[Effects of Isoflavone] 3 Reasons Why Isoflavone is Recommended for Menopausal Women

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

Soybeans are widely known as a food rich in vegetable protein, so much so that they are often referred to as ‘beef grown in the field.’ But there is another treasure hidden in the beans. It is ‘isoflavone’, also called plant estrogen.

Isoflavone is a phytochemical contained in soybeans and has a similar molecular structure and efficacy to the female hormone, estrogen. Therefore, it is a popular ingredient for women who need to manage menopausal symptoms due to decreased estrogen.

Today, we will look at some papers and see exactly how isoflavones can help with menopausal symptoms.

After menopause, estrogen levels decrease, causing dysfunction in the center that regulates body temperature. Typical symptoms that occur due to this include sudden flushing of the body, sweating, and facial flushing caused by dilation of skin blood vessels. Although it is not life-threatening, it causes great discomfort in the daily lives of menopausal women.

In this regard, a report was published in Maturitas in 2011 that studied how isoflavone intake affects the frequency and duration of facial flushing.

These are not the only symptoms caused by decreased estrogen. Throughout our lives, our body's bones go through a repeated process of being resorbed and regenerated. During this time, estrogen inhibits the function of thyroid hormones, helps the absorption of calcium along with vitamin D, prevents bone decomposition (bone resorption), and promotes reproduction. Therefore, as the concentration of estrogen decreases, bone mass loss increases and the risk of developing osteoporosis increases as well.

A 2004 study published in the Journal of Women’s Health reported the relationship between isoflavone intake and bone resorption:

Menopause brings not only physical changes but also psychological changes. As the balance of the autonomic nervous system is disrupted, people experience extreme mood changes, and their anxious and depressed feelings do not go away, causing them to become nervous.

In this regard, in 2016, a paper was published in the Archives of Gynecology that studied the effect of isoflavone intake on depression symptoms in women suffering from menopausal symptoms.

Today, we looked at the benefits of isoflavones related to menopausal women's health. Isoflavones have many benefits, but some people should be careful about consuming them. Because it is mainly extracted from soybeans, people who are allergic to soybeans should be careful when consuming it. As mentioned earlier, it has a similar effect to estrogen, so people who are sensitive to estrogen should also be careful.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.