Treatment or reduction of menopausal symptoms

Abstract

There is described a method for the treatment or prevention of menopausal symptoms or osteoporosis wherein there is administered to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the isotlavone formononetin, or a method for the treatment or prevention of menopausal symptoms wherein there is administered to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the isoflavone daidzein, the isotlavone being optionally administered with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, carriers and/or excipients. Therapeutic uses and compositions/foods are also described, comprising daidzein or formononetin optionally in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, carriers, food components and/or excipients.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A composition for the treatment or reduction of menopausal symptoms in a post-menopausal woman, said composition comprising an effective amount of formononetin and biochanin A, wherein the formononetin represents at least about 90% of the isoflavone content, and wherein genistein, if present, is in the amount of about 5% w/w or less. 
     
     
         33 . A composition according to  claim 32  wherein the formononetin represents at least about 95% of the isoflavone content. 
     
     
         34 . A composition according to  claim 32  wherein genistein, if present, is about 1% or less with regard to isoflavone content. 
     
     
         35 . A composition according to  claim 32  wherein the formononetin is purified from extracts of plants of the genus  Leguminosae.    
     
     
         36 . A composition according to  claim 32  further comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, carriers and or excipients. 
     
     
         37 . A composition according to  claim 32  wherein daidzein, if present, is one or more daidzein metabolites selected from equol, o-desmethylangolensin, dehydroequol, 2-dehydro-o-desmethylangolensin, 6-hydroxy-o-desmethylangolensin, dihydrodaidzein and tetra-hydrodaidzein. 
     
     
         38 . A composition according to  claim 37 , wherein at least one daidzein metabolite is in the aglycone, glycoside, malonyl or acetyl form.