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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
06:18
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Phytoestrogens for vasomotor menopausal symptoms
A E Lethaby1, J Brown, J Marjoribanks
1University of Auckland, O&G FMHS, Grafton Rd, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, 1142. a.lethaby@auckland.ac.nz
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 19, 2007
Summary
Phytoestrogen foods and supplements do not effectively alleviate menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. Studies showed no significant difference compared to placebo, with a strong placebo effect observed in many trials.
Area of Science:
- Menopause Research
- Phytotherapy
- Women's Health
Background:
- Vasomotor symptoms like hot flushes are common during menopause.
- Hormone replacement therapy is effective but carries risks, increasing interest in alternatives.
- Phytoestrogens, plant compounds with estrogenic action, are popular alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of phytoestrogen-rich foods and supplements for reducing menopausal hot flushes and night sweats.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) and grey literature.
- Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of peri- or postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, lasting at least 12 weeks.
- Excluded trials involving women with breast cancer history; data extraction and quality assessment by at least two authors.
Main Results:
- Thirty trials met inclusion criteria; few were suitable for meta-analysis.
- A meta-analysis of red clover extract (Promensil) showed no significant difference in hot flush frequency or reduction compared to placebo.
- Individual trials yielded mixed results, with many being low quality and underpowered; a significant placebo effect was noted.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the effectiveness of phytoestrogen treatments for alleviating menopausal symptoms.
- No evidence of estrogenic stimulation of the endometrium was observed with up to two years of use.
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