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 a soy-rich diet on urogenital atrophy: a randomized, cross-over trial.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of a soy-rich diet on urogenital symptoms , vaginal health index , and vaginal cytology in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Thirty-six perimenopausal and postmenopausal women ( mean age 52.5+/-5.1 years ) participated in a r and omized , cross-over trial with two 12-week diet periods and two 4-week washout periods before and between treatments . The study diet consisted of a control diet ( soy-free diet ) and an isocaloric soy-rich diet ( 25 g soy protein in various forms of soy food containing more than 50 mg/day of isoflavones substituted for an equivalent amount of animal protein ) . Subjects were assessed for urogenital symptoms , vaginal health index , vaginal pH and vaginal cytology . The single physician and the single cytopathologist were blinded with regard to onset , period and r and omization number . Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test , significance was set as P<0.05 . RESULTS Good compliance to the diet was shown by the significant elevation of serum levels of daidzein and genistein during the soy-rich diet period . The symptoms of urge incontinence and vaginal dryness had significantly increased after 12-week of soy-free diet . All other urogenital symptoms did not change in both periods . The vaginal health index , the vaginal pH , the karyopyknotic index , and the maturation value were not significantly changed in both periods . CONCLUSION A soy-rich diet did not relieve the urogenital symptoms or restore the vaginal epithelium or improve the vaginal health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal Thai women
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 .