Water drinking cure for alleviating menopausal complaints—A randomised controlled trial

Question

To investigate the efficacy of drinking St. Leonhard's Water in comparison to tap water on menopausal symptoms. St. Leonhard's Water is low mineralized water from a natural fountain in the German prealp region, which claims to be beneficial in menopausal complaints.

Methods

We conducted a double-blinded, randomised controlled clinical trial in 60 out-patients with a minimum score of 15 on Menopause Rating Scale II (MRS II). Patients were randomised to either drinking 2L daily of St. Leonhard's Water (verum) or 2L of tap water (control) from identical looking bottles.

Main outcome parameter was the group difference of MRS II changes after 12 weeks of intervention. MRS II was evaluated every 3 weeks during intervention and at follow-up after 9 months. Secondary outcomes include the course of MRS II and its subscales and patients global assessment on change of menopausal symptoms and general well-being. Feasibility and compliance were recorded in a diary.

Results

In total 59 out of 60 patients completed the study (age 54.9±5.2, range 46–67). In total 95% of the patients were postmenopausal. Mann–Whitney U test showed no statistical difference between groups. MRS II for verum decreased significantly by 42.5% (23.2±6.4–13.3±6.6; p<0.01), as well as for control by 38.3% (24.3±5.3–15.0±7.5; p<0.01). MRS II scores at follow-up remained nearly unchanged (15.1±8.7 for verum, 14.5±7.3 for control). There was no difference between groups regarding assessment of effects on menopausal complaints. General well-being differed slightly in favour of verum. Compliance and feasibility were satisfying in both groups. The average consumption of water per patient increased from 1.30L daily before to 2.04L at the end of intervention.

Conclusions

The study failed to show a superiority of drinking St. Leonhard's water compared to tap water against menopausal symptoms. The sustaining alleviation of menopausal complaints found in the follow-up may be due to unspecific effects or a general beneficial effect of increased water intake. Further studies should show, if the intensity of menopausal symptoms can be influenced by fluid intake.