MsFLASH-02: Interventions for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms: A 3-by-2 Factorial Design Examining Yoga, Exercise, and Omega-3 Supplementation

MsFLASH-02: Interventions for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms: A 3-by-2 Factorial Design Examining Yoga, Exercise, and Omega-3 Supplementation

This study is the second clinical trial to be conducted by the Menopause Strategies - Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) research network, a group of investigators conducting clinical trials designed to find new ways to alleviate the most common, bothersome symptoms of the menopausal transition.

In this twelve-week clinical trial, 374 women aged 40-62 who are in the late menopausal transition or postmenopausal and experiencing bothersome hot flashes will be randomized to one of three behavioral intervention groups: yoga, exercise, or usual activity. All women will simultaneously be randomized to receive omega-3 supplementation or a matching placebo.

The primary aims of this trial are to compare the magnitude of changes in perceived, self-reported frequency and bother of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) before and after the intervention between yoga and the usual activity comparison group, between exercise and the usual activity comparison group, and between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation or placebo. The hypotheses to be tested are:

1. Women assigned to yoga will report lower frequency and less VMS bother than women assigned to the usual activity group at the end of a 12-week study period.
2. Women assigned to aerobic exercise at moderate-vigorous intensity will report lower frequency and less VMS bother than women assigned to the usual activity group at the end of a 12-week study period.
3. Women assigned to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation will report lower frequency and less VMS bother than women assigned to the placebo group at the end of a 12-week study period.

The omega-3 component of the study is double-blinded. For yoga, exercise, and usual activity, the outcomes assessors are blinded to the randomization assignments.

Over 33 million U.S. women will transition through menopause in the next decade. Among women with natural menopause, the transition typically lasts four years, with a mean age at menopause of 51 years. Menstrual irregularity (90%) and vasomotor symptoms (VMS) (80%) are the most common symptoms associated with the transition. Hormone therapy has been the gold standard for treating VMS symptoms against which other therapies are measured. However, resistance to hormone therapy use due to its risks and side effects continues to fuel the search for safer alternatives.

This research study will evaluate three low risk interventions (yoga, exercise, and omega-3 supplements) compared to either a usual activity group or a placebo pill. This factorial design is motivated by the desire to have all women receive some intervention. Neither comparisons between yoga and exercise nor tests of interaction between the behavioral interventions (yoga, exercise, usual activity) and omega-3 motivated this design. However, these aspects can be examined in secondary analyses in a more rigorous fashion through this design than would be permitted by separate trials.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Females aged 40-62 years.

• Menopausal, including:

  • Women who have had a bi-lateral oophorectomy;
  • Women with a uterus who have skipped 2 or more menstrual cycles with an amenorrhea interval of 60 or more days in the past 12 months;
  • Women without a uterus and who still have one or both ovaries, with FSH level greater than 20 mIU/mL and estradiol less than or equal to 50 pg/mL;
  • Women who are using the Mirena IUD or who have had an endometrial ablation and who still have one or both ovaries, with FSH level greater than 20 mIU/mL and estradiol less than or equal to 50 pg/mL.

• Having bothersome hot flashes and/or night sweats.

• In general good health as determined by medical history, blood pressure, and heart rate:

  • Absence of uncontrolled hypertension greater than 160/100;
  • Resting heart rate less than 110 beats per minute;.
  • No history of myocardial infarction, angina, or cerebrovascular events;.
  • No history of liver, renal disease, or uncontrolled seizure disorder.
  • Absence of uncontrolled metabolic disease (such as diabetes) and absence of current infectious disease (such as acute symptoms of mononucleosis) that would put staff and other participants at risk.

• Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of hormone therapy or hormonal contraceptives (with the exception of the Mirena IUD) during the 2 months before enrollment. Vaginal postmenopausal estrogens allowed, with the exception of vaginal creams used more than 3 times a week.

• Use of any other therapy that is taken specifically for hot flashes, including prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal therapies, in the past month.

• Any current severe or unstable medical illness.

• Body mass index (BMI) of 37 or higher, based on measured height and weight.

• Severe uncorrected hearing or vision problems.

• Current, regular use of anti-coagulants 3 or more times per week, e.g. Coumadin, Heparin, Clopidogrel, aspirin at full dose (due to possible omega-3 supplement interaction).

• Drug or alcohol abuse in the past 1 year.

• Major severe depressive episode in the past 3 months.

• Diagnosis of psychosis or psychotic disorder.

• Pregnancy, intending pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

• Current participation in another drug trial or intervention study.

• Inability or unwillingness to complete the study procedures or interventions.

• Physical limitations that limit the ability to participate in yoga or exercise, for example:

  • Limited mobility (paralyzed, cannot walk 2 blocks);
  • Back problems (severe spine abnormality, sciatica, prior back surgery, spine fracture in the past 3 months);
  • musculoskeletal problems that limit the ability to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle;

• Presence of any absolute contraindications to exercise testing and training, as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine.

• Practiced or attended any of the following in the prior 3 months:

  • Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or meditation more than one time per week on average;
  • Aerobic exercise (more than 30 minutes a day on at least 3 days a week);
  • Inability to achieve 85% of heart rate reserve (HRR; the difference between maximum heart rate and resting heart rate) on graded exercise treadmill test.

• Severe allergy to soy (defined as life-threatening reaction to soy that would require medical intervention).

• Allergy or sensitivity to fish.

• Currently eating 4 or more servings of fish per week.

• Currently taking an omega-3 fish oil supplement more than twice per week in the past 4 weeks and unwilling to stop for 12 weeks. Interest women can stop all omega-3 supplements and reevaluate eligibility 4 weeks after stopping the omega-3 supplements.