phytoestrogens and Mental-Disorders

Women frequently chose alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for treatment of menopause even though medical indications for estrogens may be present. Prior breast cancer or fear of breast cancer is a major consideration. This review of alternatives to estrogen discusses the evidence linking breast cancer to HRTs and compares potential risks and benefits of HRT to nonHRT alternatives for relief of vasomotor symptoms, vaginal atrophy, neurocognitive changes and prevention of heart disease and osteoporosis. Practical guidelines are suggested for use of alternatives for each problem.

Topics: Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Atrophy; Bone Density; Bone Resorption; Breast Neoplasms; Calcitonin; Calcium; Cardiovascular Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Contraindications; Diphosphonates; Double-Blind Method; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Estrogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; Female; Fractures, Bone; Hot Flashes; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Isoflavones; Life Style; Menopause; Mental Disorders; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk; Safety; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; Urothelium; Vagina

To evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of Pueraria mirifica in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms.. Open-label study.. Hat Yai Regional Hospital, Thailand.. Pre and postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats. Other unpleasant symptoms, urogenital and psychological symptoms, were also evaluated.. Patients were enrolled voluntarily and randomly received 50 mg or 100 mg of Pueraria mirifica in capsules, once daily for six months.. Of the 48 enrolled patients, 11 cases were excluded for failing to complete the initial work-up. Thirty-seven cases were evaluated. 20 of 37 (54.1%) randomly received a dose of 50 mg/day of Pueraria mirifica (Group A), and 17 of 37 (45.9%) received 100 mg/day of Pueraria mirifica (Group B). The mean of the modified Greene climacteric scale decreased from 35.6 to 26.6, 17.2 and 15.1 in group A, while group B, declined from 32.6 to 21.0, 14.8 and 13.6 at 1-, 3- and 6-month respectively. The mean serum estradiol, fluctuated from the baseline of 76.6 to 55.4, 56.7, 72.5, 69.2, 114.2 and 74.5 pg/ml at 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-month respectively. Whereas the mean serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) was stable in the range of; 27.1/12.6, 28.3/12.9 and 22.5/11.4 mIU/ml at baseline, 3- and 6-month respectively.. Pueraria mirifica, containing phytoestrogens, relatively alleviated the climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women. The transient negative profiles occurred in a small number of subjects that included anemia, and liver profiles. While there was a slight decrease in lipoproteins and an increase in hormonal profiles, Pueraria mirifica demonstrates great promise in the treatment of climacteric symptoms among perimenopausal women. However, optimal doses should be clinically assessed, to meet appropriate individual responses.

Topics: Adult; Climacteric; Female; Female Urogenital Diseases; Follow-Up Studies; Hot Flashes; Humans; Isoflavones; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Pueraria; Treatment Outcome; Vasomotor System