Recent hits from Medline on AP & Hebal Medicine

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Hi All,

 

Here are some recent hits from Medline on AP & Hebal Medicine.

 

Not all are positive.

 

Best regards,

Phil

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

ACUPUNCTURE:

 

Garavello-Freitas I, Baranauskas V, Joazeiro PP, Padovani CR, Dal

Pai-Silva M, da Cruz-Hofling MA. | Low-power laser irradiation

improves histomorphometrical parameters and bone matrix

organization during tibia wound healing in rats. | J Photochem

Photobiol B. 2003 May;70(2):81-9. | Faculdade de Engenharia

Eletrica e Computacao, Departamento de Semicondutores

Instrumentos e Fotonica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

(UNICAMP), Av. Albert Einstein N.400, 13 083-970, SP, Campinas,

Brazil | The influence of daily energy doses of 0.03, 0.3 and 0.9 J of

He-Ne laser irradiation on the repair of surgically produced tibia

damage was investigated in Wistar rats. Laser treatment was

initiated 24 h after the trauma and continued daily for 7 or 14 days

in two groups of nine rats (n=3 per laser dose and period). Two

control groups (n=9 each) with injured tibiae were used. The course

of healing was monitored using morphometrical analysis of the

trabecular area. The organization of collagen fibers in the bone

matrix and the histology of the tissue were evaluated using

Picrosirius-polarization method and Masson's trichrome. After 7

days, there was a significant increase in the area of neoformed

trabeculae in tibiae irradiated with 0.3 and 0.9 J compared to the

controls. At a daily dose of 0.9 J (15 min of irradiation per day) the

7-day group showed a significant increase in trabecular bone

growth compared to the 14-day group. However, the laser

irradiation at the daily dose of 0.3 J produced no significant

decrease in the trabecular area of the 14-day group compared to

the 7-day group, but there was significant increase in the trabecular

area of the 15-day controls compared to the 8-day controls.

Irradiation increased the number of hypertrophic osteoclasts

compared to non-irradiated injured tibiae (controls) on days 8 and

15. The Picrosirius-polarization method revealed bands of parallel

collagen fibers (parallel-fibered bone) at the repair site of 14-day-

irradiated tibiae, regardless of the dose. This organization improved

when compared to 7-day-irradiated tibiae and control tibiae. These

results show that low-level laser therapy stimulated the growth of

the trabecular area and the concomitant invasion of osteoclasts

during the first week, and hastened the organization of matrix

collagen (parallel alignment of the fibers) in a second phase not

seen in control, non-irradiated tibiae at the same period. The active

osteoclasts that invaded the regenerating site were probably

responsible for the decrease in trabecular area by the fourteenth

day of irradiation. PMID: 12849698 [PubMed - in process]

 

Holdcraft LC, Assefi N, Buchwald D. | Complementary and

alternative medicine in fibromyalgia and related syndromes. | Best

Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2003 Aug;17(4):667-83. | Department of

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harborview Medical Center,

University of Washington School of Medicine, Box 359797, 325

Ninth Ave, 98104-2499, Seattle, WA, USA | Complementary and

alternative medicine (CAM) has gained increasing popularity,

particularly among individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) for

which traditional medicine has generally been ineffective. A

systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-

RCTs on CAM studies for FMS was conducted to evaluate the

empirical evidence for their effectiveness. Few RCTs achieved high

scores on the CONSORT, a standardized evaluation of the quality

of methodology reporting. AP, some herbal and nutritional

supplements (magnesium, SAMe) and massage therapy have the

best evidence for effectiveness with FMS. Other CAM therapies

have either been evaluated in only one RCT with positive results

(Chlorella, biofeedback, relaxation), in multiple RCTs with mixed

results (magnet therapies), or have positive results from studies

with methodological flaws (homeopathy, botanical oils,

balneotherapy, anthocyanidins, dietary modifications). Lastly, other

CAM therapies have neither well-designed studies nor positive

results and are not currently recommended for FMS treatment

(chiropractic care). PMID: 12849718 [PubMed - in process]

 

