TITLE:
Effect of daily supplementation of soy isoflavones on hot flashes and night sweats in African menopausal women
AUTHORS:
Ronbinson Enow Mbu, Yao Raphaël Abauleth, Akpadza Koffi, Namory Keita, Amadou Dolo, Jean Lankoande
KEYWORDS:
Menopause; Climacteric Disorders; Hot Flashes; Night Sweats; Soy Isoflavones; Genistin, Daidzin; Genistein; Daidzein; Inoclim
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to
evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical grade isoflavone supplement (Inoclim?) 40 mg per capsule of soy extract
rich in daidzin and genistin) on the number of hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal African women. This
open, prospective, multicenter study
involved 140 menopausal women with climacteric symptoms (i.e., a minimum of five hot flashes and/or moderate to
severe night sweats per day). These patients received a daily 40-mg
supplement of soy isoflavone contained in an Inoclim? capsule
(Laboratoire Innotech International, France). The dose was increased to two
capsules per day when there were more than five hot flashes or when the women
could not sleep because of night sweats. The patients were followed up over a
4-month period and data were analyzed using EPI-InfoTM version
3.5.1. The outcome measure was fewer hot flashes and night sweats. The mean
daily number of episodes of hot flashes was 5.7 at baseline and 1.8 at week 16,
corresponding to a decrease of 68.4% (n = 93 patients at baseline
and n = 66 at 16 weeks). The mean number of daily episodes of night sweats was
3.7 at baseline and 0.8 at week 16, corresponding to a decrease of 78.4% (n =
127 patients in the first week and n = 73 at 16 weeks). Over 80% of patients
took a single one 40 mg capsule per day. The percentage of patients who adhered
to the prescription was more than 95% during the 4-month follow-up period. These
results confirm the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical grade isoflavone
supplement (40 mg, rich in genistin and daidzin) on vasomotor symptoms in
menopausal women.