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The ovarian hormone deficiency associated with menopause results in increased rate of bone turnover.

Image from Nature Life
Image from Nature Life

The prevalence of age-related bone loss is higher in women than in men, and in 25% to 30% of ageing women this loss results in major orthopedic problems. The ovarian hormone deficiency associated with menopause results in increased rate of bone turnover and imbalance between resorption (disintegration) and formation, and thereby accelerates bone loss.

In March 2012, a new meta-analysis published in Asia (2), shows clearly that soya isoflavones significantly increased bone mineral density and decreased the bone resorption marker. This represents a complementary and fundamental support to promote and advise soya isoflavones to menopausal women.

679 Articles were identified, and 14 articles related to soy isoflavones effects on osteoporosis were highlighted for the study. Compared to the baseline (menopausal women taking no supplementation) soy isoflavones significantly increased the bone mineral density by 54% and decreased the bone resorption marker urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) by 23% compared to baseline.

There are different types of isoflavones in soya extracts. However, as mentioned in the study, there are differences in the effects of soya isoflavones. Therefore, the authors could not say there is a “class effect” of isoflavones, as the results may depend on the type of extract, typical actives, chemical forms and proportions of each soya isoflavones.

Pharmaco-clinical studies have proven that Daidzein regulates osteoblastic & osteoclastic activity, and that Daidzein is more efficient than Genistein in preventing bone-loss. Indeed, in the Picherit et al study (3), Daidzein only (and not Genistein) slowed bone remodeling and acted both on trabecular bone (internal) and on cortical bone (shell). Genistein acts only on the cortical bone.

PHYTOSOYA® is one of the richest extract in Daidzein in the market, thanks to the specific and exclusive extraction from the hypocotyl of the soya germ, with the optimal dosage to obtain the best effect on bone-loss prevention.


Joint Pain


An earlier clinical trial(1) carried out in Spain with 190 postmenopausal women receiving PHYTOSOYA® soya isoflavones capsules showed a positive effect on joint pain. (Albert et al, 2002, Efficacy and safety of a phytoestrogen preparation derived from Glycine max (L) Merr in climacteric symptoms; A multi-centric, open, prospective and non-randomized trial, Phytomedicine, Vol. 9; 85-82)

The main object of the study was to investigate its efficacy in alleviating the symptoms derived from the lack of estrogens, mainly hot flushes, but also other symptoms, including joint pain.  Each patient received 35 mg isoflavones per day in two doses. During the four months' treatment, a statistically significant decrease in joint pain was observed: joint pain was experienced initially in 54.42% women, and this reduced down to 36.17% after 4 months treatment (-18%).

Treatment with PHYTO SOYA resulted in a significant improvement of the global symptoms accompanies the lack of estrogen during menopause, and particularly a decrease in joint pain.

References:
(1) Albert et al, 2002, Efficacy and safety of a phytoestrogen preparation derived from Glycine max (L) Merr in climacteric symptomatology: A multi-centric, open, prospective and non- randomized trial, PHYTOMEDICINE, Vol. 9)
(2) Wei P et al. 2012, Systematic review of soy isoflavone supplements on osteoporosis in women. Asian Pac J Trop Med. Mar; 5(3):243-8.
(3) Picherit C. et al, 2000, Daidzein is more efficient than genistein in preventing [...] bone loss, J. Nutr., 130, 1675/1

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