DIETARY FLOUR SUPPLEMENTATION DECREASES POSTMENOPAUSAL HOT FLUSHES - EFFECT OF SOY AND WHEAT

plants contain compounds with oestrogen - like action called phytoestr ogens. Soy contains daidzin, a potent phytoestrogen, and wheat flour c ontains less potent enterolactones. We aimed to show in 58 postmenopau sal women (age 54, range 30-70 years) with at least 14 hot flushes per week, that their daily diet supplemented with soy flour (n = 28) coul d reduce flushes compared with wheat flour (n = 30) over 12 weeks when randomised and double blind. Hot flushes significantly decreased in t he soy and wheat flour groups (40% and 25% reduction, respectively <0. 001 for both) with a significant rapid response in the soy flour group in 6 weeks (P < 0.001) that continued, Menopausal symptom score decre ased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). Urinary daidzein excreti on confirmed compliance. Vaginal cell maturation, plasma lipids and ur inary calcium remained unchanged. Serum FSH decreased and urinary hydr oxyproline increased in the wheat flour group.