Soy Germ Relieves Menopause Discomfort
Levels of the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone drop at the onset of menopause—a major chemical shift accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Initially, these may include hot flushes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Low levels of female hormones over the long term can contribute to other age-related changes such as bone loss, thinning of skin, reduced bladder muscle tone, and altered cognitive function.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been the standard approach to preventing the undesirable changes associated with menopause. Most women who start using HRT, however, stop using it after just one year because of fear of breast cancer, or due to side effects that can include irregular bleeding, breast pain, migraine, nausea, and weight gain. Recent studies have shown that HRT might increase heart disease and dementia risk, and for some women a previous history of blood clots or breast cancer precludes HRT use.
Phytoestrogens are plant components that have weak estrogen-like effects in the body. Common types include isoflavones, lignans, flavonoids, and cumestranes. Of these, isoflavones, which are found in relatively large amounts in soybeans, are the most powerful, although they have only a fraction of the effect of human estrogen. Studies have shown that soy extracts can reduce the symptoms of menopause, and eating a diet rich in soy foods can lower the risk of heart disease and possibly breast cancer. Other research suggests that isoflavones might reduce the likelihood of blood clots.
The current study included 50 postmenopausal women whose diets were not likely to include soy foods and who had not used HRT for at least six months. They were randomly assigned to receive either 1,000 mg of soy germ twice per day, providing 60 mg of isoflavones per day, or placebo for six months. Exams to determine vaginal and uterine health and blood tests were performed at regular intervals during the study. The women also rated the severity of their menopausal symptoms after two, four, and six months.
Symptom scores improved in both groups over the course of the study; however, when individual symptoms were considered separately, women using isoflavones were found to have significantly greater improvement in hot flushes than women receiving placebo. Specifically, 44% of the women in the isoflavone group, but only 12% of women in the placebo group, reported complete relief from hot flushes. Furthermore, vaginal changes associated with menopause remained stable in the isoflavone group but continue to become worse in the placebo group during the study. Blood tests revealed a significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels (11.8%) and increase in HDL-cholesterol levels (27.3%), indicating a lower risk of heart disease, after six months in women taking isoflavones. No changes in these blood levels occurred in women taking placebo.
The results of this study suggest that soy germ supplements can reduce menopausal symptoms and cardiac risk in postmenopausal women. The comparative effectiveness of soy germ, pure soy isoflavones, and dietary soy foods has yet to be determined. As healthcare providers search for safer alternatives to HRT, these findings continue to support recommending soy for relieving symptoms in postmenopausal women who cannot or prefer not to use HRT.
Maureen Williams, ND, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. She has a private practice in Quechee, VT, and does extensive work with traditional herbal medicine in Guatemala and Honduras. Dr. Williams is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.
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