Soy Proteins Replace Hormone Replacement Therapy: Implications in Menopausal Health

There are many health risks that women of menopausal age must work to prevent and live with on a daily basis. For most the complications arise out of changes in hormone production, especially that involving estrogen. In addition to the menopausal period, women in perimenopause as well as women in post-menopause must also diligently manage the effects of hormone imbalance so as to improve the quality of life while aging.

Bone health is one of the leading health risks associated with women and the approach to menopause. Because estrogen deficiency leads to loss of bone density, physicians often encourage hormone replacement therapy as a way in which to promote the necessary hormones to improve overall health, including that of bone health. Without proper management of bone health during menopause, there is a risk for development osteoporosis, risk for increased frequency of fractures and even an increased risk for life threatening health complications.

In a more natural approach to maintaining the integrity of bone health, however, women are turning to products such as soy. Because isoflavone intake may be associated with an increase in bone density health, many women are turning to the soy proteins as a natural approach to maintaining bone integrity, often requiring little to no hormone replacement therapy.

The key to soy protein as a replacement of hormone therapy lies in the isoflavone composition which includes glycitein, daidzein, and even genistein. Each of these, when combined, mimic and are similar in structure to the hormone replacement therapy your physician may otherwise prescribe.

When using soy proteins as a supplement to hormone replacement therapy, or in lieu or hormone replacement therapy, the spine may be one of the first areas in which a noticeable change will occur in bone density. For women with early signs of osteoporosis, this provides for some key advantages to potentially slowing the progression of the disease and reducing the risk for developing a curvature to the spine with aging.

While soy proteins are certainly not promoted as the "cure all" to hormone replacement for all women, it is considered a key natural alternative in some. For women who still require hormone replacement therapy, during menopause, the consumption of soy is often recommended as a supplement to traditional medicine as it provides the best natural option for improving bone density with aging and reducing long-term spine, and other bone, complications. When considering your treatment options during menopause, ask your physician about the clinical nutrition recommendations that will best suit your healthcare needs.