To evaluate the response of cardiovascular risk factors to the treatment of climacteric symptoms.
In this prospective study, women reporting climacteric symptoms were randomized to 3 months of treatment with either acupuncture (nā€Š=ā€Š19), phytoestrogens (75ā€Šmg soy isoflavones, BID; nā€Š=ā€Š22), or low-dose hormone therapy (HT; 0.3ā€Šmg conjugated equine oestrogens plus 1.5ā€Šmg medroxyprogesterone acetate; nā€Š=ā€Š20). Greene’s climacteric scale, blood pressure (BP), lipids, glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were assessed before and after treatment. Observed changes were compared by analysis of variance.
HT and acupuncture reduced Greene climacteric score to a similar extent, but the effect of phytoestrogens was significantly lower (Pā€Š<ā€Š0.05). With acupuncture, systolic (-7.4ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š15.3 mm Hg; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.05) and diastolic BP (-8.3ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š7.7mm Hg; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.01) decreased, and the same occurred with phytoestrogens (-8.4ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š9.0 mm Hg [Pā€Š<ā€Š0.01] and -6.6ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š7.9 mm Hg [Pā€Š<ā€Š0.01]). Neither BP systolic (1.9ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š17.5 mm Hg) nor BP diastolic (-1.4ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š9.6 mm Hg) changed during HT. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased with phytoestrogens (-9.9ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š19.6ā€Šmg/dL; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.05), and triglycerides increased with both HT (34.5ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š12.2ā€Šmg/dL; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.01) and phytoestrogens (17.41ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š24.4ā€Šmg/dL; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.01). A slight but significant increase in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (0.14ā€ŠĀ±ā€Š0.5; Pā€Š<ā€Š0.05) was observed after HT.
Treatment of climacteric symptoms with acupuncture and phytoestrogens, but not HT, is associated with a clear BP reduction, and phytoestrogens with potentially positive alterations in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level.
EudractCT Number 2008-006053-41. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A637.

References

PubMed