Using Soy Estrogens to Prevent Bone Loss and Other Menopausal Symptoms (SPARE)

University of Miami

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Osteopenia

Osteoporosis

Menopause

Treatments

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Dietary Supplement: Soy isoflavones

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00076050

R01AR048932 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

NIAMS-114

SPARE

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if soy-derived phytoestrogens (naturally occurring compounds similar to estrogen) can prevent bone loss and other menopausal symptoms in women who have recently gone through menopause.

Study hypothesis: Tablets of high-dose, purified soy phytoestrogens spare the normally occurring spinal bone loss and improve biological and other emotional changes of menopause.

Full description

The risks of bone loss and osteoporosis increase significantly after menopause. Although hormone therapy (HT) can spare menopausal women from bone loss and other menopausal symptoms, Women's Health Initiative (WHI) findings indicate significant potential health risks associated with HT. This has prompted women to switch from HT to naturally occurring compounds similar to estrogen, such as those derived from soy, in the hope that estrogens from plant sources can provide benefits while sparing adverse effects caused by prescribed estrogens. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of plant estrogens are unknown. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of treatment using purified soy isoflavones, a dietary source of phytoestrogens, in preventing bone loss, menopausal symptoms, and other changes associated with estrogen deficiency in young menopausal women. The "Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen (SPARE)" study will provide a foundation of knowledge from which menopausal women and their doctors can begin to make more informed decisions regarding HT and other treatment options.

Enrollment into the study will occur over 3 years, with each participant taking part in the study for a total of 2 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group will receive a 200 mg dose of soy isoflavones daily and the second group will receive placebo daily. There will be 10 study visits: screening, study entry, randomization at Month 1, six follow-up visits at Months 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and a final visit at the end of active participation at Month 24. At each study visit, participants will have blood drawn, provide urine samples, answer questionnaires, and have mammograms and bone density tests.

Enrollment

248 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

45 to 60 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Absence of menstrual period for 12 months but not more than 5 years, or absence of menstrual period for 6 to 12 months and follicle stimulating factor (FSH) greater than 40 IU/L

Exclusion Criteria

Treatment with estrogens, progesterone, raloxifene, or tamoxifen
Treatment with bisphosphonates, calcitonin, fluoride, or systemic corticosteroids
Use of soy/herbal supplements, including DHEA, within 3 months prior to study entry
Use of antibiotics in the month prior to study entry
Use of prescription medication to treat hot flashes
Chemical menopause, including post-chemotherapy
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Uncontrolled diabetes
Malabsorption syndromes or other chronic diseases
Body mass index (BMI) less than 20 or greater than 32
Bone mineral density (BMD) T-score below -2.0 in lumbar spine or femoral neck