S-equol supplements improve reproductive health in post-menopausal women

In a recent pilot study it was discovered that after 12 weeks of daily 10 milligram (mg) doses of an investigational fermented soy germ-based nutritional supplement S-equol, have led to improvements in post-menopausal women who experienced in vaginal atrophy.

S-equol has the ability to bind to the same estrogen receptors as naturally occurring estrogen, when bound to the receptor, S-equol would mimick some, but not all, activities of estrogen. This ability of S-equol at the receptor has indicated that it may alleviate some symptoms caused by diminished estrogen production during menopause.

Coauthor Belinda H. Jenks, Ph.D., director of Scientific Affairs and Nutrition Education at Pharmavite LLC said that the data documented had reported improved vaginal epithelium, without significant abnormalities in vaginal cells, endometrial thickening, hormone levels or genital bleeding, which has added to the known safety profile of this S-equol supplement that was previously shown to have helped relieve certain menopause symptoms.

Researchers have also suggested that daily doses of the supplement containing S-equol, a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein, could relieve hot flash frequency, muscle and joint pain, as was reported in a previously published controlled clinical trials in both U.S. and Japanese postmenopausal women.