Molsberger AF, Mau J, Pawelec DB, Winkler J. | Does

acupuncture improve the orthopedic management of chronic low

back pain--a randomized, blinded, controlled trial with 3 months

follow up. | Pain. 2002 Oct;99(3):579-87. | Orthopedic Surgery and

Research, Kasernenstr 1b, 40213, Dusseldorf, Germany.

molsberger | This prospective, randomised controlled

trial, with three parallel groups, patient and observer blinded for

verum and sham

AP and a follow up of 3 months raises the question: " Does a combination of AP

and conservative orthopedic treatment improve conservative orthopedic

treatment in chronic low back pain (LBP). 186 in-patients of a LBP

rehabilitation

center with a history of LBP >or=6 weeks, VAS >or=50mm, and no pending

compensation claims, were selected; for the three random group 4 weeks of

treatment was applied. 174 patients met the protocol criteria and reported after

treatment, 124 reported after 3 months follow up. Patients were assorted 4

strata: chronic LBP, <or=0.5 years, 0.5-2 years, 2-5 years, >or=5 years.

Analysis was by intention to treat. Group 1 (Verum+COT) received 12

treatments of verum AP and conservative orthopedic treatment (COT). Group 2

(Sham+COT) received 12 treatments of non-specific needling and COT. Group 3

(nil+COT) received COT alone. Verum- and Sham AP were blinded against

patient and examiner. The primary endpoints were pain reduction >or=50% on

VAS 3 months after the end of the treatment protocol. Secondary endpoints

were pain reduction >or=50% on VAS and treatment efficacy on a four-point

box scale directly after the end of the treatment protocol and treatment

efficacy

after 3 months. In the whole sample a pain relief of >or=50% on VAS was

reported directly after the end of treatment protocol: Verum+COT 65% (95%CI

51-77%), Sham+COT 34% (95%ci 22-49%), nil+COT 43% (95%ci 29-58%) -

results are significant for Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.02). The

results after 3 months are: Verum+COT 77% (95%ci 62-88%), Sham+COT

29% (95%ci 16-46%), nil+Cot 14% (95%ci 4-30%) - effects are significant for

Verum+COT over Sham+COT (P<or=0.001) and for Verum+COT over nil+COT

(P<0.001). No difference was found in the mobility of the patients nor in the

intake of NSAID diclofenac. Our conclusion is that AP can be an important

supplement of conservative orthopedic treatment in the management of chronic

LBP.

 

Streitberger K, Friedrich-Rust M, Bardenheuer H, Unnebrink K, Windeler J,

Goldschmidt H, Egerer G. | Effect of Acupuncture Compared with Placebo-

Acupuncture at P6 as Additional Antiemetic Prophylaxis in High-Dose

Chemotherapy and Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: A

Randomized Controlled Single-Blind Trial. | Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jul;9(7):2538-

2544. | Departments of Anaesthesiology [K. S., M. F.-R.] and Medicine V [H.

G., G. E.], and Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials [K. U.], University of

Heidelberg, and Medizinischer Dienst der Spitzenverbande der Krankenkassen -

Department of Evidence Based Medicine, Essen [J. W.]. | PURPOSE: The

purpose is to investigate an additional antiemetic effect to ondansetron with

needle AP at P6 compared with nonskin-penetrating placebo AP in patients

undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell

transplantation. Experimental Design: Eighty patients who were admitted to

hospital for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell

transplantation were included into a randomized placebo-controlled single-blind

trial. The patients were randomized to receive AP (n = 41) or noninvasive

placebo AP (n = 39) at the AP point P6 30 min before first application of high-

dose chemotherapy and the day after. All patients received 8 mg

ondansetron/day i.v. as basic antiemetic prophylaxis. The main outcome

measure was the rate of patients who either had at least one episode of

vomiting or required any additional antiemetic drugs on the first 2 days of

chemotherapy. RESULTS: The main outcome measure showed no significant

difference (P = 0.82): 61% failure in the AP group and 64% in the placebo AP

group (95% confidence interval of 3% difference: -18.1 and 24.3%). Comparing

nausea, episodes of vomiting or retching and number of additionally required

antiemetic drugs did not provide any discrepancy with the main result.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in combination with ondansetron i.v.,

invasive needle AP at P6 compared with nonskin-penetrating placebo AP has

no additional effect for the prevention of acute nausea and vomiting in

high-dose

chemotherapy. PMID: 12855628 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

