%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of Red Clover Isoflavones over Skin, Appendages, and Mucosal Status in Postmenopausal Women
%A Markus Lipovac
%A Peter Chedraui
%A Christine Gruenhut
%A Anca Gocan
%A Christine Kurz
%A Benedikt Neuber
%A Martin Imhof
%J Obstetrics and Gynecology International
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2011/949302
%X Objective. Evaluate in postmenopausal women the effect of red clover extract (RCE) isoflavones over subjective status of skin, appendages, and several mucosal sites. Method. Postmenopausal women ( ) were randomly assigned to receive either two daily capsules of the active compound (80£¿mg RCE, Group A) or placebo of equal appearance (Group B) for a 90-day period. After a washout period of 7 days, medication was crossed over and taken for 90 days more. Subjective improvement of skin, appendages, and several mucosal site status was assessed for each studied group at 90 and 187 days using a visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, libido, tiredness, and urinary, sleep, and mood complaints were also evaluated. Results. Women after RCE intervention (both groups) reported better subjective improvement of scalp hair and skin status, libido, mood, sleep, and tiredness. Improvement of urinary complaints, nail, body hair, and mucosa (oral, nasal, and ocular) status did not differ between treatment phases (intra- and intergroup). Overall satisfaction with treatment was reported higher after RCE intervention (both groups) as compared to placebo. Conclusion. RCE supplementation exerted a subject improvement of scalp hair and skin status as well as libido, mood, sleep, and tiredness in postmenopausal women. 1. Introduction As a result of increased life expectancy, nowadays, women spend more than one third of their lives in a state of estrogen deprivation which in turn leads to a number of significant long-term changes [1]. Indeed, two out of three women in the menopausal transition present different complaints [2]. Increased osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk, vasomotor episodes, and sleep disturbances have been the main research topics and focus of treatment. Others aspects such as urinary complaints, loss of libido, and changes in hair, nail, skin, or mucosal status have often been disregarded (neglected) by researchers and health care providers but not by women themselves. Hormone therapy (HT), using different estrogenic compounds, has shown its effectiveness over a number of these complaints; nevertheless, current HT use has become controversial due to suspected increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease [3]. Furthermore, 10% of western women display conditions that contraindicate HT use: history of estrogen-dependent malignancy, liver disease, thromboembolic disorders, and severe migraine [4]. Under this scenario, the use of alternatives to HT such as botanical and dietary supplements (i.e., phytoestrogens) has increased for the management of
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ogi/2011/949302/