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 effects of soy protein containing phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women
Objective To analyze the impact of soy protein dietary supplements containing phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms in healthy postmenopausal women . Methods A double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 94 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50–75 years , with 44 r and omized to soy supplements containing 118 mg of isoflavones ( daidzein , genistein , glycitein and their respective glycosides ) , and 50 to an identically presented casein placebo . A vali date d question naire on menopausal symptoms was administered at baseline and at 3 months of treatment . Compliance was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography assay of urinary phytoestrogens . Statistical analysis was completed using non-parametric statistical methods and multivariate analysis . Results At baseline 80 % of women recruited were experiencing menopausal symptoms , although symptom severity was mild . Those consuming phytoestrogen supplements had 13- and 17-fold increases in urinary excretion of genistein and daidzein , respectively , with no change in the placebo group . Active soy supplements did not significantly alter either individual symptoms or specific symptom category scores when compared to placebo . Within-group comparisons revealed that the active group reported a significant improvement in vaginal dryness ( p = 0.01 ) , libido ( p = 0.009 ) , facial hair ( p = 0.04 ) and dry skin ( p = 0.027 ) . However , similarly , those on placebo reported an improvement in libido ( p = 0.015 ) , facial hair ( p = 0.014 ) and dry skin ( p = 0.011 ) but not vaginal dryness . Conclusions In this group of 94 older postmenopausal women with a high frequency of mild menopausal symptoms , 3 months of soy supplements containing phytoestrogens did not provide symptomatic relief compared with placebo
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 .