IOWA STATE RESEARCH HOLDS PROMISE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

[Guest guest]

MEDIA ADVISORY:

IOWA STATE RESEARCH HOLDS PROMISE FOR AN ALTERNATIVE

TO HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

A National Institutes of Health research study about to get under way at

Iowa State University could offer a partial alternative to hormone

replacement therapy for women who want to prevent bone loss after menopause.

D. Lee Alekel, associate professor of nutrition and principal investigator

on this multi-center trial, and project coordinator Oksana Matvienko, a post

doctoral fellow, will expand upon a preliminary, short-term study in 69

perimenopausal women that showed isoflavone-rich soy protein reduced bone

loss in the lumbar spine. Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in

soybeans.

In the three-year study, which will begin this fall, Alekel and Matvienko

will study the effects of two doses of isoflavone-rich soy extract on bone

in postmenopausal women who don't have osteoporosis.

" We believe this research will provide critical data about an acceptable and

safe alternative to traditional hormone therapy in preventing osteoporosis,

which is a major long-term consequence of menopause, " Alekel says.

Alekel and Matvienko can discuss their upcoming study and earlier findings

on isoflavone-rich soy in preventing bone loss from the lumbar spine.

Contact D. Lee Alekel at (515) 294-3552, or alekel@...; and Oksana

Matvienko, at (515) 294-6507, or omatvien@....

http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/2002/jul/alekel.shtml