title: Soy germ isoflavones improve menopausal symptoms but have no effect on blood lipids in early postmenopausal Chinese women:  a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Estrogen therapy is, to date, the most effective treatment of menopausal syndrome and also has a favorable effect on lipid profiles. Because of its potential adverse effects, however, a more acceptable alternative therapy needs to be identified. This study examines the effect of soy germ isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and serum lipids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety early postmenopausal Chinese women, aged 45 to 60 years, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (30 each) receiving daily doses of 0 (placebo), 84, and 126 mg of soy germ isoflavones. Hot flush frequency, Kupperman scores, serum 17β-estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and serum lipids, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, and apolipoprotein B100, were assessed at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the frequency of hot flushes and the Kupperman index score decreased in all three treatment groups during the intervention period, but the percentage decreases in both were significantly greater in the two isoflavone groups (44.3 ± 19.1 and 57.8 ± 37.4 [84 mg isoflavones]; 48.5 ± 27.2 and 56.7 ± 26.7 [126 mg isoflavones]) than in the placebo group (27.8 ± 15.5 and 34.6 ± 46.2; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the changes in estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone among the three treatment groups during the study, and no significant differences were observed in the lipid components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A daily supplement of 84 or 126 mg soy germ isoflavones may improve menopausal symptoms, although neither dose was found to affect lipid profiles in early postmenopausal Chinese women after 24 weeks of treatment. The favorable effects are unlikely to be associated with female hormones.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Zi-lian
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shu-yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hui-fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hai-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Yu-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017698:Postmenopause; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007529:Isoflavones; D008055:Lipids; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D004958:Estradiol; C004742:daidzein; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone