A combined treatment of soy and hop extract is a safe and effective alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapy for improving postmenopausal symptoms.
In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, researchers administered a combination of soy and hop extract to 78 postmenopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms. Conducted in the gynecological outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital, all subjects had modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) scores over 20. Participants either received the treatment or a placebo, as the researchers sought to evaluate their menopausal symptoms over the course of 12 weeks. The changes to their menopausal symptoms were tracked through self-reported KMI scores at multiple intervals. They also gauged measures such as the serum levels of bone metabolism markers, ultrasonographic parameters, hormone profiles, and safety assurances, amongst others.
In terms of test results, after undergoing the 12-week treatment, the group receiving the combined soy and hop extract saw more considerable improvements in their symptoms compared to the placebo group. They particularly noted notable enhancements in conditions like fatigue, paresthesia, arthralgia, and myalgia, palpitations, and vaginal dryness. Lowered increases in urine N-telopeptide, a biomarker for bone metabolism, were observed in treatment group participants aged 50 and older. Meanwhile, endometrial thickness and hormonal profiles did not display any significant shifts in either group. Importantly, throughout the trial, no harmful side effects or events arose, speaking to the safety of the treatment.
