Five-star story on small study that tries to counter large body of evidence on soy supplements for hot flashes.
Overall, this story addressed our criteria.
The big picture is that this is a small study, funded by pharma that showed a benefit for soy. Put in the context of the many randomized clinical trials that have looked at this issue over the past decade, there are questions about this finding, and the story puts those doubts in readers’ minds.
Many women may not feel comfortable taking hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms of menopause, but are interested in something to reduce uncomfortable symptoms. However, studies of supplements or over-the-counter remedies need to be conducted in the same populations for which the products are marketed.
It’s interesting that this study in China showed a benefit. Historically, anthropologic studies of Asian women have reported that they don’t tend to report hot flashes. Whether this is due to high estrogen in the diet (e.g., soy) or to cultural/communication factors is not known. Multiple randomized clinical trials in the US and Europe have showed no benefit from soy despite many attempts to find one.
Soy supplements are over the counter so the price may vary. Story cites estimate.
There was a discussion about the reductions of symptoms among patients in the study in both relative and absolute terms. Would have liked a better idea if the levels in the study among Chinese women are what American women also experience.
In most prior studies of hot flashes, the frequency has been much higher in study subjects – more like 5 – 10 per day, not per week. So, as commenter in story notes, these Chinese women were not very symptomatic compared to their American counterparts.
There was a brief mention of harms that the National Institutes of Health list for soy supplements, but no mention of side effects experienced by women in the study.
The story did highlight the sample size was small and the number of hot flashes reported by the women in the study was low.
The journalist interviewed an American researcher who did not agree with the study results and had conducted other studies using soy supplements and did not find any significant effects. Also, it was stated the supplements in the study were provided by Frutarom Netherlands – a private company that sells soy supplements over the counter in the U.S.
The story states that “The standard drug treatment for stubborn menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy. But doctors and women have become increasingly wary of that option because of serious side effects such as increased risk for heart attack, stroke and breast cancer.”
Not applicable. Soy supplements are over-the-counter products sold in most health stores.
The story at least establishes that there has been other past research on soy supplements and hot flashes, quoting an American researcher.
The journalist sought out another expert in the field who had conducted similar studies in the U.S. without the same findings.
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