Raloxifene, soy phytoestrogens and endothelial function in postmenopausal women

Objective To compare the effects of raloxifene and soy phytoestrogens on endothelial function in healthy, postmenopausal women.Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Subjects (n = 22; mean age 58.5 years) underwent endothelial function testing at baseline and following 6 weeks of daily raloxifene 60 mg, soy phytoestrogens 55 mg, and placebo in random sequence with intervening 6-week wash-out periods. Endothelial function was assessed as flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound; digital flux was measured with laser Doppler velocimetry.Results Baseline (pretreatment) FMD was almost within normal range at 9.6% (±6.4). FMD did not change from baseline within any treatment group, and no between-group differences were detected. FMD values following treatment with raloxifene, soy, and placebo were 10.3% (±12.3), 8.3% (±7.7), and 9.5% (±4.4), respectively. Area under curve ratios showed no treatment differences for digital velocimet...