Long-term resveratrol supplementation improves pain perception, menopausal symptoms, and overall well-being in postmenopausal women: findings from a 24-month randomized, controlled, crossover trial : Menopause

Secondary Logo

Journal Logo

Advanced Search
Original Studies

Long-term resveratrol supplementation improves pain perception, menopausal symptoms, and overall well-being in postmenopausal women: findings from a 24-month randomized, controlled, crossover trial

Thaung Zaw, Jay Jay MBBS; Howe, Peter R.C. PhD; Wong, Rachel H.X. PhD

Author Information

1University of Newcastle, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

2University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Resilient Regions, Springfield Central, QLD, Australia

3University of South Australia, School of Health Sciences, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Address correspondence to: Rachel H.X. Wong, PhD, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 9 April, 2020

Revised 24 June, 2020

Accepted 24 June, 2020

Funding/support: The study was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Dementia Research Fellowship awarded to Dr Rachel Wong (APP1106170). Evolva, Switzerland supplied the test materials and supplementary funding but had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, or writing of the manuscript.

Financial disclosure/conflicts of interest: None reported.

Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's Website (www.menopause.org).

Menopause 28(1):p 40-49, January 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001643

Abstract

Objective: 

Following concerns about hormone therapy, postmenopausal women need alternative options to manage menopause-related symptoms and improve their well-being. A 14-week pilot study has shown that supplementation with resveratrol, a phytoestrogen with circulatory benefits, can improve aspects of well-being including chronic pain, which is a common complaint in postmenopausal women. We aimed to confirm these benefits in a larger, long-term study.

Methods: 

The Resveratrol for Healthy Ageing in Women study, a 24-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover intervention trial of resveratrol supplementation (75 mg BID) was conducted in 125 healthy postmenopausal women to evaluate effects on cognitive performance (results published elsewhere). Aspects of well-being including pain perception, mood and depressive symptoms, menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life were assessed with questionnaires as secondary outcomes of the study. Cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia was measured as a surrogate marker of cerebrovascular function.

Results: 

Resveratrol supplementation reduced composite pain score (P < 0.001), especially in overweight individuals; this was associated with improvements in cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia (R = −0.329, P = 0.014). Somatic menopausal symptoms (P = 0.024) and general well-being (P = 0.010) were also improved after resveratrol supplementation.

Conclusions: 

These results confirm the pilot study finding that resveratrol supplementation can reduce chronic pain in age-related osteoarthritis and improve menopause-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. These improvements are sustained by supplementation for at least 12 months and are associated with enhancement of circulatory function.

Clinical Trial Registration: 

ACTRN12616000679482p

 

Video Summary:https://links.lww.com/MENO/A638.

© 2020 by The North American Menopause Society

Full Text Access for Subscribers:

Not a Subscriber?

Buy
Request Permissions
Become a Society Member

You can read the full text of this article if you:

Access through Ovid