Hot flushes, experienced by 75% of menopausal women, are associated with estrogen deprivation. Estrogen was shown to ameliorate hot flushes by interacting with monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain; reducing noradr...Hot flushes, experienced by 75% of menopausal women, are associated with estrogen deprivation. Estrogen was shown to ameliorate hot flushes by interacting with monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain; reducing noradrenaline and increasing serotonin. Hormone replacement therapy(HRT), the first treatment option, causes concerns over possible increased risks particularly breast cancer. Folic acid is involved in the biosynthesis of serotonin and nordrenaline, which is responsible for its effects on mood and cognition, and degrees of folate inadequacy, not severe enough to produce megaloblastic anaemia, were found to be associated with depression and cognitive malfunctioning. Also, increased age was observed to relate to reduced serum and cerebrospinal fluid folic acid levels. There is emerging evidence that folic acid supplementation ameliorates hot fl ushes by the same mechanism as estrogen. To explore this hypothesis, a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized is being set up to compare the effect of 5 mg folic acid vs placebo in reducing the frequency and severity of hot fl ushes in postmenopausal women, and on the blood level of serotonin and noradrenaline. If folic acid supplementation is demonstrated to be effective, this will be a turning point in the clinical practice since it represents a cheap, safe and well-tolerated alternative to HRT.展开更多
The trace war being fought between America and the European Union over the use of hormones in cattle depends largely on how the scientific evidence is interpreted. And not even scientists can agree on that.
Objective:To investigate the relationship between the changes of serotonin metabolism and the hot flushes in climacteric women.Methods:Ninety eight climacteric women,aged 40-60,were enrolled and divided into 4 groups:...Objective:To investigate the relationship between the changes of serotonin metabolism and the hot flushes in climacteric women.Methods:Ninety eight climacteric women,aged 40-60,were enrolled and divided into 4 groups:Group A:20 cases of early menopausal transition.Group B:26 cases of late menopausal transition,with skip of periods 3-12 months.Group C:28 cases of early postmenopause(1-3 yrs).Group D:24 cases of late postmenopause(>3-6 yrs).Twelve normal women of reproductive age(24±3yrs)were served as young controls.Fifty two postmenopausal women were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presence or the absence of hot flushes:(1)postmenopausal controls without hot flush:17 cases,(2)mild hot flushes group:20 cases,fewer ≤5 times/d,(3)severe hot flushes group:15 cases,more than 5 times/d.Plasma concentrations of tryptophan(TP),5-hydroxytryptophane(5-HTP),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT or serotonin),5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were measured in all participants by high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence spectrophotometer(HPLC-FS).The relationship between serotonin metabolic parameters and menopause,hot flushes were analysed.Results:(1)Mean 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in plasma were significantly higher in climacteric women than those in young controls,especially in Group B.Mean 5-HTP and 5-HT levels were higher and 5-HIAA lower in Group D as compared with those of young controls.(2)Plasma 5-HT levels was positively correlated to luteinizing hormone concentration in postmenopausal women(P<0.01).(3)In the mild hot flushes group,only plasma 5-HTP levels were significantly higher than that in the non-hot flushes group.In severe hot flushes group,plasma 5-HT and 5-HTP contents were significantly higher and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio lower than those in the non-hot flushes groups.Conclusion:The results suggest that the catabolic disorder of serotonin maybe involve in the underling mechanism of hot flushes in postmenopausal women.展开更多
文摘Hot flushes, experienced by 75% of menopausal women, are associated with estrogen deprivation. Estrogen was shown to ameliorate hot flushes by interacting with monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain; reducing noradrenaline and increasing serotonin. Hormone replacement therapy(HRT), the first treatment option, causes concerns over possible increased risks particularly breast cancer. Folic acid is involved in the biosynthesis of serotonin and nordrenaline, which is responsible for its effects on mood and cognition, and degrees of folate inadequacy, not severe enough to produce megaloblastic anaemia, were found to be associated with depression and cognitive malfunctioning. Also, increased age was observed to relate to reduced serum and cerebrospinal fluid folic acid levels. There is emerging evidence that folic acid supplementation ameliorates hot fl ushes by the same mechanism as estrogen. To explore this hypothesis, a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized is being set up to compare the effect of 5 mg folic acid vs placebo in reducing the frequency and severity of hot fl ushes in postmenopausal women, and on the blood level of serotonin and noradrenaline. If folic acid supplementation is demonstrated to be effective, this will be a turning point in the clinical practice since it represents a cheap, safe and well-tolerated alternative to HRT.
文摘The trace war being fought between America and the European Union over the use of hormones in cattle depends largely on how the scientific evidence is interpreted. And not even scientists can agree on that.
文摘Objective:To investigate the relationship between the changes of serotonin metabolism and the hot flushes in climacteric women.Methods:Ninety eight climacteric women,aged 40-60,were enrolled and divided into 4 groups:Group A:20 cases of early menopausal transition.Group B:26 cases of late menopausal transition,with skip of periods 3-12 months.Group C:28 cases of early postmenopause(1-3 yrs).Group D:24 cases of late postmenopause(>3-6 yrs).Twelve normal women of reproductive age(24±3yrs)were served as young controls.Fifty two postmenopausal women were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presence or the absence of hot flushes:(1)postmenopausal controls without hot flush:17 cases,(2)mild hot flushes group:20 cases,fewer ≤5 times/d,(3)severe hot flushes group:15 cases,more than 5 times/d.Plasma concentrations of tryptophan(TP),5-hydroxytryptophane(5-HTP),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT or serotonin),5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were measured in all participants by high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence spectrophotometer(HPLC-FS).The relationship between serotonin metabolic parameters and menopause,hot flushes were analysed.Results:(1)Mean 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in plasma were significantly higher in climacteric women than those in young controls,especially in Group B.Mean 5-HTP and 5-HT levels were higher and 5-HIAA lower in Group D as compared with those of young controls.(2)Plasma 5-HT levels was positively correlated to luteinizing hormone concentration in postmenopausal women(P<0.01).(3)In the mild hot flushes group,only plasma 5-HTP levels were significantly higher than that in the non-hot flushes group.In severe hot flushes group,plasma 5-HT and 5-HTP contents were significantly higher and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio lower than those in the non-hot flushes groups.Conclusion:The results suggest that the catabolic disorder of serotonin maybe involve in the underling mechanism of hot flushes in postmenopausal women.
