This study examined the effects of various kudzu supplementations in 50 postmenopausal women. They received a freeze-dried ethanolic extract from kudzu roots, providing 37.5 mg puerarin per capsules. Participants received between 3 and 9 capsules per day for 4 weeks.

After 4 weeks of treatment, biomarkers of bone resorption and cartilage degradation were statistically significantly reduced from baseline levels in the group receiving two capsules three times a day: serum/urine CTX-I (-18.4%, 95% CI: -8.1 to -27.5, p = 0.001/-34.2%, 95% CI: -21.6 to -44.7, p < 0.0001), urine CTX-II (-17.4% 95% CI: -2.5 to -30.0, p = 0.02). The observed effects were consistent across study groups but appeared to favor three times daily dosing. Four weeks of treatment led to statistically significant reductions in the Menopause Rating Scale Total Score (p < 0.0001-0.03) in four out of five treatment groups.

Therefore, these results suggest that kudzu may reduce bone turnover and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Bihlet AR, Byrjalsen I, Andersen JR, Simonsen SF, Mundbjerg K, Helmer B, Riis BJ, Karsdal MA, Christiansen C. The Efficacy and Safety of Multiple Dose Regimens of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Root Extract on Bone and Cartilage Turnover and Menopausal Symptoms. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Oct 22;12:760629.

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