Problems And Ambiguity Among Alternative Estrogen Products.(levels of isoflavones in phyoestrogen products)(Brief Article)

2001 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

ConsumerLab.com, an independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutrition products, released results of its Phytoestrogen Product Review.

The review focused on dietary supplements made from soy and red clover isoflavones. Isoflavones are estrogen-like plant compounds used primarily to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen is associated with various side effects. Although not as effective as HRT, isoflavones have become popular alternatives due to fewer side effects and greater availability.

ConsumerLab.com purchased eighteen products and tested their isoflavone levels. Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests phytoestrogens products, or other supplements, for quality prior to sale.

More than one-quarter of the 18 isoflavone products purchased by ConsumerLab.com did not pass the testing. The five failing products had only 50% to 80% of the claimed isoflavones.

"Some manufactures are just not putting in the proper type or amount of isoflavones," said Tod Cooperman, MD, ConsumerLab.com. "Our testing also uncovered a more global concern for consumers: the term isoflavones on a label may specifically refer to just the estrogen-like isoflavone molecules or may include sugars attached to these molecules. The sugars ...