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 .
Raloxifene, soy phytoestrogens and endothelial function in postmenopausal women
Objective To compare the effects of raloxifene and soy phytoestrogens on endothelial function in healthy , postmenopausal women . Design R and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , cross-over trial . Subjects ( n = 22 ; mean age 58.5 years ) underwent endothelial function testing at baseline and following 6 weeks of daily raloxifene 60 mg , soy phytoestrogens 55 mg , and placebo in r and om sequence with intervening 6-week wash-out periods . Endothelial function was assessed as flow-mediated vasodilatation ( FMD ) of the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound ; digital flux was measured with laser Doppler velocimetry . Results Baseline ( pretreatment ) FMD was almost within normal range at 9.6 % ( ±6.4 ) . FMD did not change from baseline within any treatment group , and no between-group differences were detected . FMD values following treatment with raloxifene , soy , and placebo were 10.3 % ( ±12.3 ) , 8.3 % ( ±7.7 ) , and 9.5 % ( ±4.4 ) , respectively . Area under curve ratios showed no treatment differences for digital velocimetry . Conclusions In this study , neither raloxifene nor soy enhanced endothelial function in postmenopausal women . However , the cohort had relatively normal endothelial function at baseline . Further study is required to determine if particular subgroups of postmenopausal women derive vascular benefit from the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators or soy phytoestrogens
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 .