July 9, 2012 — Metagenics Inc., a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company focused on improving health, announced that it will be hosting a free webinar for healthcare professionals July 16, 2012 at 9 a.m. PST to address menopause relief using a whole systems approach titled “Scientific Breakthroughs in the Natural Management of Menopausal Symptoms.”
The Metagenics University webinar will be presented by Deanna Minich, PhD, FACN, CNS, vice president of scientific affairs at Metagenics.
An estimated 6,000 women in the U.S. reach menopause every day (2 million annually). But symptoms typically begin in the phase known as perimenopause, which can last anywhere from two to 10 years. A wide range of vasomotor, physical, and psychological symptoms can negatively affect a woman’s quality of life on a daily basis in perimenopause and well into postmenopause.
“Topping the list of menopausal complaints are hot flashes and night sweats, two vasomotor symptoms that can occur any time of day. Some women may experience 10 or more moderate to severe hot flashes in a single day,” said Minich, who is a practicing research clinician and frequently lectures to professionals on advancements in women’s health approaches. “Well-designed clinical studies have demonstrated that a novel rhubarb extract known as ERr 731 provides effective relief for menopausal hot flashes that is comparable to conventional hormone therapies, but without the associated potential forserious adverse events.”*
Due to their well-known risks, hormone therapies are not recommended as a long-term approach — and are primarily indicated for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women under age 60. And natural approaches — such as soy/clover isoflavones, hops, flax lignans or black cohosh — may offer a higher degree of safety for both peri- and postmenopausal use, but have shown a varying degree of clinical success and lack adequate scientific support that demonstrates a high degree of efficacy.*
The webinar will include a discussion on ERr 731, one of the most thoroughly researched phytoestrogen selective estrogen receptor modulators (phytoSERMs) to date. ERr 731 is a novel extract of Siberian rhubarb root and the key ingredient in Metagenics’ Estrovera dietary supplement. In published clinical studies, ERr 731 has been shown to:*
Significantly reduce the number and severity of menopausal hot flashes and night sweats compared to placebo
Significantly relieve (compared to placebo) a wide range of other menopausal symptoms, including sleep disturbances, poor mood, physical and emotional exhaustion, joint and muscle complaints, and urogenital symptoms
Be well-tolerated and produce no clinically relevant changes in safety parameters — including gynecological findings, vital parameters, and laboratory safety parameters after 108 weeks of clinical observation
ERr 731 contains no estrogen, and all active constituents of this extract of a garden rhubarb relative have been identified as hydroxystilbenes, primarily rhaponticin. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies for toxicology and metabolism also demonstrate a high degree of predicted safety.*
“The observed clinical benefits of ERr 731 appear to be related to modulation of estrogen receptor beta (ER?) in estrogen sensitive tissue as demonstrated in laboratory studies,” said Joseph J. Lamb, MD, director of intramural clinical research at Metagenics. “Healthcare professionals in Europe have been successfully recommending ERr 731 since 1993 — with more than 60 million doses and no serious adverse events reported to date.”
Because menopause symptoms can be heavily influenced by lifestyle choices, the webinar will also include lifestyle modification strategies that not only help alleviate symptoms but promote overall health as well. Menopause is an ideal time for women to adopt habits — including healthy eating, appropriate nutritional supplementation (e.g., bone nutrition), and regular exercise — that help maintain body composition, bone density, cardiovascular health, blood sugar balance, and cognitive health.*
“A focus on these areas of health is critical in any discussion on menopause,” said Minich. “It’s important to provide guidance for proactive health maintenance so female patients can live their lives to the fullest.”
Click here to register for the “Scientific Breakthroughs in the Natural Management of Menopausal Symptoms” webinar.
Source: Metagenics Inc., metagenics.com