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 .
Effects of dietary phytoestrogens in postmenopausal women.
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that increased dietary intake of phytoestrogens reduces the health impact of the menopause .  To test this hypothesis , a double-blind , r and omized , entry-exit , cross-over study was conducted to assess the effects of three dietary manipulations -- soy and linseed diets ( high in phytoestrogens ) and a wheat diet ( low in phytoestrogens ) .  Postmenopausal women were recruited and r and omly assigned to one of the three dietary regimens . Urinary phytoestrogen concentrations , hot flush rate , vaginal smears , bone mineral density and bone mineral content were assessed for two 12-week periods . Comparative analysis showed no significant differences , but , when analyzed separately , groups consuming high phytoestrogen diets had between 10 and 30 times higher urinary excretion of phytoestrogens compared to those consuming the low phytoestrogen diet ( p < 0.01 ) . Study participants consuming soy , linseed and wheat diets had a 22 % ( not significant , n.s . ) , 41 % ( p < 0.009 ) and 51 % ( p < 0.001 ) reduction in hot flush rate ; a 103 % ( p < 0.04 ) , 5.5 % ( n.s . ) and 11 % ( n.s . ) increase in vaginal cytology maturation index ; and a 5.2 % ( p < 0.04 ) , 5.2 % ( n.s . ) and 3.8 % ( n.s . ) increase in bone mineral content , respectively . No changes were detected in bone mineral density . The differential effects of high phytoestrogen dietary manipulations on outcomes may represent tissue-specific responses to isoflavones and lignans contained in soy and linseed , respectively . Whilst health outcome measures were not significantly different between groups , the data obtained from separate analysis suggest that phytoestrogens in soy and linseed may be of use in ameliorating some of the symptoms of menopause . Furthermore , the significant decrease in hot flush rate in the wheat group can not be attributable to phytoestrogens measured in this study . Due to subject variability , larger studies are still needed to evaluate population benefit
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 .