To evaluate the benefit of phytoestrogens (PhE) in hormone replacement therapy of menopause (HRTM), the Department of Female Endocrinology of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism convened a group of specialists to perform a bibliographic review. Only articles that met strict scientific methodological criteria were included. PhE exhibit both estrogenic and antiestrogenic actions, mainly on estrogen (E) receptors b, with much less estrogenic potency than estradiol. PhE content of vegetal sources varies, depending on cultivation, harvesting, storage and industrialization. […]

The prevalence of depression and its correlations with metabolic control were studied in 80 diabetic postmenopausal women and 45 nondiabetic women, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in the group of diabetic postmenopausal women as compared with nondiabetic women (p<0.001; RR= 2.4). Nondiabetic patients were older and presented a mean BDI score greater than diabetic patients. Furthermore, significantly elevated values of glycemia and HbA were observed in diabetic […]