New scientific review suggests some women may benefit from considering use of S-equol to ease menopause symptoms

The investigational S-equol nutritional supplement may be a viable agent to alleviate certain menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, according to a new peer-reviewed article in the March Journal of Women's Health (1).

"Current data suggest that women may have benefits with S-equol for menopausal vasomotor symptoms and possibly additional benefits, such as skin health. Given the studies supporting safety of S-equol, physicians and health care professionals may consider the use of S-equol as a future first round option for menopause symptoms, especially for women not wanting to use pharmaceuticals," said coauthor Wulf H. Utian, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Founder of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and Director Emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Menopause may be associated with vasomotor symptoms (VMS) related to diminished production of estrogen. While VMS such as hot flashes and night sweats are well known as several of the key symptoms during this time period in the woman's life, the estrogen loss during menopause contributes to other key changes including bone loss, atrophy of the reproductive and urinary tissues, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, sexual dysfunction, decreased libido, urinary tract infections and incontinence, increased cardiovascular risk and loss of skin elasticity. Although estrogen replacement therapy can help manage these menopause-related symptoms, some women may prefer not use such hormone-based therapy.

The FDA has approved some pharmaceuticals for women to manage their menopause-related VMS. For some women, if they react with side effects or decide that they do not want to use these, S-equol may offer another approach to manage their menopause-related VMS. "Many women are confused about the controversies surrounding estrogen replacement therapies for menopause. S-equol offers women an alternative for symptom relief without the potential harmful effects of estrogen," said coauthor Michelle Jones, M.D., FAAFP, a family practice physician at Wilmington Health Associates, North Carolina.

Estrogen-like Properties of S-equol

S-equol, made from fermented soy germ, is chemically and has physiological properties different from soybean isoflavones and estrogen. The estrogen-like properties of S-equol have been investigated for more than four decades. S-equol [7-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-chroman] has the ability to bind to the same estrogen receptors as naturally occurring estrogen, with a stronger affinity to the beta receptor compared to the alpha receptor. On binding to the receptor, S-equol mimics some, but not all, activities of estrogen.

"S-equol is a natural metabolite of soy isoflavones that has unique SERM-like (selective estrogen receptor modulators) properties , thus offering the 'beneficial effects' of estrogen while not having the negative effects associated with estrogen. It has potential for many hormone-dependent conditions associated with menopause," said coauthor Kenneth D. R. Setchell, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of Clinical Mass Spectrometry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.