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 synthetic genistein on menopause symptom management in healthy postmenopausal women: a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of synthetic genistein for reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes . STUDY DESIGN A 12 week r and omized double-blind , placebo-controlled study in which 84 postmenopausal women received placebo or a single 30 mg dose of synthetic genistein . Outcome measures primary : percentage change in the number of daily hot flushes from pre-treatment to week 12 . Secondary : duration and severity of daily hot flushes , Greene Climacteric Scale score , serum follicle stimulating hormone ( FSH ) , 17β-estradiol and endometrial thickness . RESULTS Genistein supplemented subjects completing at least 4 weeks on trial ( n=40 ) demonstrated a 51 % reduction ( 9.4 - 4.7/day ) in the number of hot flushes by week 12 compared to a 27 % reduction in the placebo group ( 9.9 - 7.1/day ) ( p=0.026 ) . Subjects in the genistein group also reported significantly fewer hot flushes per day ( p=0.010 ) and a decrease in total duration of hot flushes per day ( p=0.009 ) at week 12 versus placebo . Subjects on genistein ( n=32 ) completing 12 weeks on trial demonstrated a 51 % reduction ( 9.7 - 4.7/day ) in the number of hot flushes by week 12 ( p=0.049 ) compared to 30 % reduction in the placebo group ( 9.8 - 7.0/day ) and had fewer hot flushes per day and a decrease in total duration of hot flushes per day at week 12 compared to placebo ( p=0.020 and p=0.017 , respectively ) . There were no differences between groups in Greene Climacteric Scale , FSH , 17β-estradiol , endometrial thickness or adverse events . CONCLUSIONS The current study provides the first evidence that a single daily dose of 30 mg of synthetic genistein reduces hot flush frequency and duration
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 .