Soy isoflavone trials suggest improvement in some menopausal symptoms
Pooled results favored soy isoflavones for vaginal dryness and urinary and genital symptoms, while other symptom findings were inconclusive and results differed sharply between trials.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found statistically significant improvements in vaginal dryness and urinary and genital symptoms with soy isoflavones. Results for vasomotor and psychological symptoms were inconclusive, and findings varied substantially across trials. This supports a cautious, symptom-specific interpretation without establishing a preferred dose or showing that improvements persist over the long term.
The abstract describes safety favorably but gives no adverse-event results or follow-up lengths. This abstract-based account also lacks comparator-specific estimates, and high study variation limits generalization.
Different comparison treatments
The trials compared soy isoflavone supplements with placebo or hormone replacement therapy. Pooling these comparisons gives an overall symptom estimate, but the abstract does not separate results enough to establish performance against each comparator.
Subgroup patterns need context
The abstract reports patterns by dose and population, but does not provide detailed subgroup estimates. These observations cannot establish an optimal supplement dose or show that findings from one population apply equally to another.
The original publication
Soy isoflavone supplementation and sexual function in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Yildiz Karaahmet A, Sadeghi E
Int J Impot Res · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 42032055
- Record checked
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