Glycine Max (L.) Merr isoflavone gel improves vaginal vascularization in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of isoflavones from Glycine max (L.) Merr (soy) used topically as a vaginal gel on the induction of vascularization of the vaginal tissue in postmenopausal women.

Study design: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted with 22 postmenopausal women, randomly allocated for treatment with Glycine max (L.) Merr isoflavone 4% vaginal gel daily for 12 weeks or with placebo gel for the same period.

Main outcome measure: Vaginal microbiopsies were collected before and after the 12-week treatment. Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed to provide a blood vessel count per field in the vaginal tissue, pre and post intervention.

Results: The isoflavone group exhibited a significant increase in blood vessels per field relative to baseline, whereas the placebo group showed no difference compared to baseline. There was a significant difference in the increase of the number of blood vessels between the isoflavone and placebo groups.

Conclusion: The results showed that local administration of Glycine max (L.) Merr isoflavone gel promoted a significant improvement in the number of blood vessels in the vaginal tissue of postmenopausal women.

摘要

目的：分析Glycine max (L.) Merr（大豆）异黄酮局部用作阴道凝胶诱导绝经后妇女阴道组织血管化的药理作用。研究设计：对22名绝经后妇女进行了一项安慰剂对照、随机、双盲试验, 随机分配使用Glycine max (L.) Merr异黄酮阴道凝胶每日4%, 疗程12周, 或与安慰剂凝胶同期应用。主要观察指标：治疗12周前后收集阴道显微活检标本。进行免疫组织化学分析, 以提供干预前和干预后阴道组织中每单位视野的血管计数。结果：与基线相比, 异黄酮组的每视野血管数显著增加, 而安慰剂组与基线相比无明显差异。异黄酮组和安慰剂组血管数量增加有显著差异。结论：结果表明, Glycine max (L.) Merr大豆异黄酮凝胶局部给药显著促进绝经后妇女阴道组织中血管数量增加。

Keywords:

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• climacteric
• vaginal atrophy
• phytoestrogens
• isoflavones

Potential conflict of interest

None.

Source of funding

Glycine Max (L.) Merr-derived isoflavone vaginal gel, placebo gel, and applicators were donated by Hebron® Laboratory. All material for making kits and performing biopsies, as well as immunohistochemistry reagents were provided through a resource obtained from the São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) [2017/20061-5].