HERBAL MEDICINE:

 

Mauro VF, Mauro LS, Kleshinski JF, Khuder SA, Wang Y, Erhardt PW. |

Impact of ginkgo biloba on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin. | Am J Ther. 2003

Jul-Aug;10(4):247-51. | University of Toledo, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo,

Ohio, USA. | Many medications are known to alter digoxin pharmacokinetics,

including the herbal medication St. John's wort. An open-labeled, randomized,

crossover trial was conducted in eight healthy human volunteers to determine if

ginkgo biloba (GB) also alters the pharmacokinetics of digoxin. On two

occasions separated by 2 weeks, subjects ingested digoxin, 0.5 mg. One week

prior to each study phase, half of the volunteers were randomly initiated on GB

therapy, 80 mg three times daily, that continued until the end of the study

phase. Immediately prior to and for 36 hours following digoxin ingestion,

multiple blood samples were collected for digoxin plasma concentration

determination. No significant difference between treatments was observed with

respect to AUC(0- infinity ) (digoxin alone: 21.0 +/- 8.6 [ng/mL] x h; digoxin +

GB: 25.6 +/- 13.2 [ng/mL] x h). Additionally, no significant difference between

therapies was observed with respect to C(max), T(max), or Cl(o). In six

subjects, k(e) and t(1/2) were able to be determined. These parameters also did

not differ significantly between treatments. In conclusion, within the context

of

the specific GB product used during this investigation, the concomitant use of

GB and digoxin did not appear to have any significant effect on the

pharmacokinetics of orally administered digoxin in healthy volunteers. PMID:

12845387 [PubMed - in process]

 

Pari L, Venkateswaran S. | Effect of an aqueous extract of Phaseolus vulgaris

on the properties of tail tendon collagen of rats with streptozotocin-induced

diabetes. | Braz J Med Biol Res. 2003 Jul;36(7):861-70. Epub 2003 Jun 26. |

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Tamil

Nadu, India. | Changes in the structural and functional properties of collagen

caused by advanced glycation might be of importance for the etiology of late

complications in diabetes. The present study was undertaken to investigate the

influence of oral administration of aqueous pod extract (200 mg/kg body weight)

of Phaseolus vulgaris, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic Medicine in India,

on collagen content and characteristics in the tail tendon of streptozotocin-

diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, collagen content (117.01 6.84 mg/100 mg tissue)

as well as its degree of cross-linking was increased, as shown by increased

extent of glycation (21.70 0.90 g glucose/mg collagen), collagen-linked

fluorescence (52.8 3.0 AU/ mol hydroxyproline), shrinkage temperature (71.50

2.50 C) and decreased acid (1.878 0.062 mg hydroxyproline/100 mg tissue)

and pepsin solubility (1.77 0.080 mg hydroxyproline/100 mg tissue). The alpha/

ratio of acid- (1.69) and pepsin-soluble (2.00) collagen was significantly

decreased in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Administration of P. vulgaris for 45

days to streptozotocin-diabetic rats significantly reduced the accumulation and

cross-linking of collagen. The effect of P. vulgaris was compared with that of

glibenclamide, a reference drug administered to streptozotocin-diabetic rats at

the dose of 600 g/kg body weight for 45 days by gavage. The effects of P.

vulgaris (collagen content, 64.18 1.97; extent of glycation, 12.00 0.53;

collagen-

linked fluorescence, 33.6 1.9; shrinkage temperature, 57.0 1.0; extent of cross-

linking - acid-soluble collagen, 2.572 0.080, and pepsin-soluble collagen, 2.28

0.112) were comparable with those of glibenclamide (collagen content, 71.5

2.04; extent of glycation, 13.00 0.60; collagen-linked fluorescence, 38.9 2.0;

shrinkage temperature, 59.0 1.5; extent of cross-linking - acid-soluble

collagen,

2.463 0.078, and pepsin-soluble collagen, 2.17 0.104). In conclusion,

administration of P. vulgaris pods had a positive influence on the content of

collagen and its properties in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. PMID: 12845372

[PubMed - in process]

 

Qiu XQ, Zeng XY, Qin DD, Zhong XH, Lin MJ, Zhang HL, Huang D. | [A case-

control study on the risk factor of perinatals' congenital malformations in

seven

cities of Guangxi] [Article in Chinese] | Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi.

