Vitex agnus-castus for the treatment of cyclic mastalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors

  • Soo Liang Ooi Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Singapore; School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia, Australia
  • Stephanie Watts School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia, Australia
  • Rhett McClean School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia, Australia
  • Sok Cheon Pak School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2019.50.76-88

Keywords:

Vitex, chasteberry, mastalgia, hyperprolactinemia, systematic review, meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Cyclic mastalgia (CM) is premenstrual bilateral and diffuse breast pain that presents cyclically and affects women in their reproductive years. It may associate with latent hyperprolactinemia due to the insufficient inhibitory effect of dopamine on the pituitary gland. Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is known for its dopaminergic activity and its possible actions on CM and latent hyperprolactinemia. However, the treatment effect of VAC on CM remains unclear.

Materials and methods: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that report on the efficacy of VAC treatment in CM patients, literature search was performed in major research databases.

Results: This review includes 25 studies (17 randomized control trials plus eight nonrandomized trials). VAC was effective in relieving breast pain intensity and lowering the increased serum prolactin level in reproductive age CM patients (18–45 years) with or without premenstrual syndromes. Typical dosage was 20–40 mg/day with a treatment duration of 3 months. A conservative meta-analysis included only six studies (n = 718: VAC – 356, placebo – 362) and revealed a moderate effect size (SMD 0.67, 95% CI 0.5–0.85) favoring VAC over a placebo. Seven trials demonstrated VAC to be a noninferior alternative to pharmaceutical therapies for CM, including dopamine agonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and hormonal contraceptives. VAC was safe and associated with only mild and reversible adverse events. However, the risk of bias in most studies was unclear due to insufficient information.

Conclusion: VAC is a safe and effective treatment option for CM. More high-quality clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base.

Author Biographies

Soo Liang Ooi, Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Singapore; School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

BHSc (Comp Med), MMath

Stephanie Watts, School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

BHSc (Comp Med)

Rhett McClean, School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

PhD

Sok Cheon Pak, School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia

PhD

Downloads

Published

2019-12-28

How to Cite

Ooi, S. L., Watts, S., McClean, R., & Pak, S. C. (2019). Vitex agnus-castus for the treatment of cyclic mastalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (50), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2019.50.76-88

Issue

No. 50 (2019)

Section

Interdisciplinary consilium

License

Copyright (c) 2019 Soo Liang Ooi, Stephanie Watts, Rhett McClean, Sok Cheon Pak

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

    1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

    1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.