Effect of oral gamolenic acid from evening primrose oil on menopausal flushing.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of gamolenic acid provided by evening primrose oil in treating hot flushes and sweating associated with the menopause.


METHODS
Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.


METHODS
District general hospital and teaching hospital.


METHODS
56 menopausal women suffering hot flushes at least three times a day.


METHODS
Four capsules twice a day of 500 mg evening primrose oil with 10 mg natural vitamin E or 500 mg liquid paraffin for six months.


METHODS
Change in the number of hot flushes or sweating episodes a month.


RESULTS
56 diaries were analysed, 28 from women taking gamolenic acid and 28 from those taking placebo. Only 18 women given gamolenic acid and 17 given placebo completed the trial. The mean (SE) improvement in the number of flushes in the last available treatment cycle compared with the control cycle was 1.9 (0.4) (P < 0.001) for daytime flushes and 0.7 (0.3) (P < 0.05) for night time flushes in women taking placebo; the corresponding values for women taking gamolenic acid were 0.5 (0.4) and 0.5 (0.3). In women taking gamolenic acid the only significant improvement was a reduction in the maximum number of night time flushes (1.4 (0.6); P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Gamolenic acid offers no benefit over placebo in treating menopausal flushing.
Chenoy
R
R
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Keele University, North Staffordshire Medical Centre, Stoke on Trent.
Hussain
S
S
Tayob
Y
Y
O'Brien
P M
PM
Moss
M Y
MY
Morse
P F
PF
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008875:Middle Aged; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010938:Plant Oils; D013546:Sweating / Q000187:drug effects; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid