The Efficacy of Pueraria Mirifica as a Dietary Supplement

For more than 500 years, a root found in Thailand, known as “white Kwao Krua” (Pueraria candollei var. mirifica Airy Shaw et Suvat), has been described as having profound anti-aging properties. Characterization studies carrier out since the mid-twentieth century has found that the root has unique phenol estrogenic compounds significantly, such as miroestrol, that are more potent than any other phytoestrogen found in nature. In recent years, the toxicology and efficacy of this root has been studied, including, acute, subacute, and chronic toxicology studies in animals, and human safety and efficacy studies. There is sufficient safety data for this product to be introduced into the US dietary supplement market as a new botanical product.

Breast Enhancement

A Japanese study conducted in 1999 at the School of Medicine, Saint Mariane University, Tokyo, Japan, examined data on the effect of P. mirifica root on breast enhancement. In this study, 50 healthy menstruating volunteer females, ages 20 to 49, were given between 100 to 600 mg of Pueraria mirifica powder daily orally as capsules for 7 days, two weeks after menstruation. No significant changes were seen in female hormone levels (serum estrogen, urine estrogen, and urine pregnanediol), kidney function (total urine volume, specific gravity, creatinine clearance), blood chemistries (serum total protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, GOT, GTP, sodium, potassium chloride, calcium, and total phosphate), while blood cells (neutrophil [segmented and non-segmented], eosiniphil, basophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte), hematocrit, hemoglobin, blood platelets, white blood cell count (WBC), or red blood cell count (RBC), between baseline and 14 days after oral intake.

It is important to note that none of the volunteer subjects in this study had any knowledge that P. mirifica has a traditional history of use in adult women to enhance breast size or participated in the study to enhance their breast size. Further, that 72% of the women had increased breast size within two weeks of taken P. mirifica orally is noteworthy.

Changes in menstruation were also recorded in this study. Out of 50 subjects, 6 reported that they menstruated earlier or later than expected (12%). No cases of abnormally heavy, severe, or missed menstruation were reported.

Alexander G. Schauss, PhD,
Director, Natural and Medicinal Products Research, Life Sciences Division,
American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research, Inc. (AIBMR), Puyallup, Washington

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