PurposeMany studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of isoflavones on menopausal symptoms; however, these mostly used high dosages. Because high-dose isoflavone may result in endometrial hyperplasia, we investigated whether low-dose isoflavone aglycone alleviates menopausal symptoms similarly to high dosages.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 90 healthy women aged 40–60 years who had at least one menopausal symptom on the Menopausal Symptom Scale (MSS). The participants were randomized to receive active tablets containing ultralow-dose (12.5 mg/day; n = 30) or low-dose (25 mg/day; n = 30) isoflavone aglycone, or placebo (n = 30) tablets, for 8 weeks. Their menopausal symptoms were evaluated using MSS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) before, and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment.ResultsEighty-seven women (97 %) completed the 8-week treatment. In the low-dose group, significant improvement was observed from baseline, in the following parameters: (1) HADS-depression subscale score, (2) AIS score, (3) MSS-somatic symptom score after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and (4) MSS-vasomotor symptom score after 8 weeks of treatment. The changes in scores on HADS-depression subscale and AIS from baseline to 8 weeks were significantly higher in the low-dose group than in the placebo group.ConclusionsLow-dose (25 mg/day) isoflavone aglycone significantly alleviated symptoms of depression and insomnia in Japanese middle-aged women.Clinical Trial Registration UMIN-CTR UMIN000011876.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 6 men and 24 women aged 40–64 years old. The participants were randomized to receive tablets containing either low-dose (200 mg/day) or high-dose (400 mg/day) GSPE, or placebo, for 12 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively), brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and other cardiovascular parameters were measured before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. The mean SBP in the high-dose group significantly decreased by 13 mmHg after 12 weeks (P = 0.028), although FMD did not change. In an ad hoc analysis of non-smoking participants (n = 21), the mean SBP, DBP, stiffness parameter β, distensibility, incremental elastic modulus (Einc), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) also significantly improved in the high-dose group after 12 weeks. Changes in Einc and PWV from baseline to 12 weeks were significantly greater in the high-dose group than in the placebo group (Einc, P = 0.023; PWV, P = 0.03). GSPE consumption could help maintain vascular elasticity and normal blood pressure in this population.

This study aimed to investigate the links between coffee (CF)/green tea (GT) consumption and body composition/cardiovascular parameters in middle-aged Japanese women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 232 Japanese women aged 40–65 years who had been referred to the menopause clinic of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital between November 2007 and August 2017. Body composition, cardiovascular parameters, and CF/GT consumption frequency were evaluated on their initial visits, using a body composition analyzer, vascular screening system, and brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, respectively. We investigated the associations between variables using multivariate logistic regression. After adjustment for age, menopausal status, and other factors, daily CF consumption was inversely associated with high body mass index (BMI) (adjusted odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.96) and body fat percentage (BF%) (0.33; 0.14–0.82), and daily GT consumption with high BF% (0.36; 0.14–0.96). Daily CF + GT consumption was also inversely associated with high BMI (0.15; 0.05–0.50) and BF% (0.30; 0.12–0.74). In pre- and perimenopausal women, daily CF + GT consumption was inversely associated with high cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) (0.05; 0.003–0.743). In conclusion, daily CF/GT consumption was inversely associated with high BMI, BF%, and CAVI in middle-aged Japanese women.

Storage LUTS are highly prevalent in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic. Nonrestorative sleep score is associated with frequency and nocturia; body fat and visceral fat accumulation are associated with nocturia and stress incontinence; and delayed reaction time is associated with urge incontinence. Careful evaluation of nonrestorative sleep, body fat and visceral fat accumulation, or delayed reaction time might reveal undisclosed storage LUTS in this population.

BackgroundOxidative stress is known to be a factor in various diseases. In this study, we investigated whether physical and psychological symptoms of menopause, cardiovascular parameters, body composition, and lifestyle factors are associated with oxidative stress in middle-aged women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used baseline data collected in a previous study that examined the effects of a dietary supplement on a variety of health parameters in 95 women aged 40 to 60 years. Participants had been assessed for age, menopausal status, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, physical and psychological symptoms of menopause, and lifestyle factors. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level, an oxidative stress marker, had also been measured. Dichotomizing 8-OHdG levels as low (≤25 ng/mg creatinine) and high (>25 ng/mg creatinine), we sought to identify the health parameters that are associated with high 8-OHdG level.ResultsWomen with a high 8-OHdG level had lower body weight, lower body mass index, lower body fat mass, higher body temperature, scored higher for both anxiety and depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and consumed more alcohol. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the HADS-depression subscale (HADS-D) score was the sole independent contributor to high 8-OHdG level (adjusted odds ratio, 1.23 per point increase in HADS-D score; 95 % confidence interval, 1.06–1.45).ConclusionDepressive symptom score was shown to be independently associated with high 8-OHdG level in middle-aged women, suggesting a link between mood disorder and oxidative stress.Trial registrationUMIN-CTR UMIN000009353.