Effects of a red clover extract (MF11RCE) on endometrium and sex hormones in postmenopausal women

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 76 - 81
• Main Authors: Imhof, Martin, Gocan, Anca, Reithmayr, Franz, Lipovac, Markus, Schimitzek, Claudia, Chedraui, Peter, Huber, Johannes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 20-08-2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Endometrium; Endometrium - drug effects; Endometrium - pathology; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Isoflavones; Isoflavones - administration & dosage; Isoflavones - pharmacology; Isoflavones - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Menopause; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Postmenopause; Prospective Studies; Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female); Red clover; Sex hormones; Testosterone - blood; Treatment Outcome; Trifolium; Austria; Europe; Sex hormones; Phytoestrogens; Red clover; Menopause; Endometrium; Isoflavones; Human; Extract; Trifolium pratense; Isoflavone derivatives; Phytoestrogen; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Female; Spermatophyta; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2006.01.006

To evaluate the effects of a non-prescription red clover extract (MF11 RCE, Melbrosin International, Vienna, Austria) on selected sex hormones and endometrium in postmenopausal women.
One-hundred and nine postmenopausal women with an age ≥40 years were randomly assigned to one of two groups either two capsules of MF11RCE (80
mg isoflavone) per day for a 90 day period, or placebo of equal design. After a 7 day washout period, medication was crossed-over for another 90 days.
Combined evaluation demonstrated that supplementation with MF11RCE (verum), in contrast to placebo, significantly increased plasma testosterone levels and decreased endometrial thickness.
MF11RCE exerts a moderate effect on testosterone levels in postmenopausal women, while estradiol levels remained unchanged. The observed reduction of endometrial thickness provides further support for a safe role for isoflavones in terms of endometrial hyperplasia.