Abstract
Background: Menopause-derived estrogen deprivation and related endocrine factors are linked to some symptoms typical of middle-aged women, such as hot flashes, aches, joint pain, stiffness, depressed mood, bone degeneration, nutritional dysfunction, or difficulty to maintain body mass. Clinical approaches to these problems often involve hormone replacement therapy and other modalities of therapeutic intervention. However, the well-known side effects associated with other pharmacological alternatives have led physicians and patients to pursue new strategies to alleviate these symptoms. As a physiological state, the first recommended option is a natural and healthy therapy, alone or in combination with pharmacotherapy in severe cases. Among other natural alternatives, E-MHK-0103, a nutraceutical lipoprotein extracted from Mytilus galloprovincialis, was found to have beneficial properties.
Methods: We reviewed numerous high-impact references to show the controversies over the current treatments used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, and presented the results obtained with E-MHK-0103 as a good natural alternative. Results: E-MHK-0103 showed positive effects on hot flashes, mood swings, joint pain and bone stability, associated with its glucosamine-related anti-inflammatory effect and its high content of vitamins, minerals, iron and other substances, such as selenium and vitamin E. A significant increase in serum growth hormone, mediated by the hepatic secretion of insulin growth factor-1, and a slight decrease in bone alkaline phosphatase, calcium and β-crosslaps concentrations contribute to its beneficial impact on bone turnover. E-MHK-0103 also showed a powerful antioxidant effect and an increase in iron stores, of particular importance in women with low basal ferritin levels. Conclusion: The findings of this review confirm the efficiency of natural therapies in menopause symptoms, and EMHK- 0103 as a healthy choice for inclusion into clinical practice.Keywords: Antioxidant capacity, bone stability, iron status, lipoprotein extract, menopause, nutraceutical, osteoporosis, perimenopausal women.
Graphical Abstract
Related Books
Localized Micro/Nanocarriers for Programmed and On-Demand Controlled Drug Release
Mixed Polymeric Micelles for Osteosarcoma Therapy: Development and Characterization
A Comprehensive Text Book on Self-emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems
Nanomaterials: Evolution and Advancement towards Therapeutic Drug Delivery (Part II)
Nanomaterials: Evolution and Advancement Towards Therapeutic Drug Delivery (Part I)
30
2