Concerns about hormone therapy safety have made many women turn to alternatives, such as phytoestrogens (soy, flaxseed, etc)  to alleviate their menopausal symptoms.  A recent systematic review of flaxseed intervention was recently done and reported in the journal Menopause.   Their findings:  "Flaxseed is currently not indicated for the alleviation of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women, and there is little evidence to support an effect on circulating sex hormones.  A paucity of appropriate randomized controlled studies indicates that the effects of flax intervention on BMD are inconclusive."

To learn more about menopause symptom management, visit the Women's Health Research Insitute's Menopause Decision Tool.

Source:  Dew T and Williamson G, Menopause. 2013;20(11):1207-1215.