We conducted a thorough investigation to see if folic acid could ease hot flashes for postmenopausal women. The study involved 164 participants, all experiencing at least 50 hot flushes a week. To ensure accurate results, we used a double-blind, placebo-controlled method, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the folic acid or the placebo during the trial.
Over a period of 12 weeks, participants took either a daily 5 mg folic acid tablet or a placebo. They kept track of their hot flushes using a diary and filled out quality of life assessments at regular intervals. By the study's conclusion, we found no significant difference in the reduction of hot flush scores between the folic acid and placebo groups. The average decrease in hot flush scores was slightly better in the folic acid group but wasn't statistically significant.
Although we observed some potential benefits in quality of life scores for the folic acid group at the 8-week mark, particularly regarding emotional well-being, these findings do not conclusively prove that folic acid significantly alleviates hot flashes. Therefore, while there may be some positive effects worth exploring further, our study does not provide strong evidence that folic acid is effective in treating hot flashes for postmenopausal women.