Soy And Menopausal Symptoms
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Her advice is to continue to eat soy-rich foods, which have also been shown in some studies to help lower cholesterol, increase bone density, and possibly protect against some forms of cancer. But don't rely on supplements.
"This is so important for women to know, because they're going out and buying these isoflavones supplements, believing they help," says Vitolins. "Unfortunately, with protein comes fat, and many women are dieting and therefore don't get enough protein of any type, including soy protein. But it's so important to their overall nutrition. If you look at the Japanese, who have very low rates of menopause symptoms and other health conditions, they're eating soy protein in foods. They don't take supplements."
And the way they eat the soy may provide another clue to their better health. "The benefit in soy might be from consuming it in varying amounts," she concludes. "Estrogen receptors seem more primed when they are hit with soy protein, then don't get a lot, and are then hit again. Japanese women aren't counting their soy intake or the number of isoflavones they consume. Perhaps the best route might be to consume soy in varying amounts, rather than try to consume a continuously high amount every day."
Other studies seem to suggest that more isn't necessarily better - at least when it comes to soy and its reporting beneficial compounds. In a study last year, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found there was no difference in levels of key sex hormones in the blood - believed to bring relief from menopausal symptoms - among women who took varying levels of a soy supplement, even at doses higher than those used in Vitolin's research.
"This is an intriguing piece of evidence, especially since it's a longer study than most, which is very useful. But menopausal symptoms happen quickly and typically subside over time," the lead researcher of that study, Victoria Persky, MD, says. "This study indicates that isoflavones supplements are not necessarily beneficial, and we need more evidence."
04/21/03
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