Effect of a natural supplement containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids on body weight and metabolic parameters in a menopausal murine model induced by bilateral ovariectomy

Objective To evaluate the effect of a herbal preparation containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids (supplement) on body weight and metabolic parameters usually impaired by menopause.Methods A pre-clinical experimental study carried out in twenty-five Swiss strain mice (Mus musculus) randomly distributed (1:1:1:1:1 ratio) to five groups to receive for ten weeks: (1) oral gelatinized maca extract 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (Maca + OVX); (2) oral supplement 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S1 + OVX); (3) oral supplement 1.6875 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S2 + OVX); (4) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (OVX); and (5) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + sham surgery (sham). The primary endpoint was change in body weight gain from baseline to final. Secondary endpoints were uterine weight and cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and glucose/triglycerides index values at the end of the study. A modified intention-to-treat analysis was performed through linear regression models and using the Bonferroni method to penalized p-values by multiple comparisons.Results Twenty-three animals completed the study. There was a significant average difference in weight gain, with a greater reduction in the S2 + OVX group compared to the OVX group (difference= −3.5; 95% CI (–5.27; −1.74); p < .001). S2 + OVX group also displayed a significant average reduction of total blood cholesterol (difference: −16.94; 95% CI (–33.73; −0.15); p = .037). No significant effects of the supplement were found on other secondary endpoints.Conclusion In this murine menopausal model, triple oral supplement dose resulted in an average reduction of weight gain and total cholesterol levels, suggesting that the compound could have a potential effect at regulating menopausal altered metabolism.