Indena's standardized soy isoflavone comes to US
available to supplements manufacturers in the United States.
The product was developed specifically to help combat the symptoms of menopausal and post-menopausal women who do not wish to take, or have contraindications to, hormone replacement therapy.
It contains a standardized 15 percent isoflavones, which have a similar structure to estrogen and are thought to compensate for a dip in the body's natural estrogen levels around the menopause, thereby helping to ease symptoms without any simultaneous increase in neoplastic risk.
The effects of the isoflavones are boosted by standardized 20 percent saponins, says the company, and they have also been claimed to have a cholesterol-lowering effect when taken orally.
Not only has the safety and efficacy of SoySelect been studied in pharmacokinetic, toxicological and clinical tests, according to Indena, but it has also been used in two clinical studies into the effects of soy isoflavones on menopausal and post menopausal women.
The first, published in The Journal of The North American Menopause Society (2000; Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 236-242) indicated that the ingredient was effective in reducing the frequency and severity of flushes and provided some relief of hot flashes.
Three years later the same journal published the results of a second trial (2003; Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 196-202) suggested that it could help boost cognitive function in postmenopausal women.
"SoySelect provides a patented and clinically supported option for vitamin manufacturers looking to add soy to its line of products or to replace existing soy ingredients not having clinical support," said Greg Ris, vice president of sales for Indena USA.
