct of Thai herbal scientific study: efficacy and safety of phytoestrogen, pueraria mirifica (Kwao Keur Kao), phase I, in the alleviation of climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women.
Chandeying, V, Lamlertkittikul, S
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. 2007;(7):1274-80
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of Pueraria mirifica (Kwao Keur Kao), phytoestrogen, for the alleviation of climacteric symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHOD Perimenopausal women attending with climacteric symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats, were invited to join the present study, conducted at the Menopausal Clinic, Hat Yai Regional Hospital. The patients were voluntarily enrolled and randomly received the raw material of Pueraria mirifica, oral 50 and 100 mg capsule, once daily for six months, as an open-label study. RESULTS Of the 10 enrolled patients, 8 cases were completely evaluated. The modified Greene climacteric scale (MGCS) was satisfactorily decreased in both groups. The average scale declined from 44.1 at baseline, to be 26, 17, and 11.1 at 1-, 3-, and 6- month follow-up respectively. No other laboratory abnormalities, except one case had transiently increased the creatinine level, and one case of increased blood urea nitrogen. The mean serum estradiol was slightly increased, while the mean serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were nearly stable. CONCLUSION Pueraria mirifica is relatively safe and preliminarily alleviates the climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal. women, but the data is insufficient to draw definite conclusions regarding the estrogenic effect.