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 effect of Promensil, an isoflavone extract, on menopausal symptoms.
OBJECTIVES The primary aim was to assess whether the use of an isoflavone extract containing 40 mg or 160 mg of total isoflavones affects the frequency of menopausal flushes and other symptoms . The secondary aims were assessment s of possible effects on menopause symptom scores and biological measures of estrogen activity . METHODS A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled prospect i ve trial of 37 postmenopausal women with symptoms of estrogen deficiency was performed over a 12-week period . The women were r and omized to three treatment groups : placebo , 40 mg or 160 mg , delivered in tablet form . RESULTS There was no significant difference in the incidence of flushes between the three groups at trial conclusion . There was no difference between the groups in Greene Menopause Symptom Scores , vaginal pH , levels of follicle stimulating hormone ( FSH ) , sex hormone binding globulin ( SHBG ) or total cholesterol , liver function or blood parameters . A statistically significant increase in high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol of 18.1 % ( p = 0.038 ) occurred in the 40-mg group . CONCLUSION A large placebo response and inadvertent use of dietary isoflavones in the placebo group may have obscured a significant change in flushing frequency . Previous uncontrolled studies cl aim ing a beneficial effect of foods with a high isoflavone content on menopausal symptoms may have been confounded by a large placebo response
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 .