Royal Jelly and Fermented Soy Extracts-A Holistic Approach to Menopausal Symptoms That Increase the Quality of Life in Pre- and Post-menopausal Women: An Observational Study

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2024 Mar 13

PMID 38474777

Authors

Andreea Balan

Marius Alexandru Moga

Andrea Elena Neculau

Maria Mitrica

Liliana Rogozea

Petru Ifteni

Lorena Dima

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of royal jelly and fermented soy extracts on menopausal symptoms and on quality of life in pre- and post-menopausal women.

Materials And Method: This prospective observational study was carried out in a Clinical Hospital of Brasov, Romania, during June 2020 and December 2021. Eighty pre- and post-menopausal women, aged between 45 and 60 years, were included in two groups. The first group (40 women) received a dietary supplement with fermented soy extract twice a day for eight weeks and the second group (40 women) received the same dietary supplement with fermented soy extracts and 1500 mg of royal jelly capsules for eight weeks. After the treatment, the MENQOL score, DASS-21 score, and the mean number and intensity of daily hot flushes were recorded and compared with baseline values.

Results: After eight weeks of treatment, the score of the MENQOL questionnaire and all its domains' scores decreased in comparison with the baseline in both groups ( < 0.001). Also, the DASS-21 score ( < 0.001), depression score ( < 0.001), anxiety score ( < 0.001), and stress score ( < 0.001) improved. The mean number and the intensity of hot flushes decreased in both groups ( < 0.001). Comparing these variables after the treatment in both groups, we observed that the women who received dietary supplements with fermented soy extracts and royal jelly capsules recorded better scores for MENQOL (vasomotor, physical, and psychosocial domains) and a more reduced mean number of daily hot flushes.

Conclusions: This observational study suggests that both dietary fermented soy supplements and royal jelly capsules possess beneficial effects against menopausal symptoms, increase the quality of life in pre- and post-menopausal women, and that the effects might be significantly improved if those dietary supplements are administered in association.

References

Asama T, Matsuzaki H, Fukushima S, Tatefuji T, Hashimoto K, Takeda T . Royal Jelly Supplementation Improves Menopausal Symptoms Such as Backache, Low Back Pain, and Anxiety in Postmenopausal Japanese Women. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018; 2018:4868412. PMC: 5949161. DOI: 10.1155/2018/4868412. View

Bjelland E, Hofvind S, Byberg L, Eskild A . The relation of age at menarche with age at natural menopause: a population study of 336 788 women in Norway. Hum Reprod. 2018; 33(6):1149-1157. PMC: 5972645. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey078. View

Sharif S, Darsareh F . Effect of royal jelly on menopausal symptoms: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019; 37:47-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.08.006. View

Ho S, Chan A, Ho Y, So E, Sham A, Zee B . Effects of soy isoflavone supplementation on cognitive function in Chinese postmenopausal women: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Menopause. 2007; 14(3 Pt 1):489-99. DOI: 10.1097/GME.0b013e31802c4f4f. View

Viuda-Martos M, Ruiz-Navajas Y, Fernandez-Lopez J, Perez-Alvarez J . Functional properties of honey, propolis, and royal jelly. J Food Sci. 2008; 73(9):R117-24. DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00966.x. View

Konstantinidis C, Tzitzika M, Bantis A, Nikolia A, Samarinas M, Kratiras Z . Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Greek Women With Multiple Sclerosis: Correlations With Organic and Psychological Factors. Sex Med. 2019; 7(1):19-25. PMC: 6377371. DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2018.11.003. View

Aso T, Uchiyama S, Matsumura Y, Taguchi M, Nozaki M, Takamatsu K . A natural S-equol supplement alleviates hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms in equol nonproducing postmenopausal Japanese women. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011; 21(1):92-100. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2011.2753. View

Lee H, Choue R, Lim H . Effect of soy isoflavones supplement on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial. Nutr Res Pract. 2017; 11(3):223-231. PMC: 5449379. DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.3.223. View

Koya-Miyata S, Okamoto I, Ushio S, Iwaki K, Ikeda M, Kurimoto M . Identification of a collagen production-promoting factor from an extract of royal jelly and its possible mechanism. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004; 68(4):767-73. DOI: 10.1271/bbb.68.767. View

10.

Hee J, MacNaughton J, Bangah M, Burger H . Perimenopausal patterns of gonadotrophins, immunoreactive inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone. Maturitas. 1993; 18(1):9-20. DOI: 10.1016/0378-5122(93)90026-e. View

11.

Ford K, Sowers M, Crutchfield M, Wilson A, Jannausch M . A longitudinal study of the predictors of prevalence and severity of symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Menopause. 2005; 12(3):308-17. DOI: 10.1097/01.gme.0000163869.89878.d9. View

12.

Zhu D, Chung H, Dobson A, Pandeya N, Giles G, Bruinsma F . Age at natural menopause and risk of incident cardiovascular disease: a pooled analysis of individual patient data. Lancet Public Health. 2019; 4(11):e553-e564. PMC: 7118366. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30155-0. View

13.

Szeja W, Grynkiewicz G, Rusin A . Isoflavones, their Glycosides and Glycoconjugates. Synthesis and Biological Activity. Curr Org Chem. 2017; 21(3):218-235. PMC: 5427819. DOI: 10.2174/1385272820666160928120822. View

14.

Williams R, Levine K, Kalilani L, Lewis J, Clark R . Menopause-specific questionnaire assessment in US population-based study shows negative impact on health-related quality of life. Maturitas. 2009; 62(2):153-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.12.006. View

15.

Setchell K, Brown N, Lydeking-Olsen E . The clinical importance of the metabolite equol-a clue to the effectiveness of soy and its isoflavones. J Nutr. 2002; 132(12):3577-84. DOI: 10.1093/jn/132.12.3577. View

16.

Chen L, Chen K . Utilization of Isoflavones in Soybeans for Women with Menopausal Syndrome: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(6). PMC: 8004126. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063212. View

17.

Chedraui P, San Miguel G, Schwager G . The effect of soy-derived isoflavones over hot flushes, menopausal symptoms and mood in climacteric women with increased body mass index. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2010; 27(5):307-13. DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2010.490614. View

18.

Amato P, Young R, Steinberg F, Murray M, Lewis R, Cramer M . Effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on menopausal quality of life. Menopause. 2012; 20(4):443-7. DOI: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318275025e. View

19.

Russell L, Hicks G, Low A, Shepherd J, Brown C . Phytoestrogens: a viable option?. Am J Med Sci. 2002; 324(4):185-8. DOI: 10.1097/00000441-200210000-00004. View

20.

do Prado F, Pagnoncelli M, de Melo Pereira G, Karp S, Soccol C . Fermented Soy Products and Their Potential Health Benefits: A Review. Microorganisms. 2022; 10(8). PMC: 9416513. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081606. View