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 .
The effect of red clover isoflavone supplementation over vasomotor and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women
Objective . To evaluate the effect of red clover isoflavone supplementation over vasomotor and overall menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women . Methods . One hundred and nine postmenopausal women aged 40 or more were assigned to r and omly receive either two daily capsules of the active compound ( 80 mg red clover isoflavones , Group A ) or placebo of equal appearance ( Group B ) for a 90-day period . After a washout period of 7 days , medication was crossed over and taken for 90 days more . Daily hot flush and night sweat frequency and overall menopausal symptom intensity ( Kupperman Index ) were measured at baseline , 90 , 97 and 187 days . Results . Daily hot flush/night sweat frequency and Kupperman Index values were similar in both studied groups at baseline . All indices significantly decreased after red clover phase in Group A , corresponding , respectively to a 73.5 % , 72.2 % and 75.4 % average decrement . These decrements were significantly higher than those observed for Group B after placebo phase ( 8.2 % , 0.9 % and 6.7 % respectively ) . In Group A , after washout and placebo phases all values significantly increased . In Group B , all indices remained similar after placebo and washout phases , however significantly dropping after red clover treatment . These values were also significantly lower than those observed in Group A after placebo phase . No side effects were encountered after treatment with the active compound or placebo . Conclusion . Red clover isoflavone supplementation was more effective than placebo in reducing daily vasomotor frequency and overall menopausal intensity in postmenopausal women
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 .