Decio Armanini1, Roberto Castello2, Carla Scaroni3, Guglielmo Bonanni3, Gianbattista Faccini4, Donatella Pellati3, Alessandro Bertoldo3, Cristina Fiore3, Paolo Moghetti2. 1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-Endocrinology, University of Padua, Via Ospedale 105, 35100 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: decio.armanini@unipd.it. 2. Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Verona, Italy. 3. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-Endocrinology, University of Padua, Via Ospedale 105, 35100 Padua, Italy. 4. Department of Morphological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Verona, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of spironolactone (antagonist of mineralocorticoid and androgen receptors) versus spironolactone plus licorice (agonist of mineralocorticoid receptors and mild inhibitor of androgen synthesis) on plasma renin activity, aldosterone and androgen levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two women with PCOS were divided into two groups: 16 received 100 mg spironolactone and 16 spironolactone plus 3.5 g of licorice a day. Blood pressure, body mass index, serum electrolytes, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and cortisol, serum testosterone, and urinary tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio were measured before and during treatment. RESULTS: Mean blood pressure was significantly reduced during spironolactone treatment, while it was unchanged in women receiving spironolactone plus licorice. Twenty percent of women treated with spironolactone and none treated with the addition of licorice complained of symptoms related to volume depletion. Consistently, the activation of the renin-aldosterone system was significantly lower during spironolactone plus licorice than with spironolactone alone. The prevalence of metrorrhagia was lower in the combined therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PCOS the mineralocorticoid properties of licorice can reduce the prevalence of side effects related to the diuretic activity of spironolactone.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of spironolactone (antagonist of mineralocorticoid and androgen receptors) versus spironolactone plus licorice (agonist of mineralocorticoid receptors and mild inhibitor of androgen synthesis) on plasma renin activity, aldosterone and androgen levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two women with PCOS were divided into two groups: 16 received 100 mg spironolactone and 16 spironolactone plus 3.5 g of licorice a day. Blood pressure, body mass index, serum electrolytes, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and cortisol, serum testosterone, and urinary tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio were measured before and during treatment. RESULTS: Mean blood pressure was significantly reduced during spironolactone treatment, while it was unchanged in women receiving spironolactone plus licorice. Twenty percent of women treated with spironolactone and none treated with the addition of licorice complained of symptoms related to volume depletion. Consistently, the activation of the renin-aldosterone system was significantly lower during spironolactone plus licorice than with spironolactone alone. The prevalence of metrorrhagia was lower in the combined therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PCOS the mineralocorticoid properties of licorice can reduce the prevalence of side effects related to the diuretic activity of spironolactone.
Authors: Susan Arentz; Jason Anthony Abbott; Caroline Anne Smith; Alan Bensoussan Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2014-12-18 Impact factor: 3.659
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Authors: Susan Arentz; Caroline A Smith; Jason Abbott; Paul Fahey; Birinder S Cheema; Alan Bensoussan Journal: Phytother Res Date: 2017-07-07 Impact factor: 5.878