title: Cimicifuga racemosa extract for relieving menopausal symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of black cohosh extract 40 mg/day for relieving moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and improving quality of life in Thai women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a menopause clinic of a tertiary-care university hospital during 2011-2013. Participants were peri- or postmenopausal Thai women aged at least 40 years, who have moderate to severe menopausal symptoms evaluated using the Kupperman index (KI). Outcome measures included KI, frequency of hot flushes, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) score, participants' global satisfaction and safety outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 54 participants assigned to treatment (black cohosh extract 40 mg/day, n = 27) or placebo group (n = 27). Both the treatment and placebo groups had comparable baseline KI scores (33.9 ± 7.9 vs. 31.3 ± 6.8), frequency of hot flushes (3.1 ± 2.0 vs. 2.8 ± 2.1), and MENQOL scores, all of which improved with time. Neither the improvements nor the global satisfaction were significantly different between the two groups; but the proportion of participants with moderate to severe symptoms seemed to be lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group (40% vs. 60%, p = 0.174). There was no serious adverse event or significant change in liver function tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A black cohosh extract of 40 mg/day is not superior to a placebo for relieving moderate to severe menopausal symptoms or improving quality-of-life scores in Thai women.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tanmahasamut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vichinsartvichai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rattanachaiyanont
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Techatraisak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dangrat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sardod
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C584106:Klimadynon; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: BLACK COHOSH; CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA; KUPPERMAN INDEX; MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS; MENQOL