Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Objective: Perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, is a period when physiologic changes mark progression toward the end of the menstrual period. Physiological changes in perimenopause produce hormonal changes that manifest invariable symptoms that significantly affect a woman's quality of life, so complex clinical treatment is required. Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.), one of the alternative treatments for perimenopausal women, have many benefits for reproductive function. The antioxidant and pro-apoptotic effects of ajwa dates are considered to improve the clinical features of perimenopause. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-post control design involved 44 perimenopausal women aged 42–48 years, which were divided into 2 groups randomly (28 subjects consumed 7 ajwa dates daily for 8 weeks as the intervention group, and 16 subjects did not consume any dates as the control group). Results: There were significant improvements in sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and mood changes in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). There were no significant improvements in irregular menstrual cycles (p = 0.375) or vasomotor symptoms (p =0.063). Conclusion: Consumption of ajwa dates was effective in improving clinical features and perimenopausal women's quality of life.