2003 Jun;24(6):512-5. | Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College of

Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. | OBJECTIVE: To

investigate the possible risk factors of congenital malformations in cities of

Guangxi. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out on 281 cases of

congenital malformations and 730 controls. Analysis of simple factor and

multiple factors unconditional logistic regression were done. RESULTS: The

analysis of simple factor and multiple factors showed that main risk factors of

congenital malformations as multiple pregnancies (OR = 2.6), pregnancy

complications (OR = 3.2), exposure to chemical substances before or during

pregnancy (OR = 3.0), taking sedatives (OR = 10.2), hormone drug (OR = 9.4)

or Chinese herbal medicines (OR = 2.5) during the early stage of pregnancy,

mothers' blood type as AB (OR = 3.5) or A (OR = 2.2), mothers' emotion being

nervous and melancholy (OR = 2.6), mothers' occupation being workers (OR =

3.8) or peasants (OR = 3.0), fathers' exposure to noise (OR = 5.7) or suffering

from chronic diseases (OR = 2.8). CONCLUSIONS: Some risk factors were

identified as having important effect on perinatal congenital malformations,

including taking sedatives, hormone drug or Chinese herbal medicines during

the early stage of pregnancy, mothers' emotion being nervous and melancholy,

multiple pregnancies, pregnancy complications, exposure to chemical

substances before or during pregnancies, mothers' blood type as AB or A,

mothers' occupation being workers or peasants, fathers' exposure to noise or

suffering from chronic diseases. PMID: 12848922 [PubMed - in process]

 

Ratnasooriya WD, Jayakody JR, Premakumara GA. | Adverse pregnancy

outcome in rats following exposure to a Salacia reticulata (Celastraceae) root

extract. | Braz J Med Biol Res. 2003 Jul;36(7):931-5. Epub 2003 Jun 26. |

Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. | The root

extract of Salacia reticulata Wight (family: Celastraceae) is used in Sri Lanka

by traditional practitioners as a herbal therapy for glycemic control even

during

pregnancy. It is recognized that some clinically used antidiabetic drugs have

harmful effects on pregnancy but the effects of the S. reticulata root extract

on

reproductive outcome is unknown and deserves examination. We determined

the effects of the S. reticulata root extract on the reproductive outcome of

Wistar rats (250-260 g) when administered orally (10 g/kg) during early (days 1-

7) and mid- (days 7-14) pregnancy. The root extract significantly (P<0.05)

enhanced post-implantation losses (control vs treatment: early pregnancy, 4.7

2.4 vs 49.3 13%; mid-pregnancy, 4.7 2.4 vs 41.7 16.1%). Gestational length

was unaltered but the pups born had a low birth weight (P<0.05) (early

pregnancy, 6.8 0.1 vs 5.3 0.1 g; mid-pregnancy, 6.8 0.1 vs 5.0 0.1 g) and low

birth index (P<0.05) (early pregnancy, 95.2 2.4 vs 50.7 12.9%; mid-pregnancy,

95.2 2.4 vs 58.3 16.1%), fetal survival ratio (P<0.05) (early pregnancy, 95.2

2.4

vs 50.7 12.9; mid-pregnancy, 95.2 2.4 vs 58.3 16.1), and viability index

(P<0.05) (early pregnancy, 94.9 2.6 vs 49.5 12.5%; mid-pregnancy, 94.9 2.6 vs

57.1 16.1%). However, the root extract was non-teratogenic. We conclude that

the S. reticulata root extract can be hazardous to successful pregnancy in

women and should not be used in pregnancy complicated by diabetes. PMID:

12845381 [PubMed - in process]

 

Rowland DL, Tai W. | A review of plant-derived and herbal approaches to the

treatment of sexual dysfunctions. | J Sex Marital Ther. 2003 May-Jun;29(3):185-

205. | Department of Psychology, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana

46383, USA. david.rowland | Despite the increasing availability of

effective conventional medical treatments, plant-derived and herbal remedies

continue to provide a popular alternative for men and women seeking to improve

their sex life. Nevertheless, the efficacy of most herbal agents in treating

sexual

problems remains uncertain. Therapists and consumers alike would benefit

from an increased understanding of commonly used herbal agents on the

market, their purported or supported effects, and their potential side effects.

