Insights & Discussion
Phytoestrogens, used in various forms, have shown improvement in urogenital menopause symptoms and improved women's sexual function, promoting overall quality of life.
A thorough and systematic review was conducted on databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Scopus and ProQuest, spanning from the years 2000-2020. The focus was solely on randomized clinical trials. An evaluation of the quality of selected papers was carried out using the CONSORT checklist. In total, 33 high-quality papers were reviewed which discussed the different forms and uses of phytoestrogens.
The results of this systematic review reveal that phytoestrogens including Pueraria Mirifica, fennel, Hop plant, Glycine Max, soy, red clover, black cohosh, ginsing, cimicifugaracemosa, genistein, diadzein, glycitein and isoflavone, used as various products such as oral capsules, pills, food supplements, enriched powders, vaginal gels, creams and suppositories, improved menopausal urogenital symptoms. Particularly, the recovery rate was found to be higher when these were applied vaginally. Further implication of these findings is the enhancement of women's sexual function following treatment, validating the use of phytoestrogens as a safe, low-risk and accessible method to alleviate urogenital symptoms.
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.
A combination of soybean germ extract and a probiotic significantly improved menopause-related conditions and mood in an ovariectomized rat model.
2023 Nutrients Anti-Menopausal Effect of Soybean Germ Extract and Lactobacillus gasseri in the Ovariectomized Rat Model Lee SH, Lim TJ, Yun EJ, Kim KH, Lim S
Animal Study Bacillus Menopause Soybean
The study employed an ovariectomized rat model to understand the effects of a combination of soybean germ extract containing 30% isoflavone and a probiotic. The methodology included assessing the effects of this combination on several health markers including body weight, estrogen markers, uterine and bone health, vascular markers, and neurotransmitter levels in these rats.
Once implemented, the combination of soybean germ extract and the probiotic showcased significant improvement in body weight and uterine and bone health of the rats. There were also noticeable effects on the lipid profile, liver function, and vascular markers. Most interestingly, the combination had a positive impact on the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, indicating potential mood-enhancing effects, which are crucial in managing symptoms post-menopause. This essentially shows the potential of a dietary approach towards menopausal management, especially given the observed benefits without the side effects typically associated with hormone replacement therapy.
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.
Isoflavone supplementation noticeably impacts menopausal symptoms and hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.
2022 Nutrition Research and Practice Effect of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Kang I, Rim CH, Yang HS, Choe JS, Kim JY, Lee M
Meta-Analysis Isoflavone Menopause Soybean
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.
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