A pilot phase II trial of magnesium supplements to reduce menopausal hot flashes in breast cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We tested if magnesium would diminish bothersome hot flashes in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Breast cancer patients with at least 14 hot flashes a week received magnesium oxide 400 mg for 4 weeks, escalating to 800 mg if needed. Hot flash score (frequency × severity) at baseline was compared to the end of treatment.

Results

Of 29 who enrolled, 25 women completed treatment. The average age was 53.5 years; six African American, the rest Caucasian; eight were on tamoxifen, nine were on aromatase inhibitors, and 14 were on anti-depressants. Seventeen patients escalated the magnesium dose. Hot flash frequency/week was reduced from 52.2 (standard error (SE), 13.7) to 27.7 (SE, 5.7), a 41.4% reduction, p = 0.02, two-sided paired t test. Hot flash score was redu

SUBMITTER: Park H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3085555 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature