There is no evidence of effectiveness in the alleviation of  menopausal symptoms with the use of phytoestrogen treatments
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been used as a very effective treatment but concerns over increased risks of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternatives .
Some of the most popular of these are treatments based on foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens , plant-derived chemicals that have oestrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of foods and supplements based on high levels of phytoestrogens for reducing hot flushes and night sweats in postmenopausal women .
The effects of flaxseed dietary supplement on lipid profile, bone mineral density, and symptoms in menopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, wheat germ placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Phytoestrogens are increasingly incorporated into the diet of menopausal women . However , there are limited data on the efficacy of flaxseed on the consequences of estrogen deficiency in menopausal women . The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of flaxseed incorporation into the diet of healthy menopausal women . One hundred and ninety-nine menopausal women were r and omly assigned to consume 40 g flaxseed/d ( n = 101 ) or wheat germ placebo ( n = 98 ) for 12 months . At baseline and at month 12 , serum levels of lipids , bone mineral density ( BMD ) , and menopausal symptoms were evaluated . Statistical analysis was performed under the intention to treat principle . Flaxseed reduced serum total ( -0.20 + /- 0.51 mmol/liter ; P = 0.012 ) and high-density lipoprotein ( -0.08 + /- 0.24 mmol/liter ; P = 0.031 ) cholesterol concentrations compared with wheat germ placebo .  BMD did not differ significantly between the two arms . Both flaxseed and wheat germ reduced ( P < 0.0001 ) the severity scores of menopausal symptoms , but no statistical difference was found between the two arms . Our findings suggest that 1-yr incorporation of flaxseed into the diet produced a favorable , but not clinical ly significant , effect on blood cholesterol and caused no significant change in BMD or symptoms in healthy menopausal women
There is no evidence of effectiveness in the alleviation of  menopausal symptoms with the use of phytoestrogen treatments
BACKGROUND Vasomotor symptoms , such as hot flushes and night sweats , are very common during the menopausal transition .
Hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been used as a very effective treatment but concerns over increased risks of some chronic diseases have markedly increased the interest of women in alternatives .
Some of the most popular of these are treatments based on foods or supplements enriched with phytoestrogens , plant-derived chemicals that have oestrogenic action .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy , safety and acceptability of foods and supplements based on high levels of phytoestrogens for reducing hot flushes and night sweats in postmenopausal women .