Pooling 19 studies of more than 1,200 women, researchers found soy isoflavones cut the frequency and severity of hot flashes by up to 26% compared with placebo. At least 54 mg a day for six weeks to a year reduced hot flash frequency by 20.6%.
Section archive
Hot Flashes
- All desks
- Abortion
- Accutane
- Acetaminophen
- Acid Reflux
- Acidic Foods
- Acne
- Acrylamide
- Acupuncture
- Additives
- ADHD
- Adiposity
- Advisories
- Aerobic Exercise
- Aflatoxin
- Agave
- Agent Orange
- Aging
- Agriculture
- AIDS
- Air Pollution
- Airline Passengers
- Airport
- ALA
- Alcohol
- Alcoholic Beverage
- Alerts
- Allergy
- Alli
- Aloe Vera
- ALS
- Alternative Medicine
- Aluminum
- Alzheimer's
- Amalgam
- AMD
- Ampyra
- Amygdala
- Anal Cancer
- And
- Anemia
- Angiogenesis
- Animal Protein
- Animals
- Anorexia
- Anthocyanins
- Anthrax
- Anti-Angiogenesis
- Anti-Obesity
- Antibacterial
- Antibiotic
Supplements
More evidence suggests soy isoflavones help hot flashes
A two-year US trial giving about 200 women 200 mg of soy isoflavones daily found they were actually more likely to report hot flashes. But a Brazilian trial using 90 mg cut hot flashes by almost half and eased vaginal dryness by over 30%, and an Ecuadorian study found fewer, milder episodes.
Nutrition
One study says soy isoflavones don't help hot flashes, another study says they do
A two-year randomized trial of 248 women aged 45 to 60 found 200 mg a day of soy isoflavones did not prevent bone loss or menopausal symptoms, and women taking them reported more hot flashes and constipation. An earlier Brazilian trial reached the opposite conclusion.
Lifestyle
Acupuncture helps hot flashes in prostate cancer patients
Among 14 men treated for prostate cancer, twice-weekly acupuncture lowered an average hot flash score from 28.3 to 10.3 after four weeks and to 7 after eight, according to a study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology. A randomized trial is being designed.
Supplements
Magnesium supplements relieve hot flashes in breast cancer patients
In a pilot trial, 25 breast cancer patients completed four weeks on 400 to 800 mg of magnesium oxide daily. Weekly hot flashes dropped from 52.2 to 27.7, a 41% fall, and hot flash scores fell about 50%. Fourteen of the 25 more than halved their score.
Drug
Acupuncture may help depression in postmenopausal women
In a 12-week trial of 72 postmenopausal women with hot flashes, both groups reported fewer depressive symptoms, and the acupuncture group saw a 54 percent reduction. Depressive symptoms tracked with sleep problems and self-reported health, not hot flash frequency.
Disease
Hot flashes are signs of reduced risk of invasive breast cancer
Christopher Li and colleagues report postmenopausal women who ever had symptoms such as hot flashes were 50 percent less likely to develop invasive ductal or lobular carcinoma. More intense symptoms tracked with lower risk, independent of hormone therapy and body mass.
Supplements
Soy supplements as effective as hormone therapy in easing menopausal symptoms
In a double-blind trial, 60 postmenopausal women took a 90 mg soy isoflavone supplement or hormone therapy for 16 weeks. Both eased hot flashes and muscle pain, by 49.8 and 45.6 percent, and vaginal dryness. Placebo matched them except on urogenital symptoms.
Drug
Acupuncture reduces hot flashes, sweats in breast cancer patients
In a trial of 50 breast cancer patients on hormone therapy, acupuncture matched venlafaxine at reducing hot flashes and night sweats, and its effect lasted longer. Patients also reported more energy and clearer thinking, and a quarter reported increased sex drive.
9 stories