To

this end, we cataloged the major prosexual herbal agents currently sold in

several representative health food stores. We also specify the sexual problem

purportedly ameliorated by each herbal agent. Finally, we evaluate eight herbal

agents commonly promoted for the treatment of sexual problems. This

evaluation includes a review of the research supporting the use, efficacy, dose,

adverse effects, contraindications, and possible mechanism of action of each.

We conclude by commenting on the quality of current research, pointing out

gaps in our knowledge, and noting the need for rigorous research and product

control to adequately address questions regarding the efficacy of these agents.

PMID: 12851124 [PubMed - in process]

 

Tanaka T. | A novel anti-dysmenorrhea therapy with cyclic administration of two

Japanese herbal medicines. | Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2003;30(2-3):95-8. |

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Kimi-

idera, Wakayama, Japan. | PURPOSE AND METHODS: Using two Japanese

herbal medicines, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to (SK) and Toki-shakuyaku-san (TS), we

have evaluated a novel strong antidysmenorrhea therapy. SK/TS cyclic therapy,

in which the herbs are administered alternately within the menstrual cycle.

RESULTS: All of the 17 dysmenorrhea patients including recurrent

endometriotic and adenomyotic patients after treatment with gonadotropin-

releasing hormone agonists or danazol, obtained complete relief within three

months when treated with the SK/TS cyclic therapy. Nine of 12 patients treated

with the SK/TS cyclic therapy ovulated as determined by biphasic changes in

basal body temperature patterns. All the three secondary ammenorrhea

patients with moderate levels of serum estradiol, but not the three secondary

amenorrhea patients with little serum estradiol, ovulated during the SK/TS

cyclic therapy. One of the treated patients, who had a history of 10 repetitive

spontaneous abortions. carried the 11th pregnancy to term resulting in a normal

newborn. CONCLUSION: The SK/TS cyclic therapy can be a conservative

antidysmenorrhea therapy for endometriotic and adenomyotic patients who

desire pregnancy. PMID: 12854851 [PubMed - in process]

 

Toennes SW, Harder S, Schramm M, Niess C, Kauert GF. | Pharmacokinetics

of cathinone, cathine and norephedrine after the chewing of khat leaves. | Br J

Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Jul;56(1):125-130. | Institute of Forensic Toxicology,

Centre of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596

Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and Institute for Clinical Pharmacology at the

Pharmazentrum Frankfurt, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. |

AIM: The stimulating herbal drug khat is habitually used in East Africa and the

Arabian peninsula but is also imported into other countries. The aim was to

study the pharmacokinetics of its alkaloids cathinone, cathine and

norephedrine. METHODS: Four volunteers chewed khat leaves in an amount

equivalent to one-quarter of that used in a typical khat session. Blood samples

were collected up to 80 h and the alkaloids were assayed using gas

chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data were evaluated using

computerized pharmacokinetic compartmental analysis. RESULTS: The

plasma concentration-time data for the alkaloids could be described using a

two-compartment model with two-segment absorption. The mucosa of the oral

cavity is considered to be the first absorption segment, where the major

proportion of the alkaloids is absorbed (mean +/- SD 59 +/- 21% for cathinone

and 84 +/- 6% for cathine). The extraction of the alkaloids from the leaves by

chewing was very effective with only 9.1 +/- 4.2% remaining as a residue.

Cathinone was eliminated from the central compartment with a mean half-life of

1.5 +/- 0.8 h. The half-life of cathine was 5.2 +/- 3.4 h. The metabolism of

cathinone to norephedrine had a substantial influence on its plasma

concentration profile. Psychophysical functions were essentially unaffected by

the chewing of khat. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetics of khat alkaloids

in humans explain why chewing is the preferred form of khat ingestion.

