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 .
New equol supplement for relieving menopausal symptoms: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Japanese women
Objectives : Equol , a metabolite of the isoflavone daidzein , is hypothesized to play a major role in the health benefits of soy . We examined the effect of a new S-equol supplement on  menopausal symptoms and mood states . Design : We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial with our new equol supplement for 12 weeks with 134 Japanese women ( aged 40 - 59 years ) . They were r and omly assigned to three groups : placebo ( n = 44 ) , 10 mg of equol per day ( EQ-1 ; n = 44 ) , and 10 mg of equol three times per day ( EQ-3 ; n = 46 ) . Habitual isoflavone intake was limited to 20 mg/d . Participants completed menopausal symptom and Profile of Mood States question naires at baseline and postintervention . Physical examination and blood and 24-hour urine collection were performed at baseline and postintervention . Results : At baseline , total menopausal symptom score varied by menopausal and equol producer status ( 34.3 % producers ) . A total of 127 participants ( 94.8 % ) completed the trial . No adverse effects were reported , except for a systemic rash in one EQ-3 woman . The anxiety scores of equol producers were lower than those of nonproducers ( P < 0.05 ) . Significant differences between premenopausal and perimenopausal/postmenopausal symptom scores were observed for anxiety , somatic , and total scores . After the EQ-3 intervention , perimenopausal/postmenopausal equol nonproducers showed significant decreases from baseline in all menopausal symptom scores except depression ( P < 0.01 ) . Compared with placebo , the EQ-3 group showed significant decreases in depression scores ( P < 0.05 ) , as well as significant decreases in Tension-Anxiety ( P < 0.05 ) , Depression-Dejection ( P < 0.05 ) and Fatigue ( P < 0.01 ) and increases in Vigor ( P < 0.05 ) of the Profile of Mood States . Conclusion : S-equol supplement improved mood-related symptoms in perimenopausal/postmenopausal equol nonproducers
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 .