AIM The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify the effect of a specific standardised extract of red clover (Trifolium pratense) on the lipid profile of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched for papers in English reporting randomized controlled trials published up to 2017. Reference lists from those papers were checked for further relevant publications. Studies were identified and reviewed for their eligibility for inclusion in this review. The changes from baseline in the levels of individual components of the lipid profiles were used to assess differences between the active treatment and placebo groups. Weighted mean differences and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated for continuous data using a random-effects model. RESULTS Ten eligible studies (twelve comparisons) with 910 peri- and postmenopausal women were selected for systematic review. The meta-analysis showed changes in serum levels: total cholesterol, -0.29 (95 % CI: -0.53 to -0.06) mmol/L [-11.21 (95 % CI: -20.49 to -13.92) mg/dL], p = 0.0136; LDL-cholesterol, -0.13 (95 % CI: -0.35 to 0.09) mmol/L [-5.02 (95 % CI: -13.53 to 3.48) mg/dL], p = 0.2418; triglycerides, -0.15 (95 % CI: -0.32 to 0.01) mmol/L [-13.28 (95 % CI: -28.34 to 0.88) mg/dL], p = 0.0592; and HDL-cholesterol, 0.14 (95 % CI: -0.08 to 0.36) mmol/L [5.41 (95 % CI: -3.09-13.92) mg/dL], p = 0.2103. TheI2 statistic ranged from 87.95%-98.30 %, indicating significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that a red clover extract is efficacious in reducing the concentrations of total cholesterol; however, changes in HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides are not as pronounced. Potentially, this means that women takingTrifolium pratense for menopausal symptoms can derive additional benefits from the plant's specific effect that corrects abnormal cholesterol levels. Additional studies are needed to assess its effects on post-menopausal women.

中文翻译：

---

红三叶草（Trifolium pratense）异黄酮对围绝经期和绝经后妇女血脂谱的影响——系统评价和荟萃分析

目的 本系统评价和荟萃分析的目的是阐明特定的标准化红三叶草提取物（Trifolium pratense）对围绝经期和绝经后妇女血脂谱的影响。方法 在 Medline (PubMed)、EMBASE 和 Cochrane 图书馆电子数据库中搜索截至 2017 年发表的英文报告随机对照试验的论文。检查这些论文的参考文献列表以获取进一步的相关出版物。确定并审查了研究是否符合纳入本审查的资格。脂质谱的各个成分水平相对于基线的变化用于评估活性治疗组和安慰剂组之间的差异。使用随机效应模型计算连续数据的加权平均差异和 95% 置信区间。结果 选择了 10 项符合条件的研究（12 项比较）对 910 名围绝经期和绝经后妇女进行系统评价。荟萃分析显示血清水平的变化：总胆固醇，-0.29（95 % CI：-0.53 至 -0.06）mmol/L [-11.21（95 % CI：-20.49 至 -13.92）mg/dL]，p = 0.0136; 低密度脂蛋白胆固醇，-0.13（95% CI：-0.35 至 0.09）mmol/L [-5.02（95% CI：-13.53 至 3.48）mg/dL]，p = 0.2418；甘油三酯，-0.15（95% CI：-0.32 至 0.01）mmol/L [-13.28（95% CI：-28.34 至 0.88）mg/dL]，p = 0.0592；和 HDL-胆固醇，0.14（95% CI：-0.08 至 0.36）mmol/L [5.41（95% CI：-3.09-13.92）mg/dL]，p = 0.2103。I2 统计范围为 87.95%-98.30%，表明异质性显着。结论 结果表明，红三叶草提取物可有效降低总胆固醇浓度；然而，HDL-C 的变化，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和甘油三酯没有那么明显。潜在地，这意味着服用三叶草治疗更年期症状的女性可以从该植物纠正异常胆固醇水平的特定作用中获得额外的好处。需要更多的研究来评估其对绝经后妇女的影响。