title: Red clover for treatment of hot flashes and menopausal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of red clover to relieve hot flashes and menopausal symptoms in peri/postmenopausal women. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library) were searched. The mean frequency of hot flashes in red clover groups was lower compared with that in the control groups (close to statistical significance). Difference in means (MD) of hot flashes frequency was - 1.99 (- 4.12-0.139; p = 0.067; heterogeneity P > 0.01; I(2) = 94.93%; Random effect model). Subjective (vaginal dryness) and objective (maturation value) symptoms of vaginal atrophy showed a significant improvement with 80-mg dose of red clover. Red clover showed less therapeutic effect on psychology status, sexual problems and sleeping disorders. Red clover consumption may decrease frequency of hot flashes, especially in women with severe hot flashes (≥ 5 per day). Red clover may reduce other menopausal symptoms. Further trials are needed to confirm the current systematic review findings.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Midwifery , Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery School, Mashhad University of Medical Science , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghazanfarpour
authors.affiliation: b Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Midwifery , Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: R Latifnejad
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roudsari
authors.affiliation: d Department of Microbiology , Islamic Azad University of Varamin-pishva , Pishva, Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khorsand
authors.affiliation: e Student Research Committee.|f Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, Department of Midwifery , School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khadivzadeh
authors.affiliation: f Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, Department of Midwifery , School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muoio
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D029921:Trifolium; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Hot flushes; menopause; meta-analysis; red clover; systematic review