THE EFFECT OF SOYMILK ON ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE, TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS, AND VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS IN MENOPAUSE WOMEN

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of revival soymilk consumption and moderate exercise on vasomotor symptoms, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and alkaline phosphates activity in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods In this study, daily for 3 months, 37 postmenopausal women (mean age = 52.2± 4.6 years) were randomly assigned to soymilk (n=15), exercise +soymilk (n=12) and control (n= 10). The daily soymilk consisted of Revival brand Maxsoy, which contained 12.5 g of soy protein with Genistein (13 mg) and Daidzein (4.13 mg). Menopausal symptoms were measured using the Kupperman index, a standard measure of climacteric symptoms that has been validated in menopausal women at baseline and 3 months of daily consumption of soymilk. Total antioxidant status (TAS) of serum was measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. Total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) was assayed calorimetrically with Hitachi 902 autoanalyzer assay. Results Soymilk supplementation, soymilk and moderate exercise significantly (p<0.05) improved TAC level and TALP activity. Vasomotor symptoms were improved (p < 0.05) in the soymilk consumption plus moderate exercise and soymilk groups as compared with the control group. The data showed a decrease in menopausal symptoms p <0 .05, paired t test, two-tailed, between the baseline and soymilk groups, and p < 0.05, ANOVA test, between the control and two groups. Vaginal problem, sexual symptoms and vasomotor significantly changed (p<0.05) after soymilk consumption. Conclusion These data may suggest that consumption of soymilk for 3 months enhances antioxidant and TALP status and reduces menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.