The Effect of Phytoestrogens on Menopause Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center AND Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Candidate in Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a major concern in women’s productivity. Low estrogen in this period brings about many complications. Besides hot flashes, which are the most common menopausal symptom, women might experience vaginal dryness, sleeping disorders, depression, low bone density, as well as cardiovascular diseases. To decrease these life-threatening complications, postmenopausal women receive varying treatments including hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Among the replacement therapies, phytoestrogens are special. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of phytoestrogens on menopause symptoms.Methods: This was a systematic review of the previous studies. The search was conducted through Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Scientific Information Database (SID) and IranMedex databases during 2013-2017, using the keywords menopause, climacteric, phytoestrogens, isoflavones, non-steroidal estrogen, and menopausal symptoms.Findings: Ultimately, 25 articles, including 7 meta-analyses, 14 clinical trials, 2 cohort studies, and 2 cross-sectional ones were found focusing on the effect of phytoestrogens on menopause symptoms. These studies measured the effect of phytoestrogens on depression, vaginite atrofica, hot flashes, cardiovascular diseases indices and blood pressure, bone status, and the risk of cancer in women.Conclusion: The results revealed that having estrogenic effects, the phytoestrogens could be considered as a proposed treatment to relieve menopause symptoms in the hope of improving women’s quality of life during this time span.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 36, Issue 477 - Serial Number 477
March and April 2018
Pages 446-459

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 January 2018
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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