The study found after a two-year supplementation of flavonoids derived from the Chinese herb Epimedium (EPF), women increased their BMD by more than 1.5 percent while those on a placebo decreased a similar magnitude of bone mineral density.
Horny Goatweed has commonly used as aphrodisiacs in Chinese Medicine to boost men's sexual health for ages.
In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-control clinical trial, Ge Zhang and colleagues from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Shanghai University of Chinese Medicine assigned 85 healthy late postmenopausal women either a dose of EPF composed of 60 mg icariin, 15 mg daidzein, and 3 mg genistein or a placebo daily for 12 months. All women received 300 mg calcium daily.
At the end of the
trial, women who had been on the EPF
supplement had their BMD at the hip and
lower
spine increased by 1.6 and 1.3 percent,
respectively while those on the placebo
reduced their BMD by 1.8 and 2.4 percent
respectively.
"The difference in lumbar spine between the
two groups was significant at both 12 and 24
months, whereas the difference in the
femoral neck was marginal at 12 months and
significant at 24 months," the researchers
wrote in their report.
The effect of the EPF was similar to that of soy isoflavones, another group of phytoestrogens, according to the study. A recent trial showed that supplementation of 90 mg of soy isoflavones daily may improve bone mineral density. The results were published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A similar trial on
soy isoflavones published in 2005 in the
Archives of
Internal Medicine also showed high soy
consumption was associated with a 48
reduction in risk of fractures in women who
had passed
menopause for less than 10 years.
The researchers did not observe any side
effects on endometrial thickness in either
group and the herb supplement does not seem
to have a damaging effect on the uterus,
which was thought possible initially.
