The effectiveness of melissa officinalis l. Versus citalopram on quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disorder: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to assess the effect of Melissa Officinalis L. (a combination of lemon balm with fennel fruit extract) compared with citalopram and placebo on the quality of life of postmenopausal women with sleep disturbance. Methods The present study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo clinical trial among 60 postmenopausal women with sleep disturbance who were referred to a university hospital from 2017 to 2019. The participants were randomized to receive M. Officinalis L. (500 mg daily), citalopram (30 mg) or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was self-completed by each participant at baseline and after 8 weeks of the intervention and was compared between groups. Results The mean for all MENQOL domain scores were significantly improved in the M. Officinalis L. group compared with citalopram and placebo (p < 0.001). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) after 8 weeks in the M. Officinalis L., citalopram and placebo groups was 2.2 ± 0.84 versus 0.56 ± 0.58 versus 0.36 ± 0.55 in the vasomotor (p < 0.001), 1.02 ± 0.6 versus 0.28 ± 0.2 versus 0.17 ± 0.1 in the psychomotor-social (p < 0.001), 0.76 ± 0.4 versus 0.25 ± 0.1 versus 0.11 ± 0.1 in the physical and 2.3 ± 1.0 versus 0.35 ± 0.5 versus 0.41 ± 0.5 in the sexual domain, respectively. Conclusions The results revealed that M. Officinalis L. may be recommended for improving the quality of life of menopausal women with sleep disturbance. Trial registration The present study was registered by the name "Comparison of the efficacy of citalopram and compound of Asperugo procumbens and foeniculum vulgare in treatment of menopausal disorders" with the code IRCT2013072714174N1 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT).

Association of hypertriglyceridaemia with pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes and uterine artery pulsatility index.

Background. We aimed to determine whether high plasma triglyceride levels in the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia and high uterine artery pulsatility index. Methods. This prospective cohort study was done between 2008 and 2010. Plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were measured after 8 hours of overnight fasting. We compared the outcomes of 45 pregnant women who had high triglyceride levels (>195 mg/dl) with 135 pregnant women with triglyceride levels <195 mg/dl. The main outcome measures were the incidence of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and uterine artery pulsatility index. Results. Eight women with high triglyceride levels had preeclampsia (17.8% v. 3.7% in the control group, p<0.004), preterm birth occurred in 24.4% and 5.9% in the high triglyceride group and the control group, respectively (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.9–13.8, p<0.0001). The incidence of gestational diabetes in the high triglyceride group was significantly higher than that in the control group. There was no difference in uterine artery Doppler ultrasound between the two groups. Conclusion. There is a positive relation between hypertriglyceridaemia and pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and gestational diabetes.