Four trials that were not combined in meta-analyses suggested that extracts with high ( > 30 mg/d ) levels of genistein consistently reduced the frequency of hot flushes .
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone therapy has traditionally been used as a highly effective treatment , but concerns about increased risk of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternative treatments .
Some of the most popular of these treatments are foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens-plant-derived chemicals that have estrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of food products , extracts and dietary supplements containing high levels of phytoestrogens when compared with no treatment , placebo or hormone therapy for the amelioration of vasomotor menopausal symptoms ( such as hot flushes and night sweats ) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
Soy isoflavones and melatonin for the relief of climacteric symptoms: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of soy isoflavones and melatonin in relieving  menopausal symptoms .  METHODS Double-blind , multicenter , r and omized trial performed according to a 2 x 2 factorial design . Treatment groups : ( 1 ) soy isoflavones+melatonin ; ( 2 ) soy isoflavones alone ; ( 3 ) melatonin alone ; ( 4 ) placebo . 80 mg of soy isoflavones , 3 mg of pure melatonin or placebo were supplemented to participants for 3 months . Severity of menopausal symptoms was recorded at baseline and after 3 months using the Greene Climacteric Scale . RESULTS 388 consecutive women were screened : not eligible 98 , refused informed consent 28 . R and omized 262 and analyzed 232 ; twelve women withdrew because of adverse events .  Median percent differences between basal and final scores were 39 % in the isoflavones + melatonin group , 38 % in the isoflavones alone group , 26 % in the melatonin alone group and 38 % in the placebo group . Placebo response was much higher than planned , making it meaningless to perform any statistical test . With regard to somatic and vasomotor symptoms , outcome was similar among the four groups , whereas improvement of psychological symptoms was higher in the isoflavones+melatonin group than in the other three . CONCLUSIONS Present data do not show any advantage of isoflavones or melatonin over placebo for the relief of menopausal symptoms . However , the effect in psychological symptoms in the isoflavones + melatonin group should be further investigated
Four trials that were not combined in meta-analyses suggested that extracts with high ( > 30 mg/d ) levels of genistein consistently reduced the frequency of hot flushes .
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone therapy has traditionally been used as a highly effective treatment , but concerns about increased risk of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternative treatments .
Some of the most popular of these treatments are foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens-plant-derived chemicals that have estrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of food products , extracts and dietary supplements containing high levels of phytoestrogens when compared with no treatment , placebo or hormone therapy for the amelioration of vasomotor menopausal symptoms ( such as hot flushes and night sweats ) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .