Phytoestrogen therapy for menopausal symptoms?

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7309.354

BMJ 2001;323:354-355 ( 18 August )

Editorials

Phytoestrogen therapy for menopausal symptoms?

There's no good evidence that it's any better than placebo

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Popular media would have us believe that plant constituents with a phenolic structure similar to oestrogen, known as phyto(plant) oestrogens, provide a natural alternative to the use ofpostmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Are the popular mediaright?

Phytoestrogens, found in a wide variety of edible plants, may display both oestrogenic and antioestrogenic effects. Epidemiologicalstudies, primarily comparing Asian and Western populations, havebeen interpreted to indicate that consumption of a diet rich inphytoestrogens ameliorates oestrogen deficiency symptoms in postmenopausalwomen $---$ and may protect against breast cancer, bone loss, and cardiovasculardisease. Consequently there is a global movement towards increasedconsumption of foods rich in phytoestrogens, and tablet formulationsof concentrated isoflavone extracts are being heavily promoted.However, more recent intervention studies question the validityof the proposed benefits of phytoestrogen supplementation, withlittle data in postmenopausal women to support a role for phytoestrogensas an alternative to conventional . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Phytoestrogens and menopause: Alan J Husband and Mario de Lemos
BMJ 2002 324: 52. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Nikander, E., Kilkkinen, A., Metsa-Heikkila, M., Adlercreutz, H., Pietinen, P., Tiitinen, A., Ylikorkala, O. (2003). A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial With Phytoestrogens in Treatment of Menopause in Breast Cancer Patients. Obstet Gynecol 101: 1213-1220 [Abstract] [Full text]
Grimes, D. A., Lobo, R. A. (2002). Perspectives on the Women's Health Initiative Trial of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Obstet Gynecol 100: 1344-1353 [Abstract] [Full text]
Grady, D. (2002). A 60-Year-Old Woman Trying to Discontinue Hormone Replacement Therapy. JAMA 287: 2130-2137 [Full text]
Husband, A. J, de Lemos, M. (2002). Phytoestrogens and menopause. BMJ 324: 52-52 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Please declare competing interests transparently: Ron Law
bmj.com, 18 Aug 2001 [Full text]
Single Focus Intervention Is Often Too Narrow: Ned Hoke
bmj.com, 19 Aug 2001 [Full text]
Published evidence supports a role for phytoestrogens in menopause: Alan Husband
bmj.com, 27 Aug 2001 [Full text]
Soy isoflavones : an effective treatment of menopause disturbances: F Firenzuoli, et al.
bmj.com, 27 Aug 2001 [Full text]
Phytoestrogens use in breast cancer: Mario de Lemos
bmj.com, 28 Aug 2001 [Full text]