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 .
Daidzein-rich isoflavone aglycones are potentially effective in reducing hot flashes in menopausal women
Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DRIs on hot flash symptoms in menopausal women . Design : This was a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of menopausal women , aged 38 to 60 years , who experienced 4 to 14 hot flashes per day . After a 1-week run-in period , a total of 190 menopausal women were r and omized to receive a placebo or 40 or 60 mg/day of a DRI for 12 weeks . The primary outcome was the mean changes from baseline to week 12 in the frequency of hot flashes recorded in the participant diary . The secondary outcomes included changes in quality of life and hormonal profiles . Results : A total of 147 women ( 77 % ) completed the study . It was found that 40 and 60 mg of DRI improved hot flash frequency and severity equally . At 8 weeks hot flash frequency was reduced by 43 % in the 40-mg DRI group and by 41 % in the 60-mg DRI group , compared with 32 % in the placebo group ( P = not significant vs placebo ) . The corresponding numbers for 12 weeks were 52 % , 51 % , and 39 % , respectively ( P = 0.07 and 0.09 vs placebo ) . When comparing the two treatment groups with the placebo group , there were significant reductions in mean daily hot flash frequency . The supplement ( either 40 or 60 mg ) reduced hot flash frequency by 43 % at 8 weeks ( P = 0.1 ) and 52 % at 12 weeks ( P = 0.048 ) but did not cause any significant changes in endogenous sex hormones or thyroid hormones . Menopausal quality of life improved in all three groups , although there were no statistically significant differences between groups . Conclusions : DRI supplementation may be an effective and acceptable alternative to hormone treatment for menopausal hot flashes
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 .