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The effect of oral evening primrose oil on menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Hot flashes are common experience for menopausal women, and for many, are severe enough to significantly compromise their overall sense of well being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of evening primrose with placebo in improvement of menopausal hot flashes.

Methods

In a 6-week randomized clinical trial, a total of 56 menopausal women aged 45–59 years were participated in this study. The patients were asked for their hot flashes characteristics and responded to HFRDIS (hot flash related daily interference scale) questionnaire before and after the intervention. The participants were randomly assigned to take two capsules per day (totally 90 capsules for 6 weeks) of placebo or evening primrose (500 mg) for continuous 6 weeks. Then, the improvement in hot flashes was compared between two groups.

Results

The percent of improvement in hot flash frequency, severity and duration were 39, 42 and 19 %, in evening primrose group compared with 32, 32 and 18 % in placebo group, respectively. Although all three characters of hot flash was ameliorated in evening primrose arm, only its severity was significantly better in this arm compared with placebo group (P < 0.05). All HFRDIS score were significantly improved in two groups, but the percentage of improvement in social activities, relations with others, and sexuality was significantly superior to placebo group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The application of oral evening primrose oil compared with placebo for controlling hot flashes may decrease more the intensity of attacks as well as ameliorating the HFRDIS score.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology Translational Research Center (GTRC), Imam Hossein Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 16177-63141, Tehran, Iran

    Farah Farzaneh & Kamyab Alizadeh

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Taleghani Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Setareh Fatehi

  3. Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Department of Community Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad-Reza Sohrabi

Authors
  1. Farah Farzaneh
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  2. Setareh Fatehi
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  3. Mohammad-Reza Sohrabi
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  4. Kamyab Alizadeh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Farah Farzaneh.

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Farzaneh, F., Fatehi, S., Sohrabi, MR. et al. The effect of oral evening primrose oil on menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet 288, 1075–1079 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2852-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2852-6

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