title: A pilot study on the effects of S-equol compared to soy isoflavones on menopausal hot flash frequency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  S-equol, a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein, has been proposed as having potential for relief of menopausal symptoms. This study compared the efficacy of the natural S-equol supplement, SE5-OH, with isoflavones for relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week randomized, double-blind, active comparator trial with SE5-OH was conducted in postmenopausal women (aged 45-65 years), who experienced ≥5 hot flashes/day. Participants (n=102) were assigned to one of four treatment groups: 10 (n=24), 20 (n=27), or 40 (n=25) mg S-equol/day or soy isoflavones (n=26). Participants recorded their hot flash frequency and rated their menopause symptom severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reductions in hot flash frequency at week 8 were similar for all treatment groups. However, based on analyses of the cumulative effect for the 8-week period, 40 mg/day S-equol had a greater reduction of hot flash frequency compared to isoflavones (p=0.021). A subgroup analysis further indicated that for subjects with >8 hot flashes/day at baseline, 20 and 40 mg/day S-equol were superior to isoflavones in reducing hot flash frequency (p=0.045 and p=0.001, respectively). In addition, 10 and 20 mg/day S-equol improved muscle and joint pain score compared with isoflavones (p=0.003 and p=0.005, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S-equol, 10 mg/day, appears to be as effective as soy isoflavones at reducing hot flash frequency and more effective for relieving muscle and joint pain in postmenopausal women. S-equol, ≥20 mg/day, alleviates hot flashes to a greater extent than soy isoflavones in those women who experience >8 hot flashes/day.
authors.affiliation: Pharmavite LLC, Northridge, CA 91604, USA. bjenks@pharmavite.net
authors.forename: Belinda H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jenks
authors.forename: Soh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ragland
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; C531288:SE5-OH; D030262:Soybean Proteins