A pilot observational study to assess the safety and efficacy of Menoprogen for the management of menopausal symptoms in Chinese women.

A pilot observational study to assess the safety and efficacy of Menoprogen for the management of menopausal symptoms in Chinese women.

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Jan;15(1):79-85

Authors: Liu D, Lu Y, Ma H, Wei RC, Li J, Fang J, Mahady GB

OBJECTIVE: Over the past 5 years, the interest in alternative therapies for menopause has increased dramatically due to the findings of the Women’s Health Initiative (U.S. National Institutes of Health). Menoprogen, a traditional Chinese medicine formulation is an herbal remedy that has been used in China for the management of menopause-related symptoms. An observational pilot study was performed to assess the effects of Menoprogen in the management of menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. DESIGN, SUBJECTS, AND SETTING: A multicenter prospective study was conducted at four clinical centers in China. Female subjects were eligible if they had menopausal diagnosis for at least 3 months and wished to use an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). INTERVENTION: Subjects received two capsules of Menoprogen (a combination product containing 0.2 g extracts of five herbs per capsule) orally, twice daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was an improvement of Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) from baseline. Secondary outcomes measured included hormone levels and the status of the endometrial and vaginal cytology after completion of treatment. RESULTS: After treatment with Menoprogen, a significant reduction in the KMI was observed (mean of paired difference = -14.875; p < 0.01) as compared with baseline. Endogenous estrogen levels were significantly increased with Menoprogen (mean of paired difference = -3.145; p < 0.01). Progesterone levels increased with Menoprogen (mean of paired difference = -10.003; p < 0.01). Both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels showed significant before-and-after treatment difference (mean of paired difference = 6.125 mIU/mL for FSH and 4.938 mIU/mL for LH; p < 0.01). No significant endometrial hyperplasia was observed post-treatment with Menoprogen. Most of the postmenopausal women exhibited a vaginal cell proliferation degree of 2-3, suggesting a possible estrogenic effect. CONCLUSIONS: The present pilot study found that Menoprogen reduced symptoms associated with perimenopausal and postmenopausal complaints. Therefore, the rationale for a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial is supported.

Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: The five main active components in Menoprogen are Chinese Wolfberry, Safflower, Sea Kelp,Hawthorne Berry, and Mulberry Fruit. They are all reported to act by “nourishing the ovary” and thereby increasing ovarian estrogen and progesterone production, even after the ovaries have gone largely dormant after menopause.  The science behind this is lacking and this study, while appearing to be encouraging at face value, is rather poorly designed judging by this abstract. There is no indication of how many women were involved in the study, their age range and other critical details.  Those who promote Menoprogen product encourage anyone over age 40 with menopausal symptoms to take it.  Between age 40 and 50 there may be a lot of women who are not really in menopause yet, so using this between age 40 and 50 vs. over 50 may produce markedly different results.  On the other hand, this may end up being proven as a good remedy for women who’s ovaries are prematurely faltering and need a little boost to get to the 50 year age range.  As noted, the science is lacking but further study may be helpful based on this report.