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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There may be something in soybeans that can help reduce some of the symptoms of menopause.
New research from Taiwan finds soy aglycon of isoflavone (SAI) a group of chemicals in soybeans has been shown to ease the effects of menopause in a rat model of the condition. The study shows dietary supplementation with SAI lowers cholesterol, increases the anti-oxidative properties of the liver and prevents degeneration of the vaginal lining.
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Researchers studied the effects of the dietary supplement in female rats that had their ovaries removed.
Lead researcher, Robin Chiou, National Chiayi University, Taiwan, was quoted as saying, These ovariectomized animals are a good model for study of the menopause as the loss of estrogen from the ovaries mimics the natural reduction in estrogen seen in menopausal women. SAI itself has weak estrogenic properties and weve shown here that menopause-related syndromes can be prevented or improved by dietary supplementation with the compounds it contains.
Results show when the rats had a diet enriched with SAI they had increased liver antioxidative activities and improved lipid profiles. Also, their levels of harmful LDL cholesterol went down while their good or HDL cholesterol went up. Chiou says this means eating soybeans may prevent coronary heart disease.
The authors hope adding soy to a womans diet may be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which has been linked to the development of uterus and breast cancers.
SOURCE: Nutrition & Metabolism, published online April 8, 2009
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