Small Study Shows Soy May Help Postmenopausal Insomnia

Tofu may have little flavor, yet it can help older women better enjoy a good meal or dinner a conversation. Difficulty sleeping is nearly inevitable for most women post-menopause, and the fatigue it causes makes life less enjoyable.

Brazilian researchers believe estrogen-like compounds in soy beans called isoflavones help older women sleep. Women who took the compound slept better and had fewer cases of insomnia after four months compared to a placebo group. The substance also reduced hot flashes.

The study involved 38 women randomly assigned to isoflavone treatment or a placebo. The participants had all finished menopause and reported some degree of insomnia.

A sleep study showed average sleep efficiency increase from 78 percent to 84 percent after four months of treatment. The placebo group improved to 81 percent.

Self-reported cases of “moderate to intense” insomnia dropped from 90 percent to 37 percent for the soy group. In the control group the rate of insomnia dropped from 95 percent to 63 percent.

The reason why isoflavones help some old women sleep isn’t clear. Researchers say they can’t explain it without definitively knowing the source of the insomnia.

A 2008 study in the journal Sleep examined sleep during the menopausal transition. It found that hot flashes were an independent predictor of sleep quality.

Soy products are unlikely to be the so-called “magic bullet” for insomnia, but further research may show there are slight benefits. Cognitive-behavioral therapy remains the closest thing to a cure for sleeplessness.

Sleep, Hot Flashes & Menopause

A new study shows that the drug gabapentin can improve sleep quality in menopausal women with hot flashes.

“It has minimal side effects and it is a generic drug,” lead author Dr. Michael E. Yurcheshen said in a prepared statement. “That makes it a very attractive treatment for these problems.”

The study involved 59 postmenopausal women; they experienced seven to 20 hot flashes daily.

The women were given 300 mg of gabapentin three times a day. Results show that subjective sleep quality was improved at both four weeks and 12 weeks.

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant; it is FDA-approved for the treatment of partial seizures.

“We really are not sure which mechanism is responsible,” said Yurcheshen. “But this study suggests that it does work to improve sleep quality.”

A 2008 study in the journal Sleep examined sleep during the menopausal transition. It found that hot flashes were an independent predictor of sleep quality.

The AASM reports that sleep disturbances are more common during and after menopause. Insomnia related to menopause often occurs.

Learn more about sleep and women on SleepEducation.com.

Who Sleeps Better – Women or Men?

A new study takes an objective look at the sleep of 1,324 men and women. Who were the better sleepers?

In this case it was the women. During one night in a sleep lab they had a higher percentage of sleep time than the men. They also had a higher percentage of deep, slow wave sleep.

Another part of the study involved 66 young, healthy volunteers. An “external stressor” disturbed their sleep during the night to see how they responded.

Again the women slept better than the men. Their sleep was less disturbed.

“Young women are superior to men in terms of sleep mechanisms,” Dr. Alexandros Vgontzas told the Sleep Education Blog. He and his team conducted the research at the Penn State College of Medicine.

But it is important to note that the women in this study had no sleep complaints. Many women have ongoing sleep problems that can prevent them from sleeping well.

Examples include restless legs syndrome and leg cramps. And women are more likely than men to have insomnia.

“Women indeed have more insomnia complaints than men,” said Vgontzas. “This is primarily because they suffer from depression more frequently.”

Vgontzas added that female hormones can play a protective role in helping young women sleep well. But women can lose this advantage when hormonal changes occur as they age.

In the study menopause was associated with a decrease in deep sleep. It also took more time for menopausal women to fall asleep.

Learn more from the AASM about sleep and women.