Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Salvia officinalis in controlling hot flashes in prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Ten patients experiencing hot flashes were included in a single-centre prospective pilot study. Treatment consisted of 150 mg of Salvia officinalis extract taken orally three times daily. A diary questionnaire scoring hot flashes, subjective side effects and quality of life (QOL) had to be completed. Clinical examination was performed at every visit and the concentration of ADT-linked hormones, haemoglobin and cholesterol was measured before, during and after ending treatment. Before the start of treatment, a 1 week baseline registration was performed. An analysis of variance with time of measurement as a within-subject factor was performed. When analysing the hot flashes score, one patient was excluded due to insufficient diary notes. The mean weekly score declined from 112 (SD = 71) at baseline to 59 (SD = 54) at the end of treatment (p = 0.002). Hot flashes diminished significantly from the first week up to and including week 3. This was maintained during treatment. There was no effect on QOL. There were no side effects. It is concluded that Salvia officinalis is efficient and safe in the treatment hot flashes, without improving QOL.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors

Vandecasteele K, Ost P, Oosterlinck W, Fonteyne V, Neve WD, Meerleer GD

Institution

Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. Katrien.Vandecasteele@uzgent.be

Source

Phytotherapy research : PTR 26:2 2012 Feb pg 208-13

MeSH

Aged
Androgen Antagonists
Hot Flashes
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Plant Extracts
Prospective Studies
Prostatic Neoplasms
Quality of Life
Salvia officinalis

Pub Type(s)

Clinical Trial
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

21630361