Abstract
Objectives: "Quality of sleep" plays an important role for the maintenance of homeostasis of the body. The deterioration of sleep quality induces diverse lifestyle-related disorders. The present study with an open-label trial verified the effects of a test product, a bed mattress with a "distinctive 4-layer 3-dimensional structure", regarding sleep quality and menopausal syndrome.
Methods: Potential research participants, 38 women who had complaints about sleep quality underwent a questionnaire survey using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J) and the Simplified menopausal index (SMI). Among them, 12 women whose scores of PSQI-J and SMI were high (age: 48.2 ± 0.7, PSQIG: 7.8 ± 0.6, SMI: 53.5 ± 3.3) were selected. The test product mattresses (Nishikawa Co., Tokyo, Japan) were used for 8 weeks, and alternations in physical information were examined in an open trial. The present study was conducted with the approval of an ethics committee.
Results: Data results suggested significant improvements in PSQI-J scores 8 weeks after the commencement of the trial. The global score of PSQI significantly improved from 7.8 ± 0.6 to 5.4 ± 0.6 (p = 0.004). SMI scores improved significantly from 53.5 ± 3.3 to 42.5 ± 4.5 (p = 0.003). Assessments of hormones indicated no significant differences in estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone. Values of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-s) changed from (149.9 ± 76.5 μg/dL) → 4 weeks (124.9 ± 63.9 μg/dL) → 8 weeks (146.9 ± 59.2 μg/dL). No adverse event was reported.
Conclusions: Through the usage of the test products, it was suggested that "improvements in sleep quality" resulted in the mitigation of menopausal symptoms, though secretions of menopause-related hormones did not improve. It is considered that appropriate bed mat usage is an effective and safe measure of supplementary guidance for women with severe symptoms of menopause.
