stilbenes and Hot-Flashes

The recognition of selective estrogen receptor modulation in the laboratory has resulted in the development of two selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), tamoxifen and raloxifene, for clinical application in healthy women. SERMs are antiestrogenic in the breast but estrogen-like in the bones and reduce circulating cholesterol levels. SERMs also have different degrees of estrogenicity in the uterus. Tamoxifen is used specifically to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women at risk for the disease. In contrast, raloxifene is used specifically to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for osteoporosis. The study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR) trial is currently comparing the ability of these SERMs to reduce breast cancer incidence in high-risk postmenopausal women. There is intense interest in understanding the molecular mechanism(s) of action of SERMs at target sites in a woman's body. An understanding of the targeted actions of this novel drug group will potentially result in the introduction of new multifunctional medicines with applications as preventive agents or treatments of breast cancer and endometrial cancer, coronary heart disease, and osteoporosis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bone and Bones; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Cardiovascular System; Cinnamates; Clinical Trials as Topic; Coronary Disease; Endometrial Neoplasms; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Heart; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Organ Specificity; Osteoporosis; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Prospective Studies; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Raloxifene Hydrochloride; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Receptors, Estrogen; Risk; Risk Assessment; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Stilbenes; Tamoxifen; Thrombophilia; Transcription, Genetic

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of equol and resveratrol supplementation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in otherwise healthy menopausal women with hot flashes, anxiety and depressive symptoms.. Sixty recently menopausal women aged 50-55 years were randomized in a 12-week, placebo-controlled trial to receive 200mg of fermented soy containing 10mg of equol and 25mg of resveratrol (1 tablet/day). The primary outcome was the change in score on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), used to evaluate the severity of age-/menopause-related complaints. Additional outcome measures included the subject-reported score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), which was used specifically to assess sleep quality.. The symptoms assessed by the MRS improved during treatment in the active group. Comparison between placebo and treatment groups revealed statistically significant improvement in particular for dryness of vagina (-85.7%) (p<0.001), heart discomfort (-78.8%; p<0.001) and sexual problems (-73.3%; p<0.001). On the HAM-D significant improvements at week 12 were seen in work and activities (-94.1%) (p<0.001). Subjects treated with equol and resveratrol also had significant differences in the sleep domain of the NHP (p<0.001).. These findings provide evidence that 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with equol and resveratrol may improve menopause-related quality of life in healthy women.

Topics: Anxiety; Depression; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Equol; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Quality of Life; Resveratrol; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep; Stilbenes; Treatment Outcome; Vagina

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of resveratrol absorbed orally, conveyed through a new patented technology that increases the absorption through the oral mucosa in treatment of hot flushes (HF) during menopause.. This is a randomized controlled double-blind study with crossover design. From October 2012 to July 2014 we considered the first 50 patients enrolled at the Center for Menopause Maggiore Hospital of Charity of Novara, with diagnosis of physiological or surgical menopause. Each woman received a diary in which she indicated the weekly number of HF and the perceived intensity, in a 0-10 Scale (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS).. Reduction of the monthly number of vasomotor episodes. Resveratrol 16/28 (57.1%); P2/22 placebo (9.1%) <0.001. The resveratrol group gets a positive result 6.28 times more compared to the placebo arm (95% CI: 1.61-24.49). Improvement of the intensity of symptoms and improving quality of life: resveratrol 22/28 (78.6%); placebo 4/22 P (18.2%) <0.001. Resveratrol group obtained a positive result 4:32 times more than the placebo arm (95% CI: 1.74-10.71).. Resveratrol is effective in reducing the number of episodes vasomotor and the intensity of HF, with the transition from moderate/severe to mild symptoms in 78.6% of patients. Resveratrol has the characteristics to be an alternative therapy in the treatment of HF in menopause.

Topics: Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Italy; Menopause; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Quality of Life; Resveratrol; Stilbenes; Treatment Outcome