Abstract
Menstrual pain and menstruating malaise to annoy the woman are hardly improved in spite of medical advance in recent years. It is known that lactoferrin (Lf), a protein with multi-functions in the milk whey, suppresses menstrual pain. In the present study, we investigated the mitigating effects of Lf on the menstrual pain and malaise. The Lf we used was an iron associated lactoferrin (FeLf: 70Fe/Lf) that was resistant to digestive enzymes.
This examination was designed as a cross over trial of FeLf (312 mg) tablet or placebo tablet with 18 subjects who had menstrual pain. Evaluations on menstrual pain and malaise were carried out for 4 days from the beginning of menstruation. Evaluations were compared by the score of 3 days from the beginning of menstruation with remarkable menstrual pain. Menstrual pain and malaise were evaluated using Visual analogue scale method (VAS), Menstrual Distress Questionnaires method (MDQ) and Verbal rating score method (VRS). These analyses revealed that an oral administration of FeLf reduced the pain and adverse effects on life. Therefore, it is suggested that FeLf suppresses menstrual pain and menstruating malaise, and improves Quality of Life (QOL).
