Insights & Discussion
Isoflavone supplementation noticeably impacts menopausal symptoms and hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.
In order to examine isoflavones effects on menopausal symptoms and the associated hormonal alterations, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. To do this, the PubMed and EMBASE databases were used, but the selected studies were restricted to random controlled trials (RCTs) assessing isoflavone supplementation's impact on menopausal symptoms. Overall, 11 studies were chosen for the final quantitative evaluation, and the isoflavone intervention amount varied among these studies.
The Meta-analysis displayed that supplementing isoflavones meaningfully increased estradiol levels and the Kupperman index (a composite scoring of multiple menopausal symptoms intensity). Yet, there were no significant impacts observed on hot flashes, or the release of two specific hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. It should be noted that there was a significant inconsistency in estradiol levels and Kupperman index findings among different studies.
Discover Related Insights
Changes in gut microbiome associated with a low-fat, vegan diet and cooked soybeans may reduce the frequency and severity of postmenopausal hot flashes.
2023 Complementary Therapies in Medicine A dietary intervention for postmenopausal hot flashes: A potential role of gut microbiome. An exploratory analysis Kahleova H, Holtz DN, Strom N, La Reau A, Kolipaka S, Schmidt N, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Gut Microbiota Hot Flushes Low Fat Diet
In this study, 84 postmenopausal women experiencing two or more moderate-to-severe hot flashes daily were randomly assigned to a low-fat, vegan diet with daily cooked soybeans or allowed to maintain their usual diet. Over a 12-week period, the frequency and severity of hot flashes were tracked using a mobile application. In 11 women from the group, gut microbiome was analyzed at the start and after 12 weeks of the dietary intervention, using deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
The women who underwent gut microbiome testing experienced a substantial decrease in total hot flashes during the dietary intervention, and severe hot flashes disappeared entirely in this group. Alpha and beta diversity within the microbiome showed no significant difference in the intervention group between baseline and the end of the 12 weeks. Interestingly, adjustments in the relative abundance of certain bacterial strains, notably Porphyromonas and Prevotella corporis, were linked with the reduction in severe day hot flashes, while changes in the relative abundance of Clostridium asparagiforme were associated with a reduction in total severe hot flashes and severe night hot flashes.
Soy protein, bioactive peptides, and isoflavones are generally safe for consumption and may help reduce the risk of several significant health conditions.
2023 PharmaNutrition Soy protein, bioactive peptides, and isoflavones: A review of their safety and health benefits Tan ST, Tan SS, Tan CX
Review Article Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Isoflavone
Methodology: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. It began with a sophisticated multi-database search, featuring resources like Google Scholar, Scopus, and others. This search targeted articles published from 2017 to March 2023 and used specific keywords for accuracy. Forty-three articles were handpicked from this process after excluding reviews, conference reports, duplicates, inaccessible texts, and any non-English publications.
Discussion of Results: A thorough examination of the chosen articles resulted in the conclusion that soy proteins, soy bioactive peptides, and soy isoflavones are typically safe for human consumption. Furthermore, it was found that the consumption of these compounds may have beneficial effects, potentially lowering risk factors for ailments such as osteoporosis, various cancers, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and more.
A diet low in fat, vegan, and inclusive of daily cooked soybeans significantly reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women.
2022 Menopause A dietary intervention for vasomotor symptoms of menopause: a randomized, controlled trial Barnard ND, Kahleova H, Holtz DN, Znayenko-Miller T, Sutton M, Holubkov R, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Hot Flushes Low Fat Diet Menopause
The methodology used involved the selection of 84 postmenopausal women who reported at least two moderate-to-severe hot flashes. These women were randomly divided into two cohorts, one prescribed the dietary intervention of a low-fat, vegan diet coupled with daily servings of cooked soybeans and a control group which did not alter their diet. Over a 12-week period, a mobile application was used to track hot flashes in terms of frequency and severity. Further, the participants’ vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms were assessed using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. In some participants, the presence of urinary equol, a compound formed in the gut after consuming soy, was measured following the intake of the specified amount of soybeans for 3 days.
In discussing the results, a remarkable decrease was noted in the frequency and severity of hot flashes experienced by the group assigned the dietary intervention versus those in the control group. In addition, after 12 weeks, half of the participants adhering to the vegan diet and daily soy intake reported complete cessation of moderate-to-severe hot flashes. Furthermore, notable decreases were reported in the intervention group in menopause-specific quality of life domains including vasomotor, physical, and sexual. Neither the season nor the participant's ability to produce equol played a notable role in these improvements.
Soybean lettuce extract effectively reduces symptoms of menopause syndrome without notable side effects.
2022 Nutrients Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Fermented Soybean-Lettuce Powder for Improving Menopausal Symptoms Han AL, Lee HK, Chon HS, Pae HO, Kim MS, Shin YI, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Lettuce Menopause Soybean
The study targeted adult women suffering from menopausal syndrome with a Kupperman index of 15 or more. Participants were split into two groups – the experimental group and the placebo group. The research spanned over a four-week period and embraced a total of 39 participants (with one dropping out). Measurements of body mass index, waist circumference, and several cholesterol levels were taken before and after the study, but these didn't show any significant changes.
In the results discussion, the most notable finding was a significant reduction in the Kupperman index in the experimental group. They were given the natural nitric oxide-containing soybean lettuce extract. This decrease denotes the alleviation of menopausal symptoms, offering an effective, natural alternative to hormone therapy. Conversely, the placebo group didn't show any substantial change, reinforcing the efficacy of the soybean lettuce extract.
Equol, a powerful estrogen-like compound derived from soy, could be key to better health in postmenopausal women if gut microbiome could be altered to facilitate its production.
2022 Nutrients Maximizing the Estrogenic Potential of Soy Isoflavones through the Gut Microbiome: Implication for Cardiometabolic Health in Postmenopausal Women Leonard LM, Choi MS, Cross TWL
Review Article Gut Microbiota Isoflavone Oestrogen
The methodology of this research involved looking closely at the properties and actions of equol, a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein. This substance is produced through the process of intestinal bacterial metabolism, but the ability to produce it is not present in over half of the human population due to the absence of specific equol-producing bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Given that the make up of the gut microbiome varies from person to person, understanding the effects of equol and daidzein in the human body has been a complex task. Furthermore, the fact that rodents easily produce equol complicates the matter, as findings from rodent models may not directly apply to humans.
While interpreting the results, it was found that equol, due to its strong estrogenic activity, could potentially be an excellent means to manage postmenopausal symptoms and overall health. However, the ability to produce equol varies significantly among people, based on the bacterial microflora of their gut. Therefore, the benefits of equol could potentially be amplified by finding effective methods to manipulate the gut microbiome to foster equol production, a strategy that could lead to improved health outcomes for postmenopausal women.
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