St John’s wort and hot flushes in women with breast cancer history
There are few effective treatments for hot flushes in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors.
During the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina reported the results from a pilot study.
First, the details.
- 9 women at least 2 years after active treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer, and with a minimum of 3 hot flushes per day or 21 per week participated.
- Women were ineligible if they were being treated for hot flushes (eg, estrogen, antidepressants).
- Participants took 3, 300 mg St. John’s wort capsules daily for 4 weeks.
- Participants completed hot flush diaries during active treatment (weeks 1-4), and for 2 weeks post-treatment (weeks 5-6) to assess hot flush frequency and severity.
- In addition, women completed quality of life assessments.
And, the results.
- St. John’s Wort was not effective in reducing the frequency or severity of hot flushes.
- Quality of life was not improved.
- No adverse events were reported.
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “St. John’s Wort was not effective.”
Others also reported a lack of effect.
6/6/11 20:20 JR
