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 .
A pilot study on the effects of S-equol compared to soy isoflavones on menopausal hot flash frequency.
BACKGROUND S-equol , a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein , has been proposed as having potential for relief of menopausal symptoms . This study compared the efficacy of the natural S-equol supplement , SE5-OH , with isoflavones for relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms . METHODS An 8-week r and omized , double-blind , active comparator trial with SE5-OH was conducted in postmenopausal women ( aged 45 - 65 years ) , who experienced ≥5 hot flashes/day . Participants ( n=102 ) were assigned to one of four treatment groups : 10 ( n=24 ) , 20 ( n=27 ) , or 40 ( n=25 ) mg S-equol/day or soy isoflavones ( n=26 ) . Participants recorded their hot flash frequency and rated their menopause symptom severity . RESULTS Reductions in hot flash frequency at week 8 were similar for all treatment groups . However , based on analyses of the cumulative effect for the 8-week period , 40 mg/day S-equol had a greater reduction of hot flash frequency compared to isoflavones ( p=0.021 ) . A subgroup analysis further indicated that for subjects with > 8 hot flashes/day at baseline , 20 and 40 mg/day S-equol were superior to isoflavones in reducing hot flash frequency ( p=0.045 and p=0.001 , respectively ) . In addition , 10 and 20 mg/day S-equol improved muscle and joint pain score compared with isoflavones ( p=0.003 and p=0.005 , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS S-equol , 10 mg/day , appears to be as effective as soy isoflavones at reducing hot flash frequency and more effective for relieving muscle and joint pain in postmenopausal women .  S-equol , ≥20 mg/day , alleviates hot flashes to a greater extent than soy isoflavones in those women who experience > 8 hot flashes/day
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 .