Efficacy and safety of raloxifene 60 milligrams/day in postmenopausal Asian women.

In healthy Caucasian postmenopausal women, raloxifene increases bone mineral density (BMD), decreases biochemical markers of bone turnover, and lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, without effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. This randomized, double-blind study examines the effects of raloxifene 60 mg/d (n = 483) or placebo (n = 485) in healthy postmenopausal Asian women (mean age 57 yr) from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Serum osteocalcin, serum N-telopeptide, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were assessed at baseline and 6 months. Lumbar spine BMD was measured at baseline and 1 yr in 309 women from 4 countries. Clinical adverse events were recorded at each interim visit. At 6 months, raloxifene 60 mg/d significantly decreased osteocalcin, N-telopeptide, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol by medians of 15.9%, 14.6%, 5.3%, and 7.7%, respectively, from placebo. Changes in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were similar between raloxifene and placebo. Raloxifene 60 mg/d increased mean lumbar spine BMD (1.9%) from placebo at 1 yr (P = 0.0003). The incidences of hot flashes (placebo 3.5%, raloxifene 5.6%, P = 0.12), and leg cramps (placebo 2.7%, raloxifene 4.3%, P = 0.16) were not different between groups. No case of venous thromboembolism was reported. The effects of raloxifene 60 mg/d on bone turnover, BMD, and serum lipids in healthy postmenopausal Asian women were similar to that previously reported in Caucasian women.

Use of a multibotanical (Nutrafem) for the relief of menopausal vasomotor symptoms: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of a multibotanical (Nutrafem) with those of placebo for the treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms. METHODS: In this phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 159 postmenopausal women experiencing at least 21 vasomotor symptoms per week were treated with Nutrafem (Bionutra Pte Ltd, Singapore) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Treatment outcome was evaluated by the change from baseline in the average weekly number of vasomotor symptoms. RESULTS: At the end of the study, Nutrafem reduced the number of vasomotor symptoms by 46% from baseline, and this is significantly superior to placebo (26% from baseline; P = 0.020). Forty-three percent of women taking Nutrafem experienced an at least 50% reduction in the number of symptoms compared with 6% of women taking placebo (P = 0.021; number needed to treat = 2.7). There were no group differences in adverse events, laboratory values, and gynecological data. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrafem is an effective botanical treatment for vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.