Mood swings, sweating, hot flashes , depression, restlessness, dry skin and eyes, and many other changes in a woman’s body are some of the common symptoms of menopause. Being more specific, menopause is a transition period in a woman’s life that involves a drop in the levels of sex hormones that regulate many processes in her body. In other words, it is not just about “stopping having your period” and, of course, it is not about any disease . To ease their symptoms, some women change their diet, habits, and use supplements. On the other hand, there are those who resort to hormone therapy. About the benefits and risks of these therapies, women should be informed.
What changes occur in menopause?
Menopause is the period in which the reproductive phase ends in women due to the death of ovarian functions, which is manifested by a permanent interruption of the menstrual cycle ( maintained for 1 year ). It is individual how each woman will go through this period, because some symptoms do not have to appear. It depends a lot on your life habits, if you have given birth, how much you are exposed to stress, if you are a smoker or not, as well as if you suffer from any chronic disease, among many other variables.
Something to keep in mind is that, during menopause, cardiovascular problems, changes in metabolism, changes in the urogenital mucosa, loss of libido, increased risk of osteoporosis and even mental disorders can occur. Hot flashes are the most common change a woman notices during menopause and the one she mentions most often when describing the changes she feels.
How can the symptoms of menopause be relieved?
Since all changes are caused by falling estrogen levels, it is necessary to compensate for this deficiency. Some women turn to hormone therapy by taking estrogen. However, this method is not always safe, so it is not recommended for all women . This type of therapy may carry certain risks. In this aspect, an increase in cases of breast cancer, blood clots or uterine cancer has been linked. It is necessary to consult a doctor and start hormone replacement therapy only under medical supervision.
On the other hand, some women want to relieve their symptoms by using some natural preparations or foods. Soy contains substances that show estrogen-like effects. Genistein and daidzein are isoflavones found in soy. Its effect is reflected in binding to estrogen receptors. In this way, they simulate their action and prevent the appearance of alterations such as hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, etc.
The benefits of soy phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms have also been shown in several studies. In fact, a meta -analysis of 19 studies showed that soy supplements reduced hot flashes by about 26% compared to placebo. What can be a drawback is that soy isoflavones need several weeks to get the proper effect, even a few months.
It should also be borne in mind that Asian women suffer much less from the symptoms of menopause. This is because soy is very common in their diet.
Benefits and risks of using soy
Since menopause, due to estrogen deficiency, there is an increase in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, as well as a decrease in the elasticity of blood vessels. In addition, in menopause, the decrease in estrogen causes a decrease in bone density. Cardiovascular problems and hip fractures are common. Mimicking the effects of estrogen can reduce cardiovascular risks, according to studies. Research on the effect on bone density is not complete, but some studies have shown a small but significant percentage of the positive effect of soy isoflavones.
Since estrogen can affect the growth of breast cancer cells, soy is suspected of being a risk. This is because this plant contains substances that mimic the action of estrogen. Therefore, numerous studies have been carried out to determine the potential risk.
The Dana-Faber Cancer Institute states that estrogens and phytoestrogens have different structures . Therefore, phytoestrogens are never converted to estrogen to cause cell growth.
On the one hand, we have research that includes studies from the last 25 years, showing that soy does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
However, there is other research that does not fully agree with these claims. It is stated that the studies were done in vitro, which does not mean that these results are obtained in humans. In addition, different sources of soy are thought to have different effects on breast cancer. So the results cannot be compared. The primary sources are edamame, tofu or tempeh, while the secondary sources are meat with soy protein. Soy supplements are also an important source of soy isoflavones.
Primary sources do not carry the risk of breast cancer cell growth. There are even indications of a reduction in cancer risk. This is also shown by research on the relationship between the risk of breast cancer in Asian women and women in the United States. Asian women are less likely to develop breast cancer, but the biggest effect is early initiation of soy consumption. It is not enough to consume soy only in adulthood.
Secondary sources can contain very high amounts of phytoestrogens, which can increase the risk. Since the supplement market is not strictly regulated by the FDA, care must be taken when consuming soy supplements. There are not enough studies indicating the efficacy of soy supplements. People with hormone-sensitive cancer should avoid these supplements because the level of isoflavones is not controlled and can be very high.
Studies on the effect of soy on menopausal symptoms have not yet been completed . It seems that some women are affected and others are not. If you are looking for a natural solution, soy can be a good option. If there is a history of breast cancer in the family, it is necessary to consult a doctor. You have to collect all the necessary information before using it. Primary sources of isoflavones, intake through food is safe, as numerous studies have shown.
References:
Li, L., Lv, Y., Xu, L., & Zheng, Q. (2015). Quantitative efficacy of soy isoflavones on menopausal hot flashes. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 79(4), 593–604. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12533
Menopause treatment (2019). Office on Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-treatment
Taku, K., Melby, M. K., Kronenberg, F., Kurzer, M. S., & Messina, M. (2012). Extracted or synthesized soybean isoflavones reduce menopausal hot flash frequency and severity. Menopause, 19(7), 776–790. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e3182410159
