WHAT IS THE STUDY?

During menopause women may experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and joint aches. In the United States approximately 8 out of 10 post-menopausal women complain of hot flashes. Hot flashes can be severe and can occur for years. In comparison, only about 1 out of 10 women in Asian countries experience hot flashes, perhaps because their diet is rich in plants like soybeans. Plants such as soybeans and red clover contain "plant estrogens" which may offer some of the benefits of estrogen without the side effects.

The purpose of the Isoflavone Clover Extract (ICE) Menopause Study is to learn if the use of dietary supplements containing isoflavones (plant estrogens extracted from red clover) can improve quality of life and reduce hot flashes. The dietary supplements are not hormones.

The study will last 14 weeks and will take place at 3 research centers in the U.S. (Iowa City, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Oakland, California). About 270 women will participate in the study.