Effect of diosgenin on C-reactive protein and homocysteine in menopausal patients

The aim of this study was to investigate homocysteine and C-reactive protein concentrations in postmenopausal women treated with diosgenin as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. An explanatory, prospective and longitudinal study was performed with a quasi-experimental design and non-probabilistic sampling of 49 patients who attended the menopause clinic of the Dr. Urquinaona General Hospital. Homocysteine and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined before and after 6 months of treatment with diosgenin. The mean age of the postmenopausal women was 51.6 +/- 2.9 years. Age at menopause onset was 44.6 +/- 2.1 years and the time from m e n o p a use was 45.7 +/- 18.4 months. C-reactive protein concentrations were increased by more than 56% at 6 months of treatment compared with initial concentrations (P<. 05). Plasma homocysteine concentrations slightly decreased (by more than 5%, approximately) compared with initial concentrations (P= NS). We conclude that diosgenin significantly increases C-reactive concentrations, without modifying plasma homocysteine concentrations after 6 months of treatment.