Sesame Oil Could Help Prevent Osteoporosis in Menopausal Women

Sesame oil supplements helped promote bone formation and reduce bone loss in a new animal study.

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Sesame oil could be the next big supplement for postmenopausal women, according to a new study.

The animal study, published in Scientific Reports on Jan. 3, suggests sesame oil supplements affect estrogen levels enough to possibly prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Researchers took 12-week-old Sprague Dawley rats whose ovaries were surgically removed and divided them into four groups: rats that received sham surgery, rats that received the surgery, and two other groups that received the surgery plus sesame oil supplements. One of these groups received 0.25 milliliters/kilogram of the supplement per day orally, and the other received 0.5 milliliters/kilogram. Each group that received sesame oil was given the supplement for four months.

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The research team found sesame oil maintained serum estradiol and aromatase levels in the supplemented rats. These levels were much higher than in the rats that underwent the ovariectomy surgery or had the sham surgery. Estradiol, a form of estrogen, plays a significant role in maintaining bone health; its levels typically decrease after menopause. Maintaining levels of aromatase, an estrogen receptor, could be a way to keep estrogen levels high enough among women going through menopause.

The rats that took the sesame oil also experienced increased bone mineral density, serum osteocalcin, and trabecular area—all markers of bone formation. Moreover, supplemented rats also had increased procollagen-I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) levels. They also had decreased N-telopeptide (NTx) levels. PICP and NTx are linked: PICP is a marker for collagen synthesis, while NTx is a marker for bone loss. Hence, the markers indicated that the sesame oil helped promote bone formation and reduce bone loss.

How Does Sesame Oil Boost Estrogen?

The research team believes sesame oil can boost estrogen because it is rich in phytoestrogenic compounds. Phytoestrogens are structurally similar to estrogen and are known to mimic how the hormone acts in the body by attaching to estrogen receptors in cells. Research notes that phytoestrogens can reduce many of the symptoms associated with menopause that result from low estrogen. One well-known phytoestrogen is isoflavone, found in legumes, red and white clover, and beans. Soybeans have the highest level of isoflavones.

The researchers noted that phytoestrogens can be a good alternative to hormone replacement therapy because they have fewer side effects.

Why Estrogen Boosts Are Important During Menopause

Estrogen is a sex hormone required for maintaining sexual and reproductive health. Levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s life, especially during her menstrual cycle. Estrogen plays a vital role in the menstrual and reproductive cycles, along with progesterone. The development of secondary sex characteristics in women, such as breasts and hips, as well as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, could not happen without estrogen.

As menopause nears, a woman’s body no longer releases eggs, marking the end of her menstrual cycle. During menopause, the body’s estrogen level declines, disrupting a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Declining estrogen can have myriad effects on a woman’s body, from changes in metabolism that lead to weight gain to shifts in cholesterol. Some women experience hot flashes and sleep problems during the transition into menopause. Furthermore, because estrogen controls how the body uses calcium, these hormonal changes often lead to decreased bone density, putting women at an increased risk of fractures.

Menopause begins when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It is essential for women to speak with their health care providers if they believe they are beginning menopause.