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 .
Red clover-derived isoflavones and mammographic breast density: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial [ISRCTN42940165]
Introduction Isoflavones are hypothesized to protect against breast cancer , but it is not clear whether they act as oestrogens or anti-oestrogens in breast tissue . Our aim was to determine the effects of taking a red clover-derived isoflavone supplement daily for 1 year on mammographic breast density . Effects on oestradiol , follicle-stimulating hormone ( FSH ) , luteinizing hormone ( LH ) , lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity and menopausal symptoms were also assessed . Methods A total of 205 women ( age range 49–65 years ) with Wolfe P2 or DY mammographic breast patterns were r and omly assigned to receive either a red clover-derived isoflavone tablet ( 26 mg biochanin A , 16 mg formononetin , 1 mg genistein and 0.5 mg daidzein ) or placebo .  Change in mammographic breast density , serum oestradiol , FSH , LH , menopausal symptoms and lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity from baseline to 12 months were assessed . Results A total of 177 women completed the trial . Mammographic breast density decreased in both groups but the difference between the treatment and placebo was not statistically significant . There was a significant interaction between treatment group and oestrogen receptor ( ESR1 ) PvuII polymorphism for the change in estimated percentage breast density ( mean ± st and ard deviation ) : TT isoflavone 1.4 ± 12.3 % and TT placebo -9.6 ± 14.2 % ; CT isoflavone -5.2 ± 12.0 % and CT placebo -2.8 ± 10.3 % ; and CC isoflavone -3.4 ± 9.7 % and CC placebo -1.1 ± 9.5 % . There were no statistically significant treatment effects on oestradiol , FSH , or LH ( assessed only in postmenopausal women ) , or on lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity . Baseline levels of menopausal symptoms were low , and there were no statistically significant treatment effects on frequency of hot flushes or other menopausal symptoms . Conclusion In contrast to studies showing that conventional hormone replacement therapies increase mammographic breast density , the isoflavone supplement did not increase mammographic breast density in this population of women . Furthermore , there were no effects on oestradiol , gonadotrophins , lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity , or menopausal symptoms
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 .