Phytohormones instead of estrogen? You are being deceived again!
Soy supplements do not help postmenopausal women
This conclusion was reached by researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University (Oregon Health and Science University in Portland) in Portland. The results of their work are published in the journal Menopause: Effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on menopausal quality of life.
A popular summary of the article (Supplemental Soy of No Benefit After Menopause) is published in MedPage Today – VM.
Recently, there has been a growing attention to the consumption of isoflavonoids by postmenopausal women. This is partly due to the Women's Health Initiative's call to find an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, which increases the risk of breast cancer and heart and vascular diseases. Isoflavonoids have a structure similar to estrogen. According to a common opinion, especially among sellers of dietary supplements, due to this they have an affinity for estrogen receptors and a similar biological effect and can replace the lack of estrogen in the body during postmenopause. Some previous studies have shown that Asian women in menopause are less likely to experience hot flashes than North American women. In part, this may be due to the frequent presence of soybeans in the diet of Asian women. Soybeans contain isoflavonoids such as genistein, daidzein and glycitein.
To test this hypothesis about the impact of soy consumption on the quality of life of menopausal women, Dr. Paula Amato and her colleagues used data from another study that examined the effect of soy consumption on the development of osteoporosis in women (Osteoporosis Prevention Using Soy Study). It was attended by women aged 40 to 60 years, whose level of follicle-stimulating hormone in the blood was at least 30 mMU / ml, and the last menstruation occurred at least 12 months ago. The participants were randomly divided into 3 groups: the first group received 80 mg of soy isoflavonoids per day in the form of dietary supplements, the second group — 120 mg, and the third group — placebo. For 2 years of the study, scientists assessed the quality of life of women by monthly questionnaires filled out by them. The questionnaires contained questions about physical, psychological and sexual health, which was evaluated in points from 1 to 8.
In the groups taking dietary supplements, women had an increased concentration of isoflavonoids in the blood, compared with the placebo group. However, the results of the questionnaire analysis did not reveal any differences in the quality of life independently assessed by women between the experimental and placebo groups. For example, the average assessment of their sexual health by women was 2.98 points in the placebo group, 2.92 points in the 80 mg group and 2.71 points in the 120 mg group of soy isoflavonoids. The results of transvaginal ultrasound also showed no differences in the thickness of the endometrium in women from different groups. Moreover, two women from the experimental groups had cancer during the study — endometrial adenocarcinoma and breast cancer.
Thus, it cannot be assumed that regular consumption of soy phytohormones by postmenopausal women can become an alternative to hormone replacement therapy and replace the lack of estrogen in the female body.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru05.04.2013