The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of soy phytoestrogens and exercise on lipid profiles and menopausal symptoms in menopausal women. In this study, 37 postmenopausal women (mean age 52.2 +/- 4.6 years) were randomly assigned to soymilk (n = 15), exercise+soymilk (n = 12) and control (n = 10) which were provided daily for 3 months. Subjects were given soymilk (Maxsoy, Co) which contained 12.5 g of soy protein with Genistein, 13 mg and Daidzein, 4.13 mg/day. Menopausal symptoms was measured using the Kupperman index, a standard measure of climacteric symptoms that has been validated in menopausal women at baseline and 3 months of daily use. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) of serum was measured using the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) assay. Soymilk supplementation, Soymilk and moderate exercise significantly (p < 0.05) improved TAC level. Vasomotor symptoms were improved (p < 0.05) in soymilk consumption and moderate exercise and soymilk groups compared with control group. Vaginal problem, sexual symptoms and vasomotor significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after soymilk consumption. The soymilk treatment and exercise+soymilk decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared with control group. This study suggests that soymilk isoflavones for 3 months treatment may be a safe and effective alternative therapy for menopausal symptoms and may offer a benefit to enhance antioxidant status to improve women health and quality of life.

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