Healthy Support with Soy

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: October 9, 2006

While soy is not a replacement for prescription medication, over fourteen clinical trials show that soy can help you manage midlife by reducing hot flashes and other common symptoms of menopause.^(1-10)

Soy consumption has been shown to significantly improve a woman’s comfort and health during perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. A recent medical review in American Family Physician (the journal of the prestigious American Association of Family Physicians) states that, “Soy has been found to significantly reduce the incidence of hot flashes associated with menopause.” ⁽⁶⁾

Scientists became very interested in soy’s potential role for menopause support after demographic studies revealed that only 9% of women living in Asia, where the diet is rich in soy, experienced hot flashes during midlife, in contrast to almost 80-90% of Western women who suffer through menopause.

Many scientists feel that soy isoflavones, which are similar to the body’s estrogen in structure, may support health by lightly binding to estrogen receptors, thus, producing some of the benefits of estrogen without negative side effects.

Because soy may support menopause, energy, bone and heart health, many doctors now recommend soy as a safe, effective dietary supplement to help women support a healthy midlife transition and beyond.  As always, discuss this information with your own physician or healthcare provider to determine what is right for you.

References:

1. Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998 Jan;91(1):6-11. The effect of dietary soy supplementation on hot flushes. Albertazzi P, et al.

2. Soy Isoflavones Decrease Hot-Flash Frequency: A Meta-Analysis of Studies Examining Soy Protein, Soyfood, and Soy Isoflavones. M. Kurzer, et al. 5th International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, Sept. 21-24th, 2003. Orlando, FL.

3. Menopause 2000 Mar-Apr;7(2):105-11. Clinical effects of a standardized soy extract in postmenopausal women: a pilot study. Scambia G, et al.

4. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2002 Mar;99(3):389-94. Benefits of soy isoflavone therapeutic regimen on menopausal symptoms. Han KK, et al.

5. Menopause 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):329-34. Effects of a standardized soy extract on hot flushes: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Faure ED, et al.

6. Morelli V and Naquin C. Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Menopause. AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 2002. Jul 1;66(1):129-134.

7. “Impact of Soy on Menopausal Symptoms” (Susan Appling, Kathleen Kelly, Jerilyn Allen), Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) 17th Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida, February 2003.

8. Am J Epidemiol 2001 Apr 15;153(8):790-3. Soy product intake and hot flashes in Japanese women: Results from a community-based prospective study. Nagata C, et al.

9. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2001 Jan;97(1):109-115. Soy intake related to menopausal symptoms, serum lipids, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal Japanese women. Somekawa Y, et al.

10. Nagata C, Shimizu H, Takami R, Hayashi M, Takeda N, Yasuda K, Serum concentrations of estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and soy product intake in relation to psychologic well-being in peri- and postmenopausal Japanese women. Metabolism 2000 Dec;49(12):1561-4.

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