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 .
A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts.
OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of a hop extract enriched in 8-prenylnaringenin ( 8-PN , the phytoestrogen in hops , Humulus lupulus L. ) on relief of  menopausal discomforts .  METHODS A prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study over 12 weeks with 67 menopausal women , who were administered a hop extract st and ardized on 8-PN ( 100 or 250 microg ) . The responses were determined by means of a modified Kupperman index ( KI ) and a patients ' question naire . RESULTS All groups , including placebo , showed a significant reduction of the KI both after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks . The hop extract at 100 microg 8-PN was significantly superior to placebo after 6 weeks ( P=0.023 ) but not after 12 weeks ( P=0.086 ) . No dose-response relationship could be established , as the higher dose ( 250 microg ) was less active than the lower dose both after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks . Still , a trend for a more rapid decrease of KI was noticed for both active groups as compared to placebo . In particular , the decrease in hot flush score ( isolated from the KI ) was found significant for both treatment groups after 6 weeks ( P<0.01 ) with respect to placebo . Results of the patients ' question naire were consistent with those of the KI , with the most pronounced effects being observed for the 100-microg treatment . CONCLUSIONS Daily intake of a hop extract , st and ardized on 8-PN as a potent phytoestrogen , exerted favorable effects on vasomotor symptoms and other menopausal discomforts . Hop-derived prenylated flavonoids may provide an attractive addition to the alternative treatments available for relief of hot flushes and other menopausal discomforts
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 .