Effect of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masumeh Ghazanfarpour ◽  
Paymaneh Shokrollahi ◽  
Talat Khadivzadeh ◽  
Nosrat Baharian Sharghi ◽  
Khadijeh Mirzaii Najmabadi ◽  
...  

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of orally administered fennel on vaginal atrophy. Materials and methods In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 60 postmenopausal women living in Mashhad, Iran, were randomly divided into an oral fennel group (n = 30) and a placebo group (n = 30). The Maturation Vaginal Index and maturation values were measured once at baseline and again upon a three-month follow-up. Results The paired t-test showed statistically significant changes in the Maturation Vaginal Index (i.e. a decline in the parabasal cells and an increase in the intermediate and superficial cells) and maturation values in both the fennel and placebo groups at the end of the trial compared to at baseline. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in the percentages of the parabasal (P = 0.191), intermediate (P = 0.219) and superficial (P = 0.82) cells, which was also the case for the maturation values (P = 0.64). Conclusion Fennel had no significant positive effects on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Nonetheless, more studies are recommended to be conducted using higher doses of fennel and larger sample sizes so as to verify the results of this study.

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nafiseh Saghafi ◽  
Masumeh Ghazanfarpour ◽  
Talat Khadivzadeh ◽  
Masoudeh Babakhanian ◽  
Maliheh Afiat

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva V. Vodegel ◽  
Sandra E. Zwolsman ◽  
Astrid Vollebregt ◽  
Ruben G. Duijnhoven ◽  
Judith E. Bosmans ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is associated with high recurrence rates. The costs associated with the treatment of recurrent POP are huge, and the burden from women who encounter recurrent POP, negatively impacts their quality of life. Estrogen therapy might improve surgical outcome for POP due to its potential beneficial effects. It is thought that vaginal estrogen therapy improves healing and long-term maintenance of connective tissue integrity. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of perioperative vaginal estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women undergoing POP surgery. Methods The EVA trial is a multi-center double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in the Netherlands comparing the effectiveness and costs-effectiveness of vaginal estrogen therapy. This will be studied in 300 postmenopausal women undergoing primary POP surgery, with a POP-Q stage of ≥ 2. After randomization, participants administer vaginal estrogen cream or placebo cream from 4 to 6 weeks preoperative until 12 months postoperative. The primary outcome is subjective improvement of POP symptoms at 1 year follow-up, measured with the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale. Secondary outcomes are POP-Q anatomy in all compartments, re-interventions, surgery related complications, general and disease specific quality of life, sexual function, signs and complaints of vaginal atrophy, vaginal pH, adverse events, costs, and adherence to treatment. Follow up is scheduled at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months postoperative. Data will be collected using validated questionnaires and out-patient visits including gynecological examination performed by an independent gynecologist. Discussion This study investigates whether perioperative vaginal estrogen will be cost-effective in the surgical treatment of POP in postmenopausal women. It is hypothesized that estrogen therapy will show a reduction in recurrent POP symptoms and a reduction in reoperations for POP, with subsequent improved quality of life among women and cost savings. Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Registry: NL6853; registered 19-02-2018, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6853. EudraCT: 2017-003144-21; registered: 24-07-2017.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1425-1435
Author(s):  
Prasong Tanmahasamut ◽  
Titima Jirasawas ◽  
Somsak Laiwejpithaya ◽  
Chatchai Areeswate ◽  
Chongdee Dangrat ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Michael J. Patan ◽  
David O. Kennedy ◽  
Cathrine Husberg ◽  
Svein Olaf Hustvedt ◽  
Philip C. Calder ◽  
...  

Emerging evidence suggests that adequate intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), which include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), might be associated with better sleep quality. N-3 PUFAs, which must be acquired from dietary sources, are typically consumed at suboptimal levels in Western diets. Therefore, the current placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, investigated the effects of an oil rich in either DHA or EPA on sleep quality in healthy adults who habitually consumed low amounts of oily fish. Eighty-four participants aged 25–49 years completed the 26-week intervention trial. Compared to placebo, improvements in actigraphy sleep efficiency (p = 0.030) and latency (p = 0.026) were observed following the DHA-rich oil. However, these participants also reported feeling less energetic compared to the placebo (p = 0.041), and less rested (p = 0.017), and there was a trend towards feeling less ready to perform (p = 0.075) than those given EPA-rich oil. A trend towards improved sleep efficiency was identified in the EPA-rich group compared to placebo (p = 0.087), along with a significant decrease in both total time in bed (p = 0.032) and total sleep time (p = 0.019) compared to the DHA-rich oil. No significant effects of either treatment were identified for urinary excretion of the major melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. This study was the first to demonstrate some positive effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs in healthy adult normal sleepers, and provides novel evidence showing the differential effects of n-3 PUFA supplements rich in either DHA or EPA. Further investigation into the mechanisms underpinning these observations including the effects of n-3 PUFAs on sleep architecture are required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1759720X2110069
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Moon ◽  
Elizabeth M. Curtis ◽  
Stephen J. Woolford ◽  
Shanze Ashai ◽  
Cyrus Cooper ◽  
...  

Optimisation of skeletal mineralisation in childhood is important to reduce childhood fracture and the long-term risk of osteoporosis and fracture in later life. One approach to achieving this is antenatal vitamin D supplementation. The Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study is a randomised placebo-controlled trial, the aim of which was to assess the effect of antenatal vitamin D supplementation (1000 IU/day cholecalciferol) on offspring bone mass at birth. The study has since extended the follow up into childhood and diversified to assess demographic, lifestyle and genetic factors that determine the biochemical response to antenatal vitamin D supplementation, and to understand the mechanisms underpinning the effects of vitamin D supplementation on offspring bone development, including epigenetics. The demonstration of positive effects of maternal pregnancy vitamin D supplementation on offspring bone development and the delineation of underlying biological mechanisms inform clinical care and future public-health policies.


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