title: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation (Jiawei Qing'e Fang) for hot flashes and quality of life in perimenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation, Jiawei Qing'e Fang (JQF), on menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed over 12 weeks in 72 perimenopausal women who reported 14 or more hot flashes per week. The participants were randomly allocated to receive JQF or placebo for 8 weeks. Posttreatment follow-up was performed 4 weeks after intervention. The primary outcome was the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life. Secondary outcomes included hot flash and plasma lipids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was greater improvement in hot flash score in the JQF group compared with the placebo group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.048). There were between-group differences in vasomotor (P = 0.011) and physical (P = 0.034) domains. The triglyceride (TG) level in the JQF group showed a significant reduction (P = 0.036) in women with a baseline TG greater than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Chinese herbal medicine preparation JQF was found to be superior to placebo in reducing hot flashes and improving menopausal symptoms in the vasomotor and physical aspects and might have a potential benefit in reducing TG levels. The herbal medicine preparation was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events noted during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nankai District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yingqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuefei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanxu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shufei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Guanwei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides