The Effect of Oral Capsule of Curcumin and Vitamin E on the Hot Flashes and Anxiety in Postmenopausal Women: A Triple Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction and Objective: The decline and eventual cessation of estrogen production cause a variety of symptoms during menopause, affecting each woman differently. Most women reported severe hot flashes and night sweats during menopause. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of curcumin and vitamin E on hot flashes and anxiety (primary objectives), sexual function, menopausal symptoms and adverse effects (secondary objectives). Materials and Methods: This was a triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. The participants consisted of 93 postmenopausal women in Ahar city. They were divided into three groups (two intervention groups and one control group). The first intervention group received oral capsule of curcumin (500mg), the second intervention group was given oral tablets of vitamin E (200 IU), and the third group (control) received placebo twice a day for eight weeks. The participants completed the hot flash checklist one week before the intervention, and 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. They also filled out the Anxiety Scale, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Greene Climacteric Scale before the intervention, and 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. One-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used for data analysis. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of demographic characteristics, mean number of hot flashes, anxiety, sexual function index and menopausal symptoms (according to the Greene Scale) before the intervention (p>0.05). Mean number of hot flashes in the curcumin group (adjusted mean difference= -10.7, confidence interval 95%= [-3.6 to -17.9], P = 0.001) and in the vitamin E group (adjusted mean difference= -8.7, confidence interval 95%= [-0.6 to -15.0], P = 0.029) was significantly lower than the placebo group after the intervention. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of sexual function index, anxiety and menopausal symptoms (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that oral intake of curcumin and vitamin E significantly reduced hot flashes in postmenopausal women but had no significant effect on anxiety, sexual function and menopausal symptoms.