Abstract
Results of recent trial have shown some negative effects of HRT on postmenopausal women. Therefore, there has been a need to search for an alternative treatment and honey is one of the well known traditional remedies used in minimizing postmenopausal problems. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of Tualang honey on the cardiovascular risk factors, changes in hormonal profiles and also effect on the bone. A randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of Tualang honey 20 g/day and HRT for a 4-month intervention period among healthy postmenopausal Malay women aged 45-60 years old was conducted. The primary outcome measures were changes from baseline on the cardiovascular risk profiles, hormonal profiles and effect on bone. Tualang honey compared with low dose HRT, consumed for 4 months by postmenopausal women had no demonstrable effects on the parameters examined such as blood pressure measurement, body mass index and waist circumference. There was no significant difference in the lipid profile, blood sugar profile and bone density between the two groups at the end of the study period.
Highlights
Menopause is a natural progression of women’s physiology
There was no significant difference in the lipid profile and blood sugar profile between the two groups at the end of the study period even after analyzing with ANCOVA test and controlling the baseline values (Table 10)
A similar result was attained in a recent study done in Kelantan, which found that the mean age of menopause to be 49.7 years (Dhillon, Singh, Shuib, Hamid & Mahmood, 2006)
Summary
Menopause is a natural progression of women’s physiology. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been the basis of the treatment of menopausal state. The high incidence in cardiovascular disease is due to the increase in the risk factors associated with menopausal state. It is associated with the emergence of features of metabolic syndrome which includes increase in central or intra abdominal body fat, a change toward more atherogenic lipid profile, with increased low density lipoprotein particles and increased insulin resistance (Knopp, 2002; Eaton & Anthony 2002). Postmenopausal state is associated with a decrease in the bone mineral density. There is a widely held belief that the decrease in the estradiol level directly contribute to this. Estradiol directly acts on osteoclast by reducing the rate of bone resorption (Steinweg, 2002)
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