Soy and Menopause Soy consumption appears to exert significant benefits for menopausal health. Data suggest that consumption of as little as 30 mg/day of soy isoflavones, intact with soy protein or as a extract, may reduce hot flushes with about 10-20% above the placebo effect.The greatest benefit of soy isoflavones may be realized when it is taken in divided doses throughout the day by subjects with the most severe symptoms. Two recent reports suggest that the greatest benefits from soy consumption are experienced by omen with the greatest initial hot flush frequency. In a position statement concerning the menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms, NAMS North American Menopause society) recommends as first step lifestyle changes either alone or combined with dietary isoflavones. A second potential benefit of soy consumption for postmenopausal women is improvement of cardiovascular health (see further). A third benefit of soy consumption for postmenopausal women is improvement of bone health (see further). ### References Murkies AL, Lombard C, Strauss BJ, Wilcox G, Burger HG, Morton MS. Dietary flour supplementation decreases post-menopausal hot flushes: effect of soy and wheat. Maturitas. 1995 Apr;21(3):189-95 Brzezinski, A., Adlercreutz, H., Shaoul, R., R?sler, A., Shmueli, A., Tanos, V. & Schenker, J. G. (1997) Short-term effects of phytoestrogen-rich diet on postmenopausal women. Menopause 4: 89-94. Washburn, S., Burke, G. L., Morgan, T. & Anthony, M. (1999) Effect of soy protein supplementation on serum lipoproteins, blood pressure, and menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal women. Menopause 6: 7-13. Albertazzi, P., Pansini, F., Bonaccorsi, G., Zanotti, L., Forini, E. & De Aloysio, D. (1998) The effect of dietary soy supplementation on hot flushes. Obstet. Gynecol. 91: 6-11. Scambia, G., Mango, D., Signorile, P. G., Angeli, R. A., Palena, C., Gallo, D., Bombardelli, E., Morazzoni, P., Riva, A. & Mancuso, S. (2000) Clinical effects of a standardized soy extract in postmenopausal women: a pilot study. Menopause 7: 105-111. Upmalis, D. H., Lobo, R., Bradley, L., Warren, M., Cone, F. L. & Lamia, C. A. (2000) Vasomotor symptom relief by soy isoflavone extract tablets in postmenopausal women: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo- controlled study. Menopause 7: 236- 242. Han, K. K., Soares, J. M., Haidar, M. A., Rodrigues de Lima, G. & Baracat, E. C. (2002) Benefits of soy isoflavone therapeutic regimen on menopausal symptoms. Obstet. Gynecol. 99: 389-394 Knight, D. C., Howes, J. B., Eden, J. A. & Howes, L. G. (2001) Effects on menopausal symptoms and acceptability of isoflavonecontaining soy powder dietary supplementation. Climacteric 4: 13-18. Faure ED, Chantre P, Mares P. Effects of a standardized soy extract on hot flushes: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.Menopause. 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):329-34. Messina, M. and Hughes, C. (2003) Efficacy of soyfoods and soybean isoflavone supplements for alleviating menopausal symptoms is positively related to initial hot flush frequency. J. Med. Food 6:1-11. 2 Kurzer, M.S., Morgan, T.M. and Greaves, K.A. Soy isoflavones decrease hot flash frequency: a meta-analysis of studies examining soy protein, soyfoods, and soy isoflavones. Fifth International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, Orlando, Florida, USA, September, 2003. Position statement of the North American Menopause Society ; treatment of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms(2004) Menopause vol 11 no1 p11-33 Nagata, C., Takatsuka, N., Kawakami, N. & Shimizu, H. (2001) Soy product intake and hot flashes in Japanese women: results from a community-based prospective study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 153: 790-793.