Effect of exercise combined with phytoestrogens on quality of life in postmenopausal women

Background Postmenopausal women seem to favor alternative therapies such as exercise and phytoestrogens as a substitute for potentially harmful hormone replacement therapy. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that phytoestrogens combined with exercise could have a synergic effect on women's health. Objective To verify whether phytoestrogens enhance the response to mixed training regarding menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Methods From a pool of women participating in a 6-month randomized, controlled exercise study, 21 received a placebo (mean age 58.3 +/- 5.4 years, body mass index 29.8 +/- 5.1 kg/m(2)) and 19 received phytoestrogen supplements (mean age 60.1 +/- 3.4 years; body mass index 30.3 +/- 4.6 kg/m(2)). Body weight, fat mass and lean body mass (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed. Quality of life was estimated by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) questionnaires, and menopausal symptoms by the Kupperman index. All measurements were performed before and after the intervention. Results Although the Kupperman index and PSS-10 remained unchanged in both groups, the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and almost all the SF-36 subscales (except for role-emotional and mental health) increased only in the exercise group taking phytoestrogens (0.001 < p < 0.04). Conclusion While phytoestrogens combined with mixed exercise were not sufficient to improve menopausal symptoms, it seemed to be a better strategy than exercise alone to improve the general quality of life in postmenopausal women.