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New Studies Point to Enhancing Women's Quality of
Life in Post Menopause
Soy replacing hormone replacement therapy
June 6, 2005 - A variety of treatments that enhance
the quality of life in middle-aged and post-menopausal women may soon be
available, according to new research presented Sunday in San Diego at
ENDO 2005, the 87th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society. One study
says that because of the reduction in use of hormone replacement
therapy, many women are choosing soy as an alternative.
These are briefs on each study:
Effects of Hormones on Breast Cancer
Evidence suggests that estrogen and inflammatory
mediators play important roles in the growth and progression of breast
cancer. Activity of aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens to
estrogens, can therefore result in high local levels of estrogen
production that stimulates tumor growth.
Immunoreactivity for aromatase in human breast
tumors is highly correlated with that of COX-2, the rate-determining
enzyme in prostanoid biosynthesis, according to this research conducted
by Dr. Daniel Hardy, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
"Non-antibody proteins that act as intercellular
mediators contributes to the increase in expression in breast cancer,"
said Dr. Hardy. "And, progesterone receptors play a dominant protective
role in breast cancer cells by antagonizing activation of COX-2,
resulting in decreased expression."
Soy Treatments May Improve Quality of Life in
Post-Menopausal Women
A study by Dr. Kendall Dupree of Johns Hopkins
University looked into the effects of soy on quality of life in
post-menopausal women. Complementary and alternative therapies are being
used frequently in the United States. Studies of post-menopausal women
indicate that estrogen replacement improves physical, psychosocial and
vascular symptoms. Because of the reduction in use of hormone
replacement therapy, many women are choosing soy as an alternative.
Soy is a phytoestrogen, which is a naturally occurring estrogen found in
plants. It contains isoflavanoids called genistein and daidzein. These
isoflavanoids are similar to estrogen chemically and are capable of
binding to estrogen receptors and exerting an excitatory or inhibitory
effect.
The study looked to demonstrate that when
administered in adequate doses to post-menopausal women, isoflavones
will result in improved menopausal symptoms and related quality of life.
The study looked at data on 35 post-menopausal
women not on hormone replacement therapy for at least six months prior
to beginning the study. Participants completed a three-month clinical
trial and were randomized to the active product, commercially available
as Revival, with 160mg of total isoflavones vs. a placebo. Each
participant completed the MENQOL (Menopause- Specific Quality of Life
Questionnaire) at baseline, six weeks and three months.
Researchers found that women taking the active
compound experienced significant improvement in their vasomotor
symptoms, psychosocial symptoms and physical function by 36%, 40% and 30
% respectively, compared to the placebo.
"We conclude that post-menopausal women taking
isoflavones with high concentrations of genistein experience improvement
in their menopausal symptoms and therefore have an improved
quality-of-life, as reflected by the self-administered MENQOL
questionnaire," said Dupree.
Growth Hormones Assist Post-Menopausal Women
A study led by Drs. Arthur Weltman and colleagues
at the University of Virginia and Dr. Johannes Veldhuis, Mayo School of
Graduate Medical Education found that the administration of the growth
hormone recombinant human GHRH- 1,44-amide taken for three months can
enhance the quality of life in post- menopausal women.
Earlier studies have indicated that twice-daily sc
administration of a high dose of recombinant human GHRH-1,44-amide (GHRH)
taken for 90 days can alter body composition in healthy older men. Drs.
Weltman and Veldhuis set out to establish whether this is also true in
post-menopausal women. To this end, 10 post-menopausal volunteers
underwent a baseline study and then received 1 mg of GHRH twice daily
for three months.
"At the conclusion of the study, there were no
systemic adverse events, although most subjects experienced local skin
reactivity at the dose of 1 mg injected subcutaneously twice per day. We
concluded that a three-month regimen of GHRH supplementation in
post-menopausal women can stimulate GH and IGF-I production, reduce
abdominal visceral fat and improve selected measures of physical
performance," said Dr. Weltman.
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the
world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to
research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today,
The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 12,000 scientists,
physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries.
Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical
interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy
Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of
endocrinology, visit our web site at
http://www.endo-society.org.
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