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=ā19), phytoestrogens (75āmg soy isoflavones, BID; nā=ā22), or low-dose hormone therapy (HT; 0.3āmg conjugated equine oestrogens plus 1.5āmg medroxyprogesterone acetate; nā=ā20). 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<ā0.05). With acupuncture, systolic (-7.4ā±ā15.3 mm Hg; Pā<ā0.05) and diastolic BP (-8.3ā±ā7.7mm Hg; Pā<ā0.01) decreased, and the same occurred with phytoestrogens (-8.4ā±ā9.0 mm Hg [Pā<ā0.01] and -6.6ā±ā7.9 mm Hg [Pā<ā0.01]). Neither BP systolic (1.9ā±ā17.5 mm Hg) nor BP diastolic (-1.4ā±ā9.6 mm Hg) changed during HT. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased with phytoestrogens (-9.9ā±ā19.6āmg/dL; Pā<ā0.05), and triglycerides increased with both HT (34.5ā±ā12.2āmg/dL; Pā<ā0.01) and phytoestrogens (17.41ā±ā24.4āmg/dL; Pā<ā0.01). A slight but significant increase in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (0.14ā±ā0.5; Pā<ā0.05) 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