Acupuncture or phy(F)itoestrogens vs. (E)strogen plus progestin on menopausal symptoms. A randomized study

Abstract

The effect of acupuncture and phytoestrogens on climacteric symptoms was compared to the effect of hormone therapy (HT) with estrogen plus progestin. A total of 75 postmenopausal women with hot flushes were randomized to receive for 3 months conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate (0.30 mg/1.5 mg/d), acupuncture weekly or soy isoflavones (75 mg/2/d). Evaluations were performed prior to, at the end, and 3 months after treatments. Main outcomes were modification of the Greene’s climacteric scale and menopause quality of life (MenQoL). The Greene’s score significantly declined (p < .05) during HT (−5.6 ± 3.1), acupuncture (−6.9 ± 4.5) and phytostrogens (−3.4 ± 4.3) (p < .05 vs. HT). Mean Greene’s vasomotor sub-score declined less during phytoestrogens than HT (−0.8 ± 2.0 vs. −2.0 ± 1.9; p < .05) and a ≥ 80% reduction was observed in 17.4% of women on phytoestrogens (p < .05 vs. HT), 44% of women on HT, and 41.7% of women on acupuncture. MenQoL score improved similarly (p < .05) during HT (−1.4 ± 1.3), acupuncture (−1.7 ± 1.0) and phytoestrogens (−1.0 ± 1.3). Three months after treatment end, benefits on MenQoL were conserved more following acupuncture than HT (p < .006). The present data indicate that acupuncture, and in lesser extent phytoestrogens, can be effective therapies for climacteric symptoms.

Trial registration: EudraCT Number 2008-006053-4.

摘要

比较针灸和植物雌激素与雌激素加孕激素的激素治疗 (HT) 对更年期症状的影响。75例有潮热的绝经后妇女随机接受结合雌激素/醋酸甲羟孕酮 (0.30 mg/1.5 mg/d), 每周针灸或大豆异黄酮 (75 mg/2/d) 治疗3个月。在治疗前、治疗结束时和治疗后3个月进行评估。主要结果是格林更年期量表和更年期生存质量量表 (MenQoL) 的改变。格林评分在HT (-5.6±3.1), 针灸 (-6.9±4.5) 和植物雌激素 (-3.4±4.3) 期间显著下降 (p<0.05) (p<0.05 vs.HT)。在植物雌激素的作用下, 格林血管舒缩亚评分的平均下降幅度小于HT (-0.8±2.0 vs. -2.0±1.9; p<0.05), 在17.4%服用植物雌激素的妇女 (p<0.05 vs. HT) , 44%的服用HT妇女和41.7%的应用针灸的妇女中观察到a≥80%的下降。在HT(-1.4±1.3), 针灸 (-1.7±1.0) 和植物雌激素 (-1.0±1.3) 治疗期间, MenQoL评分也有相似的改善 (p<0.05)。治疗结束后三个月, 针灸对MenQoL的益处比HT更为显著 (p<0.006)。目前的数据表明, 针灸以及少量的植物雌激素, 可以有效的治疗更年期症状。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Hot flushes
• post-menopause
• acupuncture
• phytoestrogens
• hormone replacement therapy

Disclosure statement

Angelo Cagnacci, had served as advisory board member and speaker for Teva Italia, MSD, Bayer, Gedeon-Richter. None of the other writing authors declares any conflict of interest with the study.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by a grant for the investigation of non-conventional therapies by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.