Purified pollen extract efficacy uncertain, but likely safe in reducing vasomotor symptoms

Key takeaways:

• Hot flashes, night disturbances, depression and myalgia improved after 3 months of purified pollen extract use.
• Improvements failed to remain significant when evaluating controlled studies alone.

The therapeutic efficacy of purified pollen extract in reducing vasomotor and other perimenopausal symptoms is questionable, but is likely safe, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Menopause.

“The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society included purified pollen cytoplasm in the section of dietary supplements with limited or inconsistent evidence of benefit. Our systematic review and meta-analysis quantified all available literature related to its use to provide better clinical insight,” Eric C. Nemec, PharmD, MEd, BCPS, director of research and assessment and associate professor at Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, told Healio. “When considering all available data, there did appear to be a significant decrease in vasomotor symptoms; however, when considering only controlled studies, this significance was eliminated.”

Nemec and colleagues conducted a comprehensive literature search through MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to June 2023. Researchers identified one randomized controlled trial and four observational studies that assessed purified cytoplasm of pollen extract treatment to reduce vasomotor symptoms among 420 menopausal women, specifically focusing on hot flashes, night disturbances, myalgias and depression.

Researchers observed an overall decrease in vasomotor symptom scores from baseline to 3 months of follow-up with purified cytoplasm of pollen treatment when compiling all data. After 3 months of treatment, all studies demonstrated improvement in hot flashes (standardized mean difference [SMD], –1.66; 95% CI, –2.56 to –0.76), night disturbances (SMD, – 1.1; 95% CI, –1.64 to –0.57), depression (SMD, –1.31; 95% CI, –1.58 to –1.04) and myalgia (–0.4; 95% CI, –0.45 to –0.36; P < .00001 for all).

However, these outcomes no longer remained significant after controlled studies were pooled for meta-analysis.

“There is a need for larger randomized controlled trials evaluating purified cytoplasm of pollen extract to treat vasomotor symptoms,” Nemec said.

According to Nemec, there were limited reports of adverse outcomes caused by purified pollen extract treatment, so this option is considered safe.

“Many available commercial purified pollen extract preparations are relatively expensive and not covered by insurance; therefore, they may be options for only some patients,” Nemec said. “For those with the financial means to seek alternative therapy, these findings can help inform the conversation when considering the limited risk to placebo-based benefit ratio within a shared decision-making conversation.”

For more information:

Eric C. Nemec, PharmD, MEd, BCPS, can be reached at nemece@sacredheart.edu.