The NaBu Effect on Menstruation in Women

The general symptoms of menstruation include abdominal and/or pelvic cramping, lower back pain, bloating, mood swings, and irritability. The exact etiology of these symptoms is not well described. Many pathologies that lead to dysmenorrhea are associated with estrogen-dependent cells, such as endometrial cells, linking estrogen production at the cellular level with symptoms of menstruation.

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is a food supplement readily available in the US in stores and online. It has been shown to inhibit aromatase, a key enzyme in the estrogen biosynthesis pathway, through a mechanism specific to endometrial cells. The transcription process of estrogen is regulated by up to 10 different promotors, depending on the tissue (Attar, 2006; Simpson, 2002). Aromatase transcription in ovarian endometrioma-derived cells & extra-ovarian endometrioma-derived cells is mediated by Promotor II (Attar 2006). NaBu works by inhibiting the phosphorylation and binding of Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2) to promotor II (Deb, 2006). Thus, NaBu has the potential to reduce estrogen synthesis via the inhibition of the aromatase pathway in cells that use promotor II and in no other tissues.

In this study, the investigators will evaluate the effect of daily NaBu on the baseline symptoms of menstruation in women.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older.
• Menstruating regularly or irregularly
• Experiencing menstrual symptoms with an average baseline symptom score of at least 3 on a scale of 0 to 10 for at least one symptom during the initial pre-study rating period.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding patient, attempting or anticipating pregnancy.
• Patient with a history of bloating or a sensitive gut (food intolerance) who needs lower fiber levels.
• Patients with known lactose intolerance, other fermentable oligo-, di-, and mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) intolerances, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
• Patients who would require taking daily antacids for the duration of the study.
• Patients with known or suspected chronic hypertension.
• Post-menopausal patients