Effect of a natural supplement containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids on body weight and metabolic parameters in a menopausal murine model induced by bilateral ovariectomy

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of a herbal preparation containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids (supplement) on body weight and metabolic parameters usually impaired by menopause.

Methods

A pre-clinical experimental study carried out in twenty-five Swiss strain mice (Mus musculus) randomly distributed (1:1:1:1:1 ratio) to five groups to receive for ten weeks: (1) oral gelatinized maca extract 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (Maca + OVX); (2) oral supplement 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S1 + OVX); (3) oral supplement 1.6875 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S2 + OVX); (4) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (OVX); and (5) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + sham surgery (sham). The primary endpoint was change in body weight gain from baseline to final. Secondary endpoints were uterine weight and cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and glucose/triglycerides index values at the end of the study. A modified intention-to-treat analysis was performed through linear regression models and using the Bonferroni method to penalized p-values by multiple comparisons.

Results

Twenty-three animals completed the study. There was a significant average difference in weight gain, with a greater reduction in the S2 + OVX group compared to the OVX group (difference= −3.5; 95% CI (–5.27; −1.74); p < .001). S2 + OVX group also displayed a significant average reduction of total blood cholesterol (difference: −16.94; 95% CI (–33.73; −0.15); p = .037). No significant effects of the supplement were found on other secondary endpoints.

Conclusion

In this murine menopausal model, triple oral supplement dose resulted in an average reduction of weight gain and total cholesterol levels, suggesting that the compound could have a potential effect at regulating menopausal altered metabolism.

摘要

目的：评价一种含有硫代葡萄糖苷、植物甾醇和柑橘类黄酮的中草药制剂(补充剂)对更年期妇女体重和代谢参数的影响。

方法：采用25只瑞士系小鼠(Mus Musculus), 随机分为5组, 按1：1：1：1：1的比例随机分为5组, 每组10只, 进行临床前实验研究：(1)口服玛咖提取液0.5625毫克/公斤/天+双侧卵巢切除术组（Maca+OVX）；（2）每日口服补充剂0.5625 mg/kg/d+双侧卵巢切除术组(S1+OVX)；（3）每日口服补充剂1.6875 mg/kg+双侧卵巢切除术组（S2+OVX）；（4）每日口服生理盐水100ml/kg+双侧卵巢切除术(OVX)；（5）每日口服生理盐水100ml/kg+假手术组(sham)。主要终点是体重增加从基线到最终的变化。次要终点是研究结束时子宫重量和胆固醇、甘油三酯、葡萄糖和葡萄糖/甘油三酯比值。通过线性回归模型和Bonferroni方程进行改进的意向处理分析, 通过多重比较来判断p值。

结果：23只动物完成研究。体重增加的平均差异非常显著, 与OVX组相比, S2+OVX组的降幅更大（差值=–3.5；95% CI (–5.27；–1.74)；p < .001）。S2+OVX组也显示出显著降低总胆固醇的平均水平（差值：–16.94；95% CI (–33.73； –0.15)；p=.037）。没有发现补充剂对其他次要终点有显著影响。

结论：在此绝经模型中, 三倍剂量口服补充剂可使小鼠体重增加和总胆固醇水平平均降低, 提示该化合物可能具有调节绝经后代谢改变的潜在作用。

Keywords:

• Lepidium Meyenii
• supplementation
• glucosinolates
• phytosterol
• citrus flavonoids
• menopause
• body weight
• metabolism

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Luis Danckers for his suggestions in the writing of the manuscript and Dr. Stefano Malaga-Correa for presenting the preliminary analysis of this research as poster in the 10th European Congress on Menopause and Andropause (EMAS), Congress, 20–22 May 2015, Madrid Spain.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Laboratorios Hersil S.A, Lima, Perú.