Folic acid helps improve sexual function of postmenopausal women
24 Sep 2023
Folic acid appears beneficial in improving sexual function among postmenopausal women, suggests a recent study. However, further research is needed to validate this finding.
A triple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Tehran, Iran, in 2020 to examine the effect of folic acid on postmenopausal women’s sexual function. The investigators recruited 100 participants from comprehensive health centres affiliated with the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.
Eligible women were randomized to receive either folic acid 5 mg (mean age 53.2 years) or placebo (mean age 54.4 years; p=0.609) on an empty stomach daily for 8 weeks. They were then assessed at three time points: baseline and 4 and 8 weeks following the intervention.
In mixed effects analysis of variance, the investigators found a statistically significant difference between baseline and post-treatment scores, as well as the interaction between time and group for desire, orgasm, satisfaction, arousal, pain, and total sexual function score, with women in the folic acid group showing a greater improvement than those in the control group.
Notably, the only domain that showed no significant difference for the interaction between time and group was lubrication.
“Folic acid may beneficially affect sexual function in postmenopausal women,” the investigators said.
This study was limited by its small sample size and short follow-up time. “[T]herefore, interpretation of the results requires great caution,” according to the investigators.