Survey study, 2016
Does the ability to produce equol from soy reduce PMS risk?
Women with PMS were less likely to be equol producers than those without PMS (23.9% vs 41.8%). This suggests equol production may reduce PMS risk, but this small study cannot prove causation.
What they did
Researchers compared 46 women with PMS to 98 without PMS by testing their ability to produce equol (a soy compound) using urine tests after they ate soy.
What they found
Only 23.9% of women with PMS were equol producers compared to 41.8% of women without PMS. Women with PMS were 2.342 times more likely to be non-producers. Younger age was also linked to not producing equol.
What it means for you
The link between equol production and PMS is interesting but this is a small cross-sectional study from one country. We cannot tell if low equol causes PMS or if something else explains both.
23.9%
Equol producers in PMS group
41.8%
Equol producers in control group
2.342
Odds ratio for non-producers
About the study
- Original title
- Relation between premenstrual syndrome and equol-production status
- Authors
- Takeda T, Ueno T, Uchiyama S et al.
- Journal
- The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 98
- What was tested
- Soy challenge test to assess equol production
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/jog.13073
Topics
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