phytoestrogens and Syndrome

Based on their nutrient composition, soybeans and related foods have been considered to be nutritious and healthy for humans. Particularly, the biological activity and subsequent benefits of soy products may be associated with the presence of isoflavone in soybeans. As an alternative treatment for menopause-related symptoms, isoflavone has gained much popularity for postmenopausal women who have concerns related to undergoing hormone replacement therapy. However, current research has still not reached a consensus on the effects of isoflavone on humans. This overview is a summary of the current literature about the processing of soybeans and isoflavone types (daidzein, genistein, and S-equol) and supplements and their extraction and analysis as well as information about the utilization of isoflavones in soybeans. The processes of preparation (cleaning, drying, crushing and dehulling) and extraction of soybeans are implemented to produce refined soy oil, soy lecithin, free fatty acids, glycerol and soybean meal. The remaining components consist of inorganic constituents (minerals) and the minor components of biologically interesting small molecules. Regarding the preventive effects on diseases or cancers, a higher intake of isoflavones is associated with a moderately lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. It may also reduce the risks of breast and colorectal cancer as well as the incidence of breast cancer recurrence. Consumption of isoflavones or soy foods is associated with reduced risks of endometrial and bladder cancer. Regarding the therapeutic effects on menopausal syndrome or other diseases, isoflavones have been found to alleviate vasomotor syndromes even after considering placebo effects, reduce bone loss in the spine and ameliorate hypertension and in vitro glycemic control. They may also alleviate depressive symptoms during pregnancy. On the other hand, isoflavones have not shown definitive effects regarding improving cognition and urogenital symptoms. Because of lacking standardization in the study designs, such as the ingredients and doses of isoflavones and the durations and outcomes of trials, it currently remains difficult to draw overall conclusions for all aspects of isoflavones. These limitations warrant further investigations of isoflavone use for women's health.

Topics: Animals; Chemical Fractionation; Dietary Supplements; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Glycine max; Hot Flashes; Humans; Isoflavones; Menopause; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Phytoestrogens; Plant Extracts; Spectrum Analysis; Structure-Activity Relationship; Syndrome

To assess the effects of 2 months of treatment with Femarelle for climacteric syndrome in Taiwanese postmenopausal women.. A multi-center, open-label trial of 260 postmenopausal women, age ≥ 45 years with vasomotor symptoms. Women were enrolled after obtaining a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination. They then received Femarelle (640 mg/d) twice daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in the frequency and severity of hot flushes from baseline to 4 weeks (1 month) and 8 weeks (2 months). Changes of general climacteric syndrome were assessed using a modified climacteric scale designed by Greene.. The frequency and severity of hot flushes were significantly improved with Femarelle use (p < 0.001). After 8 weeks of treatment, the percentage of women with various climacteric syndromes was reduced (from 100% to 20.9% for hot flushes, from 97.7% to 87.9% for psychological symptoms, from 93.8% to 78.8% for somatic symptoms, and from 87.8% to 74.9% for sexual symptoms). General climacteric syndrome scores also significantly decreased, from 20.8 ± 0.7 at the time of enrollment to 12.9 ± 0.7 after 8 weeks of Femarelle treatment (p < 0.0001). Participants experienced improvement of various climacteric symptoms and signs after 8 weeks of treatment (75.1% for hot flushes, 68.7% for psychological symptoms, 70.6% for somatic symptoms, and 69.0% for sexual problems respectively). After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment with Femarelle, patients showed statistically significant improvement in climacteric symptoms (p < 0.0001). Three women (1.2%) withdrew from the study after 4 weeks of treatment due to adverse effects.. Femarelle significantly improved climacteric symptoms in Taiwanese postmenopausal women. However, further evaluation is needed regarding the safety of long-term consumption.

Topics: Aged; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Plant Extracts; Postmenopause; Severity of Illness Index; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexuality; Syndrome

To explore the effect of equol of a isoflavone metabolite on menopausal women and the menopausal syndrome.. 71 menopausal women living in Harbin were assessed, and the participants were at the age of 45-55 years. The concentrations of Isoflavone and equol in first-void morning urines were analyzed by HPLC. All participants completed Kupperman questionnaire tables which were used to evaluate the severity of menopausal symptoms. The association between the equol concentrations in menopausal women and the menopausal syndrome were examine by statistical analysis method.. The negative association between the urinary equol concentrations and the menopausal index score (P < 0.05) were found, and the negative correlation only exists in EP group after grouping at the concentration of 0.5 microg/ml equol.. It was suggested that it were more higher of urinary equol concentration in menopausal women, more less of the menopausal symptoms.

Topics: Equol; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Isoflavones; Menopause; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Soybean Proteins; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syndrome

The effects of a phytoestrogen diet on sexual differentiation were examined in lactationally exposed rat pups. Rat dams were provided a semipurified diet containing the isoflavonoid coumestrol at a concentration (0.01%) previously found to be uterotrophic. Coumestrol treatment did not significantly alter the time of vaginal opening, although vaginal opening did occur at a lighter body weight. By 132 days of age, 83% of coumestrol-treated females exhibited the cornified smears of a persistent estrous state. By contrast, 91% of control animals were cycling regularly at 132 days of age. Estradiol stimulation failed to elicit an LH elevation in the coumestrol-treated animals, suggesting the possibility of neuroendocrine impairments. These findings indicate that the female offspring of mothers fed a low-level phytoestrogen diet during lactation manifest early and nearly universal disruption of cyclicity of the persistent-estrus type.

Topics: Animals; Anovulation; Body Weight; Coumestrol; Diet; Eating; Estrogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; Female; Isoflavones; Lactation; Luteinizing Hormone; Phytoestrogens; Plant Preparations; Plants, Edible; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sexual Maturation; Syndrome