Benefits of soy germ isoflavones in postmenopausal women with contraindication for conventional hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of isoflavones on vasomotor symptoms and blood lipids in postmenopausal women with contraindication for conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
This prospective, double-blind and placebo-controlled study included 50 postmenopausal women randomly divided into two groups: 25 women on soy germ isoflavones (60 mg per day, capsules) and 25 women on placebo. Inclusion criteria included: non-vegetarian, non-asian women whose last menstruation dated at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the study, with FSH > 40 mIU/ml, hot flushes and contraindication for HRT, not using tamoxifen or antibiotic and no disease of the gastrointestinal tract. For 6 months, the Kupperman menopausal index (KMI), the vaginal cytological maturation value (MV) and both hormonal and lipid profiles were assessed. The t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to compare the two groups.


RESULTS
In both groups, a decreased KI rate was observed. However, isoflavone was significantly superior to placebo in reducing hot flushes (44% versus 10%, respectively) (P < 0.05). After 6 months, the isoflavone group showed increased estradiol levels with unchanged FSH, LH, and vaginal cytology, and a reduction of 11.8% in LDL and an increase of 27.3% in HDL (P < 0.05 ). In the placebo group, just a reduction in MV was observed after 6 months (P < 0.05 ).


CONCLUSIONS
Soy germ isoflavone exerted favorable effects on vasomotor symptoms and lipid profile, showing itself to be an interesting alternative therapy for the postmenopausal women with contraindication for conventional HRT.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, São Paulo 18618-970, Brazil. epetri@fmb.unesp.br
Eliana
E
Petri Nahas
Jorge
J
Nahás Neto
Laurival
L
De Luca
Paulo
P
Traiman
Anaglória
A
Pontes
Ivete
I
Dalben
D001938:Brazil; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D045730:Soy Foods; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007529:Isoflavones; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone