Soy
Isoflavones and Postmenopausal Women
Article Summary:
This study aimed to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on
vasomotor symptoms and blood lipid levels in postmenopausal women.
Fifty women participated in the study, each of whom filled a number
of requirements: non-vegetarian, non-Asian, last menstruation was
at least 12 months before the study, experienced hot flushes, FSH
< 40 mIU/ml, contraindication for hormone replacement therapy,
not using tamoxifen or an antibiotic, and no disease of the gastrointestinal
tract. These 50 women were randomly divided into 2 groups, one receiving
60 mg of soy isoflavone capsules daily for 6 months, and the other
being a placebo group. During the 6 month period the women's Kupperman
menopausal index, vaginal cytological maturation value, and both
hormonal and lipid profiles were measured. At the end of study,
the group receiving soy isoflavone supplements experienced significantly
reduced hot flushes compared to the placebo group.
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The soy isoflavone supplement group showed an unchanged vaginal
cytological maturation value while the placebo group showed a reduced
maturation value after 6 months. With the many tests and measurments
taken on these women, the study concluded that soy isoflavones are
beneficial to vasomotor symptoms and lipid profiles in postmenopausal
women and is a comparable alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Authors:
Petri Nahas E, Nahas Neto J, De Luca L, Traiman P, Pontes A, Dalben
I.
Institution:
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School,
Sao Paulo State University, Sao Paulo 18618-970, Brazil.
Country of Publication:
Brazil
Source:
Maturitas. 2004 Aug 20;48(4):372-80. NIH |
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