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 .
Activity of isoflavones and berberine on vasomotor symptoms and lipid profile in menopausal women
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a food supplement combination based on isoflavones and berberine ( ISB ) in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and dyslipidaemia .  Isoflavones are extracted from soy and absorbed in the body after being activated by lactobacillus . Berberine , extracted from the plant Berberis aristata , lowers plasma cholesterol and triglycerides ( TG ) by increasing low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) receptors and reducing hepatic synthesis of TG . One hundred twenty women with a mean age of 54.8 ± 0.6 years were enrolled and r and omized to treatment with ISB ( estromineral lipid [ EL ] = 60 cases ) or calcium and vitamin D3 ( CaD = 60 cases ) . Menopausal symptoms , plasma cholesterol , and TG were evaluated at baseline , and after 4 and 12 weeks . EL treatment significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol ( −13.5 % ± 0.7 vs −0.2 % ± 0.5 ) , LDL cholesterol ( −12.4 % ± 1.5 vs + 0.8 % ± 0.7 ) and TG ( −18.9 % ± 2.5 vs −1.3 % ± 1.2 ) and improved menopausal symptoms compared with CaD treatment . Safety parameters were unchanged during the study . The combination of berberine and isoflavones was effective in lowering cardiovascular ( CV ) risk factors in menopausal women with moderate dyslipidaemia and in improving their quality of life
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 .