Venetron for sleep and mood may also alleviate menstrual symptoms, clinical study suggests

18 Jan 2024 --- The sleep and mood supplement Venetron by Maypro, featuring a purified extract of Apocynum venetum, has been shown to reduce discomfort before and during menstruation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Japan.

“Venetron is an exciting ingredient with long-term growth potential,” says Isabel Elias-Castro, president of the Maypro Global Nutrition Group, which distributes the ingredient. “Venetron neatly intersects with the growing women’s health category and the continued demand for sleep, mood and stress support — this new study makes the case for this ingredient even stronger.”

The study revealed that women who took Venetron experienced improved autonomic reactions, concentration and behavioral change before menstruation, while pain, distractedness and control improved throughout, compared to the placebo group. 

The study outcomes reveal a “significant improvement” in “initiation and maintenance of sleep” before menstruation in the group that received the supplement, but not in the placebo group. 

Venetron by Maypro with Apocynum venetum extract scientifically shown to alleviate some menstrual symptoms in healthy women.Significantly reduced discomfort
The study published in the journal Japanese Pharmacology & Therapeutics investigates the efficacy of Venetron in alleviating “unidentified complaints relating to menstruation” in 42 healthy women.

The research took place over one menstrual cycle, with one half of the women randomly allocated to a test group that received the supplement while the other group received a placebo. All participants received a menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), alongside sleep and mood tests. The researchers assessed the women’s autonomic nervous system, cognitive functions, salivary biomarkers of stress, skin, body measurements and female hormones. 

The results reveal that Venetron “significantly reduced” the total MDQ scores of the woman who ingested the supplement before and during menstruation compared to the placebo group. No significant differences between the two groups were noted after menstruation. No side effects were reported after Venetron consumption. 

TCM herb
The supplement developed by Tokiwa Phytochemical contains standardized Apocynum venetum leaves extract, with at least 2% hyperoside and 2% isoquercitrin that promise multiple benefits. 

Apocynum venetum, also known as rafuma, has for centuries been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), particularly in Northwestern China, to aid sleep quality, though not much is known about the herb’s menstrual pain-alleviating properties.

Unlike mood supplements that contain other herbs, such as St. John’s Wort, the rafuma-based Venetron does not affect the human gene locus CYP3A and requires a lower dose of 50 mg per day due to its potency. 

Elias-Castro points to Tokiwa Phytochemical’s transparent raw material sourcing and sustainable practices as further beneficial aspects of the supplement.

Venetron has been shown to promote a positive outlook, alleviate stress and improve sleep quality in several placebo-controlled human clinical trials.

The rafuma leaf extract promotes these desired effects by preventing serotonin degradation in the bloodstream during the daytime, resulting in increased melatonin production at night. 

Ventron possesses a self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe). Venetron-W is the water-soluble formulation of the product, making it suitable for manufacturers looking to develop a wide variety of formats such as tablets, capsules, gels, gummies, chocolates and beverages.

By Milana Nikolova