Soya shakes up menopause

Soya may have a positive effect on the cognitive function of menopausal women, according to new research.

In a study conducted by Dr Louise Dye, a chartered health psychologist at the University of Leeds, menopausal women were given 68mg of phytoestrogen (also known as isoflavones) a day in supplement format for eight weeks. Circulating oestrogen was significantly greater in post-menopausal women, which meant an immediate reduction in hot flushes. They also slept better and their planning ability and memory improved.

Consuming this level of isoflavones could be achieved in a normal diet using soya products, similar to the Japanese diet, says Dye. "There are plans to carry out the test with soya food products, but we are awaiting funding," she adds.

Alpro Soya dietician Kate Walburn says the firm is considering funding the project. "Making a cognitive claim about soya and menopause is a few years away yet. It's a new area and we definitely need to do more research, but we are in talks with Louise Dye."

The company has already looked at how soya can help menopausal women who suffer from severe hot flushes (four or fives times a day). Soya contains phytoestrogens which mimic the effect of oestrogen in the body, though the plant version it is a lot weaker, explains Walburn. Women's oestrogen levels drop when they go through the menopause and soya can help to counteract this, she says.

"The key thing with soya food products is that you are not only consuming the isoflavones that you would in a supplement, but also the protein."

Soya is already recognised for its cholesterol lowering abilities and the company is able to make an on-pack claim supported by the Joint Health Claims Initiative. However, soya's effect on the menopause will have to be thoroughly examined before further claims can be made. "Going forward, with changes in legislation, every claim will require a scientific dossier submitted to EFSA [The European Food Safety Authority] for approval," she says.

It isn't just menopausal women who can benefit from soya, though. The soya industry is researching many areas, such as breast cancer and osteoporosis prevention, says Walburn. It used to be a product used only by allergy sufferers, but now it's moving into the mainstream, she says.