薬理と治療

Abstract

We found recently that α−lactalbumin, major component of whey proteins, had antinociceptive and anti−inflammatory activity provided by inhibiting cyclooxygenase−2. This study aimed thus to investigate the effects of α−lactalbumin on menstrual pain and on their quality of life in healthy women volunteer. Thirty subjects with menstrual pain were enrolled and randomized into two groups. One group ingested two tablets containing α−lactalbumin （150 mg／tablet）3 times a day. Another group ingested placebo tablet containing lactose instead of α−lactalbumin. Each tablet was ingested during one menstrual cycle and following one menstrual cycle was withdrawal. After non−ingested period, another tablet was ingested following one menstrual period. Menstrual pain, degree of taking analgesic drugs and quality of life were conducted in the form of questionnaire according to the verbal rating scales during three periods；non−ingested period, placebo−ingesting period and α−lactalbumin−ingesting period. α−Lactalbumin−ingestion significantly decreased the score of menstrual pain as compared with non−ingested period but placebo−ingestion did not. α−Lactalbumin−ingestion and placebo ingestion significantly decreased the score of the degree of analgesic drugs as compared with non−ingested period. α−Lactalbumin−ingestion showed a tendency to improve the degree of quality of life as compared with non−ingested period and placeboingestion period. In this study, adverse effects were not observed during the experimental period. These results suggest that α−lactalbumin is a safe and useful material for the relief of the menstrual pain.（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2008；36：623−8） KEY WORDS α−Lactalbumin, Menstrual pain, Quality of life, Cyclooxygenase−2