The effect of soy isoflavones given to women in the climacteric period on menopausal symptoms and quality of life: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Explore (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2024-11, Vol.20 (6), p.103012, Article 103012
• Main Authors: GENÇTÜRK, Nuran, BİLGİÇ, Fatma Şule, KABAN, Hülya Ulaşlı
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climacteric - drug effects; Climacteric period; Depression; Female; Glycine max; Hot Flashes - drug therapy; Humans; Isoflavones - pharmacology; Isoflavones - therapeutic use; Menopausal symptoms; Menopause - drug effects; Menopause - psychology; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Soy isoflavones
• ISSN: 1550-8307; 1878-7541; 1878-7541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.05.010

•Menopause is a phase within this period. One of the most important periods in women's lives is menopause. In this period, vasomotor, psychosocial, and physical changes due to the decrease in estrogen levels cause women to experience some problems.•Due to the side effects of pharmacological treatments for the solution of these problems, many women turn to complementary and alternative therapies. Phytoestrogen-based therapies are among the most common alternatives for menopausal women. Isoflavones are the most potent estrogenic group of phytoestrogens. The most important food source of isoflavones in humans is soya-derived products.•The aim of this study, which includes Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) from the last decade, is to provide up-to-date information on the effect of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and quality of life in climacteric women.•According to the results of the analysis, soy isoflavones had no effect on menopausal symptoms (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, sexual, and urogenital complaints) and quality of life in climacteric women but reduced the level of depression. There was a high risk of conflict of interest in the included studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and quality of life in climacteric women. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Science Citation Index (Web of Science) until September 2023. This study is based on the recommendations of the Cochrane guidelines. The data were analysed using the Review Manager computer software (Version 5.4). The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with the RoB-2 tool. This analysis was completed with five studies and 425 climacteric women. According to the results of the analysis, menopausal symptoms (SMD: −0.49, 95 % CI: −1.13 to 0.16, Z = 1.47, p = 0.14), physical component (MD: −1.10, 95 % CI: −4.22 to 2.01, Z = 0.70, p = 0. 49) and mental component (MD: 0.81, 95 % CI: −6.73 to 8.35, Z = 0.21, p = 0.83), but there was a significant difference in depression level (SMD: −0.41, 95 % CI: −0.73 to −0.09, Z = 2.53, p = 0.01). According to the results of the analysis, soy isoflavones had no effect on menopausal symptoms (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, sexual, and urogenital complaints) and quality of life in climacteric women but did reduce the level of depression. There was a high risk of conflict of interest in the included studies. Registration: CRD42023