There is no evidence of effectiveness in the alleviation of  menopausal symptoms with the use of phytoestrogen treatments
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been used as a very effective treatment but concerns over increased risks of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternatives .
Some of the most popular of these are treatments based on foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens , plant-derived chemicals that have oestrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of foods and supplements based on high levels of phytoestrogens for reducing hot flushes and night sweats in postmenopausal women .
Clinical Effects of a Standardized Soy Extract in Postmenopausal Women: A Pilot Study
Objective This double‐blind , r and omized study was aim ed at evaluating comparatively , in postmenopausal women , the activity of a st and ardized soy extract ( SOYSELECT ) and placebo when given alone or in combination with conjugated equine estrogens ( CEE ) on early climacteric symptoms . Lipid profile , pituitary hormones , osteocalcin and endothelin levels , and vaginal and endometrial parameters were also evaluated . Design Participants in the control group were given placebo , and participants in the treated group were given 400 mg/day of a st and ardized soy extract , corresponding to 50 mg/daily of isoflavones . After 6 weeks of treatment , CEE was also then given to each participant at a dose of 0.625 mg/day for 4 weeks . At the end of this period , soy and placebo treatment were suspended , and , until the end of the study ( week 12 ) , participants were administered 10 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone acetate in association with CEE ( 0.625 mg/day ) . Results When compared with pretreatment data , on week 6 of the study , a significant ( p < 0.01 ) reduction in the mean number of hot flushes per week was observed in participants who were receiving the st and ardized soy extract , whereas a more marked relief was observed in both soy and placebo groups during CEE administration . Concurrently , the severity of hot flushes , assessed by means of the Greene climacteric scale , was also reduced in the soy group participants ( p < 0.001 , by paired t‐test ) . No soy‐related changes were observed on vaginal cytology , endometrial thickness , uterine artery pulsatility index , or metabolic and hormonal parameters tested . Finally , CEE‐related changes on genital tract , uterine vascular compartment , and pituitary hormones were not modified by soy treatment . Conclusions SOYSELECT may be a safe and efficacious therapy for relief of hot flushes in women who refuse or have contraindications for hormone replacement therapy . ( Menopause 2000;7:105‐111 . © 2000 , The North American Menopause Society .
There is no evidence of effectiveness in the alleviation of  menopausal symptoms with the use of phytoestrogen treatments
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been used as a very effective treatment but concerns over increased risks of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternatives .
Some of the most popular of these are treatments based on foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens , plant-derived chemicals that have oestrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of foods and supplements based on high levels of phytoestrogens for reducing hot flushes and night sweats in postmenopausal women .