Phytoestrogens for hormone replacement therapy?

Due to some severe side effects "classical" hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is currently being challenged by a therapy with phytoestrogens. Particularly soy and red clover derived isoflavones are advertised as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with only desired and no undesired estrogenic effects. Evidence that this is the case however is scarce. Most studies investigating climacteric complaints did not find beneficial effects. A proposed beneficial effect on mammary cancer is unproven. The majority of studies however indicate an antiosteoporotic effect of isoflavones, while putative beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system are questionable due to the fact that estradiol which-like isoflavones-increase HDL and decrease LDL concentrations appear not to prevent arteriosclerosis in the human. In the urogenital tract, including the vagina, soy and red clover derived isoflavones are without effects. Cimicifuga racemosa extracts are traditionally used for the treatment of climacteric complaints. Evidence is now available that the yet unknown compounds in Cimicifuga racemosa extracts prevent climacteric complaints and may also have antiosteoporotic effects. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.