Efficacy of raloxifene for treatment of menopause: a systematic review
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Updated: Oct 1, 2026
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Mark Boyack1, Sandra Lookinland, Susan Chasson
1College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA. sandra_lookinland@byu.edu
Purpose:
To critically appraise recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) of raloxifene and its effects on the long-term consequences of menopause.
Data Sources:
All RCTs of greater than six months duration in post-menopausal women found in MEDLINE through July 2000.
Conclusions:
Raloxifene lowered lipids, but estrogen had a more beneficial effect on HDL and fibrinolytic markers. Raloxifene had a more beneficial effect on triglycerides, inflammatory and thrombogenic markers. Compared to placebo, raloxifene reduced vertebral fractures but had a similar although lesser effect on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover than estrogen. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer was reduced by 90% with no increase in the incidence of endometrial cancer with raloxifene. The most serious side effect of raloxifene was an increased incidence of deep vein thromboses and pulmonary emboli.
Implications:
Raloxifene has been shown to be beneficial using cardiovascular and osteoporosis end-points in studies of short duration. More RCTs of longer duration with comparisons to other traditional treatments are needed before raloxifene becomes the treatment of choice.
