Eficácia do uso da Cimicifuga racemosa na função endothelial de mulheres pós-menopausadas: ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego, placebo controlado

Abstract

Introduction: Menopausal transition is a state of endocrinological changes that is expressed by menstrual irregularities, vasomotor symptoms, mood changes and urogenital syndromes. Long-term complications of postmenopausal hypoestrogenism – bone fragility, changes in glycid and lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease – can also arise and impair healthy aging. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women and after the onset of menopause, the risk of developing cardiovascular changes increases two to six times compared to premenopausal women. Cardiovascular manifestations are secondary to endothelial dysfunction resulting from reduced endothelial nitric oxide activity and a tendency to a permanently inflammatory vascular state. Objective: Assess the effects of daily use of Cimicifuga racemosa through the flowmediated dilation of the brachial artery on the endothelial function, when used for 28 days by healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study with two groups of postmenopausal women (n = 31, each). The subjects were clinically assessed and the flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery was measured before and after 28 days of treatment. Patients received dry extract corresponding to 160 mg Cimicifuga racemosa (extract with 4mg of triterpene glycosides) or placebo. Results: Mean age, time since menopause and BMI in the two groups were similar. The measurements of the flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, preand post-treatment, respectively, showed a significant increase in patients who used the Cimicifuga racemosa (p = 0.006), unlike patients who used the placebo, who did not present changes in the outcome of flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery after 28 days of use (p ≥ 0.05).When comparing the number of women in both groups who showed an increase in FMD, a significant difference was found in the measurement of the treated group after the use of the medication (p = 0.018). Conclusion: The daily use of 160mg daily of Cimicifuga racemosa extract by postmenopausal women for 28 days beneficially influences endothelial function by promoting elasticity of the brachial artery.