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

ABSTRACT

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/m²) and 19 received phytoestrogen supplements (mean age 60.1 ± 3.4 years; body mass index 30.3 ± 4.6 kg/m²). 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.

Key words::

• QUALITY OF LIFE
• EXERCISE
• PHYTOESTROGENS
• MENOPAUSE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Martine Fisch, Karine Perreault, and all kinesiologists supervising the exercise training protocol for their professional assistance. We are also grateful to all women who participated in this study.

Conflict of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Source of funding This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Stéphane Choquette detains a doctoral degree scholarship and Mélisa Audet a master degree scholarship, both from the CIHR. Isabelle J. Dionne detains a salary grant from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec. Trial Registration at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Trial registration number: NCT01048606.