Nature’s Own HRT

Soy isoflavones are "phytonutrients"; naturally occurring chemicals which are found in soya beans and their products. The most important of the group are genistein and daidzein.

It is a reasonably well-known fact that in Eastern societies such as Japan and China, hormonal problems such as PMT and menopausal symptoms are rare, so much so that there is not even an equivalent of the phrase PMT in their languages. Hot flushes and mood swings at the time of menopause occur only minimally.

This fortunate situation is now known to be due to the high consumption of soya in these societies.

Isoflavones have “phyto-oestrogenic” effects. Put into plain language, this means that they have an effect similar to oestrogen, but much weaker. They bind onto the same receptor sites in the cells as do naturally produced oestrogens, and therefore occupy a large proportion of these sites. Many of the symptoms of PMT are caused by excessive oestrogen production. If a large number of the receptor sites are occupied by the much weaker phyto-oestrogens, then total oestrogen activity is reduced.

Symptoms at menopause are produced by a lack of oestrogen. Although the oestrogenic activity of the isoflavones is very low, it is sufficient to reduce or even eliminate these symptoms.

There are other plant derivatives that have oestrogen-balancing effects, the best known being dong quai for PMT symptoms, and black cohosh for menopause, but it is probable that soy isoflavones are the most versatile of all, and it is these that we have most experience in.

Opinions vary about the dosage level likely to be effective, but 60mg per day seems to be a reasonable level to aim at when beginning treatment. Once symptoms have abated, then 30mg or so will probably be sufficient to maintain the situation. Most isoflavone supplements contain between 30-38mg per capsule, so the starting dose needs to be two capsules per day. As with so many supplements, results improve with increased dosage up to a certain level, and isoflavones have no reported problems in doses as high as 160mg per day, equivalent to four or five capsules.

We have been finding with a number of supplements that starting off with a high “loading” dose (provided that it is within safe levels) can greatly reduce the time taken to obtain improvement. Isoflavones are probably not an exception to this rule.

But wait: Isoflavones can have powerful effects, and everybody knows that substances that have this level of activity must have side effects. Isoflavones are no exception to this rule; just look at this list of side effects:

¨    Reduces atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems by reducing low-density lipoprotein.

¨    Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis.

¨    Reduces the risk of cancer; particularly breast cancer.

A fuller explanation follows:

A) Reduces atherosclerosis

Tests have shown that the soy isoflavones reduce blood levels of lipids and lipoproteins, and also LDL and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, these latter being the two that tend to become oxidised and to help form plaque. LDL and VLDL cholesterol are known as the bad cholesterols.

The isoflavones also have antioxidant effects, thus reducing damage to tissues in the artery walls. This reduces the number of sites where plaque buildup starts; plaque is the body’s defence against damage to artery walls. So the more damage there is to artery walls, the more plaque buildup there will be.

B) Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis

Genistein is the main isoflavone for the reduction of menopausal symptoms, but daidzein is known to be very protective against another post-menopausal problem; osteoporosis.

Bones are not structures that are produced during our growing phase, and then stay the same for the rest of our lives. They are continually being broken down and rebuilt, and the two processes must be kept in balance. There are two types of cells involved in this. Osteoblasts build bone and osteoclasts break them down.

If the activity of the osteoclasts is continually higher than that of the osteoblasts, then there will be a gradual thinning of the bone structure, and osteoporosis results. Daidzein prevents the osteoclasts from becoming too active.

C) Reduces the risk of cancer

The incidence of breast cancer is much lower in Asian countries than in Europe and the United States. The probable explanation is that Asian women have a much higher intake of soya products than Caucasians. It seems to be a proven fact that high levels of oestrogen actively increase the likelihood of development of various cancers, particularly breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. These cancers need oestrogen in the early stages for growth and development.

Isoflavones have only weak oestrogenic effects, and by occupying a proportion of oestrogen receptor sites in the body, they reduce overall oestrogenic activity, and therefore reduce the proliferation of oestrogen-dependent cancers, as mentioned above.

But this is not the only way in which isoflavones inhibit cancer. It is now well known that free radical damage can start off the growth of cancer cells. Free radical activity is reduced by antioxidants, and the isoflavones have pretty good antioxidant effects.

An enzyme, protein-tyrosine kinase, produced in the body stimulates the growth of cancer cells. Genistein, the main isoflavone, inhibits this enzyme, and therefore protects against all types of cancer.

Yet another effect protects against cancer. In order to grow beyond a small size, cancer cells need to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, so that they can receive extra oxygen and nutrients. Genistein inhibits this process. The technical term for this process of growth of new blood vessels is angiogenesis.

It is said that Asian women have longer menstrual cycles than Western women. It is theorised that the shorter cycles in the West lead to greater oestrogen exposure, and therefore greater incidence of breast cancer. We think everyone will agree that we can live these side effects.

Maybe every pack of isoflavones should come with a warning: “Isoflavones Can Seriously Improve Your Health.”

Note

Another supplement probably deserves a mention here. The supplement is boron, a mineral only recently recognised as an essential nutrient. This mineral can have a number of effects during and after menopause:

¨    It converts vitamin D into its active form, and therefore helps absorption of calcium.

¨    Deficiency reduces magnesium absorption; magnesium is also important for bone formation.

¨    Deficiency reduces oestrogen levels in the bloodstream.

¨    Because boron improves oestrogen levels in the bloodstream, it has beneficial effects on the incidence of hot flushes and night sweats.

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