Soy Isoflavones and Postmenopausal Women

Benefits of soy germ isoflavones in postmenopausal women with contraindication for conventional hormone replacement therapy.


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.

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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