Thirty-six women (mean age, 33.3 years; range, 20-45 years) with a history of idiopathic menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding) for a mean duration of 11.7 months received 1,000 mg/day of Daflon (containing 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin) beginning five days prior to the expected onset of menstruation and continuing until the end of bleeding for three cycles. In 70% of the patients, the total amount of bleeding decreased by 50% and the duration of bleeding decreased by one-third. There was a 50% improvement in associated dysmenorrhea in about 75% of cases.

Comment: Daflon is a commercial preparation that contains two flavonoids, diosmin and hesperidin. A number of different flavonoids have been shown to improve capillary integrity, which appears to be impaired in some women with idiopathic menorrhagia. Studies conducted a half-century ago found that supplementation with citrus flavonoids in combination with vitamin C was frequently beneficial in the treatment of menorrhagia or metrorrhagia (bleeding between menstrual periods). However, these studies attracted little interest, and this simple treatment is virtually unknown to the conventional medical community. Hopefully, there will be greater interest this time around.

Mukherjee GG, et al. Treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding with micronized flavonoids. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2005;89:156-157.