NEW YORK, Sep 27 (Reuters Health) -- A dietary supplement derived from red clover, called P-081, significantly increased HDL ("good") cholesterol levels in postmenopausal women, according to results of a study.
Dr. Rodney J. Barber of the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia, presented his study findings here at the 10th annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society. Study participants included 50 women, aged 50 to 64, who had been off hormone replacement therapy for at least 6 months. The women were randomly assigned to receive either 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg, or 75 mg daily doses of the supplement. Treatment was followed by a 2-month period during which the subjects were given (an inactive) placebo.
The Australian team measured a number of factors, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL ("bad cholesterol"), and triglycerides (blood lipids) at the beginning of the trial and at 3, 6 and 8 months. Bone density and uterine lining (endometrium) thickness were measured, and the study subjects also received 1,200 mg of calcium daily.
HDL cholesterol levels increased at all dose levels, but were most significant at the 50 mg dose. "At 50 mg, the HDL increased by (an average) of 28.6%," Barber said. Use of the supplement was not associated with reductions in LDL or triglyceride levels. There was no change in endometrial thickness and no reported cases of bleeding. Measurable bone density changes in portions of the forearm bones were found.
