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A Pilot Study to Evaluate Equol and Its Effects on Menopausal Symptoms Experienced by Women in Singapore

A Pilot Study to Evaluate Equol and Its Effects on Menopausal Symptoms Experienced by Women in Singapore

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07136220
Acronym
EQUOL
Enrollment
300
Registered
2025-08-22
Start date
2025-07-02
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-08-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Menopause

Keywords

menopause, equol

Brief summary

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of equol on menopausal symptoms of women. Our hypothesis is that equol producers will have milder menopausal symptoms compared to non-equol producers. Equol is known as a metabolite produced by gut microbiota from soy-related diet and has estrogen-like activity compared to the isoflavones from soybean. Previous studies have shown that some women can produce equol from soy-related diet, but the others cannot because they don't have the bacteria which can metabolite daidzein in gut even if they take isoflavones thorough soybean products. This study will involve participants consuming a soy protein bar and collection of urine samples before and after its consumption.

Detailed description

Day 0 - Recruitment and consent taking. Height, weight and blood pressure would be measured. Patients will also fill up questionnaires on basic demographics, menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale and Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire), Food Frequency Questionnaire for Soy intake, International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Day 1 - Collect first morning urine between 5ml to 10 ml in the pre-labelled (will not contain identifiers but only assigned study subject number) containers provided. Store the urine sample in cool place in room temperature and dispatch to site after the second sample has been collected. To consume a soy based protein bar provided by study after dinner on day 1. Day 2 - Collect first morning urine between 5ml to 10 ml in the pre-labelled(will not contain identifiers but only assigned study subject number) containers provided. Double bag the containers and call courier to dispatch urine to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. All urine samples received will be immediately frozen and stored in KKH in a freezer. The samples will be couriered to Saga Nutraceuticals Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Japan in batches for analysis of urinary equol concentration. Clinical Trials Agreement has been executed between Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Japan and KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Interventions

OTHERConsumption of soy protein bar

The participants will be provided one soy protein bar to consume after dinner on day 1.

Sponsors

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Ang Seng Bin
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
40 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

\- Women aged 40-60

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant women * Allergy to Soy * Allergy to nuts * Consumed antibiotics within 7 days of the study * Has a history of autoimmune diseases * Has a history of thyroid disease * On medical treatment with hormone therapy, elective oestrogen receptors modulators * Consuming equol-containing supplements or food * Consuming painkillers * Consuming anti-depressants and/or sleeping pills

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Urine Equol Concentrationfirst morning urine sample collected at baseline and first urine sample collected the morning after consuming the soy barEquol is a metabolite of isoflavone which is secreted in the urine

Countries

Singapore

Contacts

Primary ContactSeng Bin Dr Ang
ang.seng.bin@singhealth.com.sg+65 6394 1102

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026