Kudzu Flower and Mandarin Peel May Help Improve Menopause Symptoms

During menopause, many women experience hot flashes and diminished bone mineral density. According to a recent study, supplementation with extracts of kudzu flower and mandarin peel may help reduce incidences and severity of hot flashes and improve bone turnover markers.

Participants in the study included 84 menopausal women with an average age of 52.5 who were experiencing menopausal hot flashes. Half received 384.3 mg of kudzu flower and mandarin peel extract and half received a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire was used to measure menopausal symptoms at baseline and week 12. In addition, quality of sleep, food intakes, and blood samples were evaluated at baseline, week 6, and week 12.

Participants in the supplement group saw significant improvements in incidence and severity of hot flashes and night sweats compared to the placebo group. They also saw significant improvements in bone turnover markers, with reductions in bone resorption and increase in bone formation.

The study was conducted by researchers from Ewha Womans University. It was published online ahead of print on October 22, 2020 in the journal Nutrients.