Comparison of the Effect of Vitex Agnus and Salvia Officinalis Extract at Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D Levels in Postmenopausal Women Referring to Bone Mineral Densitometry Center: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an important problem in women's health, one of the consequences of which is bone fracture. This clinical trial was performed in 2015 on 99 (33 patients per group) postmenopausal women referred to the bone mineral densitometry center. The first group received one Agnugol tablet (contains 3.2-4.8 mg dry extract of Vitex agnus castus, the second group received three Salvigol tablets (each contains 100 mg Salvia officinal is dry extract daily and the third group three placebo tablets per day for 3 months. Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D levels were compared before and after the intervention. Results of paired t-test showed that the mean of calcium and phosphorus level increased after intervention in the Vitex agnus and salvia officinalis extract groups, but there was no significant difference in the control group. LSD follow-up test was used, showing that the mean difference of calcium and phosphorus score between the Vitex agnus, S. officinalis extract and control groups was significant in pairwise comparisons. However, the difference between the score of phosphorus level in Vitex agnus and S. officinalis extract groups was not significant after the intervention. After intervention, the mean of vitamin D increased by 2.4 units in the Vitex agnus group compared to before the intervention. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the Vitex agnus and control groups after the intervention compared to before it. The Vitex agnus was effective in increasing calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D level, while S. officinalis extract was effective in increasing the level of calcium and phosphorus.