Subjects absorbed a mean dose of 45 mg of cathinone, and did not suffer any

severe adverse reactions. PMID: 12848785 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Ueng YF, Kuo YH, Peng HC, Chen TL, Jan WC, Peter Guengerich F, Lin YL. |

IIA selectively inhibits mouse and human cytochrome p4501A2. | Xenobiotica.

2003 Jun;33(6):603-13. Diterpene quinone tanshinone | National Research

Institute of , Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC.

ueng | 1. Tanshinone IIA is the main active diterpene

quinone in the herbal medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza. In untreated mouse liver

microsomes, tanshinone IIA selectively inhibited 7-ethoxyresorufin O-

deethylation (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD)

activities without affecting the oxidation of benzo(a)pyrene, tolbutamide, N-

nitrosodimethylamine and nifedipine. Tanshinone IIA was a competitive inhibitor

of MROD activity with a K(i) of 7.2 +/- 0.7 nM. 2. In 3-methylcholanthrene-

treated mouse liver microsomes, tanshinone IIA and two minor tanshinones,

tanshinone I and cryptotanshinone, inhibited liver microsomal MROD activity

without affecting EROD and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation activities at the

concentrations up to 1 microM. Tanshinone IIA induced a type I binding

spectrum with a spectral dissociation constant K(s) of 2.3 +/-0.8 microM

without cooperativity. 3. In human liver microsomes, tanshinone IIA decreased

EROD and MROD activities without affecting the oxidation of benzo(a)pyrene,

tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone and nifedipine. 4. In Escherichia coli membranes

expressing bicistronic human CYP1A enzymes, tanshinone IIA inhibited EROD

activity of CYP1A1 with an IC(50) 48 times higher than that for CYP1A2.

Tanshinone I and cryptotanshinone had the same IC(50) ratio (1A1/1A2) of 4. 5.

The results indicate that tanshinone represents a new group of CYP1A

inhibitors, and tanshinone IIA had the highest selectivity in inhibition of

CYP1A2. PMID: 12851037 [PubMed - in process]

 

Woo J, Lau E, Ho SC, Cheng F, Chan C, Chan AS, Haines CJ, Chan TY, Li M,

Sham A. | Comparison of Pueraria lobata with hormone replacement therapy in

treating the adverse health consequences of menopause. | Menopause. 2003

Jul-Aug;10(4):352-61. | Departments of 1Community and Family Medicine,

2Medicine and Therapeutics, 3Psychology, and 4Obstetrics and Gynaecology,

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. | OBJECTIVE Pueraria

lobata (PL) is used as a traditional Chinese herbal remedy for menopausal

symptoms, as well as an ingredient in preparations for conditions affecting

menopausal women, such as osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, and some

hormone-dependent cancers. The scientific basis for its action may be its

action as a phytoestrogen.DESIGN To examine the effects of PL in comparison

with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lipid profile, sex hormone levels,

bone turnover markers, and indices of cognitive function. For the study, 127

community-living, postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 years were

randomized to receive HRT (n = 43), PL (equivalent to 100 mg isoflavone; n =

45), or no treatment (n = 39) for 3 months. The following measurements were

carried out at baseline and after 3 months for all participants: menopausal

symptoms questionnaire; neuropsychological tests covering memory, attention,

motor speed, and word-finding ability; quality of life (SF36); lipid profile;

urinary

deoxypyridinoline; dietary phytoestrogen intake and urinary phytoestrogen;

estradiol; follicle-stimulating hormone; and luteinizing hormone.RESULTS Only

participants in the HRT group showed a mean reduction in cholesterol and low-

density lipoprotein cholesterol that was significantly different from that of

the

control group. No significant changes in lipid profile or follicle-stimulating

hormone and luteinizing hormone were observed in the PL group compared with

the controls. However, both the HRT and PL groups showed an improvement in

Mini-Mental State Examination score and attention span compared with the

case of participants receiving no treatment. HRT and PL had different effects on

cognitive function; HRT improved delayed recall, whereas flexible thinking

seemed improved in the PL group.CONCLUSIONS This study was unable to

demonstrate a scientific basis for the use of PL for improving the health of

postmenopausal women in general. However, the effect of PL on cognitive

function deserves further study. PMID: 12851519 [PubMed - in process]

Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial

 

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