The NaBu Effect on Menstruation in Women

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of once-daily Sodium butyrate (NaBu) on menstrual symptoms in women. The investigators posit that the use of NaBu will reduce menstrual symptoms after taking NaBu for 12 weeks.

Detailed Description

The general symptoms of menstruation include abdominal and/or pelvic cramping, lower back pain, bloating, mood swings, and irritability. The exact etiology of these symptoms is not well described. Many pathologies that lead to dysmenorrhea are associated with estrogen-dependent cells, such as endometrial cells, linking estrogen production at the cellular level with symptoms of menstruation. Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is a food supplement readily available in the US in stores and online. It has been shown to inhibit aromatase, a key enzyme in the estrogen biosynthesis pathway, through a mechanism specific to endometrial cells. The transcription process of estrogen is regulated by up to 10 different promotors, depending on the tissue (Attar, 2006; Simpson, 2002). Aromatase transcription in ovarian endometrioma-derived cells \& extra-ovarian endometrioma-derived cells is mediated by Promotor II (Attar 2006). NaBu works by inhibiting the phosphorylation and binding of Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2) to promotor II (Deb, 2006). Thus, NaBu has the potential to reduce estrogen synthesis via the inhibition of the aromatase pathway in cells that use promotor II and in no other tissues. In this study, the investigators will evaluate the effect of daily NaBu on the baseline symptoms of menstruation in women.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions