Efficacy on menopausal neurovegetative symptoms and some plasma lipids blood levels of an herbal product containing isoflavones and other plant extracts

Abstract Objectives To assess the efficacy of a product containing isoflavones and other plant extracts (BIO) on whole menopausal symptomatology and plasma lipids profile. Methods Multicente, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical investigation on 125 menopausal women randomly assigned to two groups treated for 6 months with placebo or one tablet daily of an herbal product containing 72 mg/dose of isoflavones of different plants origin and other plant extracts (BIO). Primary end-point: Kupperman Menopause Index (KI) variations; secondary end-point: activity on plasma lipids profile and clinical global impression (CGI) on efficacy and tolerability by investigators and patients. The usual parametric test (paired Student t test) was performed to evaluate the significance. In case of non-applicability of parametric tests, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used. The differences where considered significant at p Results At the end of treatment in both groups KI showed a significant decrease ( p p  = 0.0265) than in the placebo group after 4 and 6 months of treatment. In the BIO treated patients the LDL cholesterol showed a borderline but not significant reduction compared to placebo ( p  = 0.0608) and triglyceride (TG) a significant ( p  = 0.0151) decrease compared to placebo. The investigator's and patient's CGI on BIO group where superior as compared to placebo. Clinical tolerability was good in booth groups. Conclusion On the basis of positive effects on KI and lipids profile as well as of good clinical tolerability, BIO can be considered one of the possible alternative therapy for conventional HRT.