Vitamin D and green tea extracts for the treatment of uterine fibroids in late reproductive life: a pilot, prospective, daily-diary based study

Objective The beneficial effects of Vitamin D (VD) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol of green tea, on the growth of uterine fibroids (UF) were previously described in vitro and in vivo. We have decided to investigate their simultaneous administration in women with UFs in late reproductive life. Methods >40 years old n = 16 premenopausal women with intramural (IM) or subserosal (SS) UF of >= 3 cm or several UFs of different sizes, even smaller but with a total diameter >= 3 cm but <10 cm, without further concomitant organic causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, treated with EGCG 300 mg, Vitamin B6 10 mg and VD 50 mu g/day for 90 days. Women completed a diary on a daily basis to obtain information about bleeding and pelvic pain. Results We have observed a significant reduction in UF's mean size both at patient's (-17.8%, p = .03) and at single UF's level (-37.3%, p = .015). The effect was more evident in women with predominant IM (p = .016) in comparison to SS UFs. No significant changes were observed for uterine and ovarian volume and endometrial thickness during treatment. We reported a significant decrease in menstrual flow length of 0.9 day (p = .04) with no modification in cycle length, menstrual flow intensity and menstrual pain intensity. The satisfaction with treatment was in general very high, with no adverse effects reported. Conclusion The concomitant administration of VD and EGCG represents a promising treatment of UF in women of late reproductive life for which hormonal manipulation is not foreseen.