The Efficiency of Phytoestrogen Therapy in Patients with Natural Menopause

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are compounds of vegetal origin exhibiting estrogenic activity, both agonist and antagonist. Phytoestrogens seem to have increased affinity for the b-estrogen receptor class. This aspect is of particular relevance to organs rich in b receptors, such as coronary arteries and the brain. Phytoestrogens are low estrogen-like estrogens, their activity in human cell cultures being 500-fold weaker than estradiol. Hormonal therapy is beneficial in postmenopausal women, taking into account the results validated over time by observational studies, and is being discussed as primary prevention in cases without coronary artery disease at the age of 50 years under 60 years old and 10 years after the onset of menopause. For elderly women, the therapy is individualized, the benefit being dependent on age and the recommended dose. Menopausal hormone therapy has been shown to be effective especially for relieving climacteric symptoms, long-term effects on cardiovascular disease being still under study.