Effects of isoflavone and conjugated equine estrogen on the postmenopausal quality of life

PURPOSE: to analyze the isoflavore and estrogen effects on the postmenopausal quality of life, METHODS: this is a randomized and double-blind study with 79 postmenopausal patients, 12 months of amenorrhea, 40 years old or more and body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/ml. The participants were randomly divided into two treatment groups: GECP received orally two capsules, every 12 hours, one contained 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen and another placebo (n=33); GECS received two capsules of 150 mg extract of soy, with 60 mg isoflavone (n=32). Both treatments were administered for six months. The Quality Menopause Specific Questionnaire of Life was applied before and after one, three and six months of treatment. The parameters of gynecological cancer risk were evaluated. ANOVA and the Tukey test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: there was a reduction in the values of the vasomotor parameters after six months of treatment, 1.6 +/- 0.8 and 2.4 +/- 6, compared to before therapy, 4.0 +/- 2.2 and 4.2 +/- 2.3 in GECP and GECS, respectively, The psychological aspects showed reduction in values after six months of therapy, 25 +/- 1.2 and 2.9 +/- 1.4, compared to before treatment, 3.6 +/- 1.6 and 4.1 +/- 1.9 in GECP and GECS, respectively. Similar results were obtained on the physical aspects and in the sexual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: isoflavones may positively act on life quality of postmenopausal women. This effect was similar to conjugated equine estrogen.