title: Pomegranate seed oil in women with menopausal symptoms:  a prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of pomegranate seed oil (PGS) on menopausal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial was completed by 81 postmenopausal women, who received two daily doses of either 30 mg PGS containing 127 μg of steroidal phytoestrogens per dose or a placebo for 12 weeks. The participants reported their number of hot flashes and completed the Menopause Rating Scale II at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24. At baseline and after 12 weeks, hormonal status was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks of treatment, PGS reduced the number of hot flashes per day by 4.3 (38.7%), whereas placebo reduced it by 2.5 (25.6%). Both groups were significant compared with baseline, but the treated group was not significant compared with the placebo group (P = 0.17). After 24 weeks, the treated group showed a mean of 7.1 (interquartile range, 4.0) hot flashes per day compared with the placebo group with a mean of 8.8 (interquartile range, 5.0; P = 0.02). Although the overall sum score of the Menopause Rating Scale II parameters at week 12 decreased in the treated group from 16.0 to 9.0 at week 12 and in the placebo group from 18.0 to 14.5 (P = 0.08), the sum score of the vegetative somatic symptoms subgroup decreased strongly versus placebo (P < 0.03), attributable mainly to an improvement in sleeping disorders. PGS did not affect the hormone status, and no adverse effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In postmenopausal women, PGS does not significantly reduce hot flashes within a 12-week observation period, but further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. leo.auerbach@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auerbach
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakus
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerner
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D029561:Lythraceae; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012639:Seeds; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils