Van's Health Foods

Pycnogenol eased menopausal symptoms

In this study, researchers compared 38 menopausal women, aged 40 to 50, who took 100 mg of Pycnogenol per day, to 32 similar women who did not take any treatment. After eight weeks, while there were no changes for the women who did not take treatment, those who took Pycnogenol had an average decrease of more than 50 percent for the six most common menopausal symptoms; hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods, loss of libido, and vaginal dryness. The Pycnogenol group also had much lower levels of free radicals circulating in the blood, meaning less oxidative stress.

Several other symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disorders, concentration and memory problems, dizziness, and irritability also tended to improve for Pycnogenol but did not reach statistical significance, according to researchers, who suggested that Pycnogenol may be an effective daily dietary supplement for reducing symptoms in menopausal women.

Soy isoflavones reduce hot flashes

Researchers in this review analyzed 17 placebo-controlled studies in which the average dose of soy isoflavones was 54 mg per day, delivering 19 mg of the soy isoflavone genistein. Women who took part in the studies were perimenopausal to postmenopausal, and the studies ranged from six weeks to 12 months. Combining all the data, compared to placebo, women who took soy isoflavones saw hot flash frequency and severity decline respectively by 21 percent and 26 percent. Women who took more than the average 19 mg of genistein had twice the relief from hot flashes as women who took lower doses.

Reference:Menopause; March, 2012, Electronic Prepublication

From the July 2012 newsletter

Whey protein reduced “hunger”hormone

In this study, 90 overweight and obese people who were otherwise healthy took 56 grams of whey or soy protein per day, to the same amount of calories in the form of carbohydrates as a placebo. Doctors measured body weight and fat monthly, and collected food diaries every 10 days. After 23 weeks, the whey group had lost an average of 3.9 pounds more body weight and 5 pounds more fat-mass compared to placebo. The soy group lost about half these amounts compared to placebo, which doctors said was not statistically significant.

The whey group also lost one inch around the waist while the soy and placebo groups had not changed. Researchers also measured ghrelin, a hormone the body produces to tell the brain when it is time to eat, and found lower levels of ghrelin in the whey group compared to the soy and placebo.

Reference: The Journal of Nutrition; 2011, Vol. 141. No. 8, 1489-94

From the April 2012 Newsletter