New equol supplement for relieving menopausal symptoms: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Japanese women

Objectives: Equol, a metabolite of the isoflavone daidzein, is hypothesized to play a major role in the health benefits or soy. We examined the effect or a new S-equol supplement oil menopausal symptoms and mood states. Design: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with our new equol Supplement for 12 weeks with 134 Japanese women (aged 40-59 years). They were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo (n = 44), 10 mg Of equol per day (EQ-1; n = 44), and 10 mg of equol three times per day (EQ-3; n = 46). Habitual isoflavone intake was limited to 20 mg/d. Participants completed menopausal symptom and Profile of Mood States questionnaires at baseline and postintervention. Physical examination and blood and 24-hour urine collection were performed at baseline and post intervention. Results: At baseline, total menopausal symptom score varied by menopausal and equol producer status (34.3% producers). A total of 127 participants (94.8%) completed the trial. No adverse effects were reported, except for a systemic rash in one EQ-3 woman. The anxiety scores of equol producers were lower than those of nonproducers (P < 0.05). Significant differences between premenopausal and perimeuopausal/postmenopausal symptom scores were observed for anxiety, somatic, and total scores. After the EQ-3 intervention, perimenopausal/postmenopausal equol nonproducers showed significant decreases from baseline in all menopausal symptom scores except depression (P < 0.01). Compared with placebo, the EQ-3 group showed significant decreases in depression scores (P < 0.05), as well as significant decreases in Tension-Anxiety (P < 0.05), Depression-Dejection (P < 0.05) and Fatigue (P < 0.01) and increases in Vigor (P < 0.05) or the Profile of Mood States. Conclusion: S-equol Supplement improved mood-related symptoms in perimenopausal/postmenopausal equol nonproducers.