Effects of Genistein in Postmenopausal Women With Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria:

• Post-menopausal satus

• The presence of three or more of the five following criteria:

1. waist circumference ≥88 cm;

2. Triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl or on drug treatment for elevated triglycerides;

3. high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol <50 mg/dl or on drug treatment forreduced HDL-C;

4. Fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dl or on drug treatment for elevated glucose;

5. Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or on antihypertensive drug treatment in a subjectwith a history of hypertension.

Exclusion Criteria:

• clinical or laboratory evidence of confounding systemic diseases (e.g., chronic renalor hepatic failure, chronic inflammatory diseases)

• cardiovascular disease (CVD) defined as documented myocardial infarction, ischaemicheart disease, coronary heart bypass, coronary angioplasty, cerebral thromboembolism,and peripheral amputations, or by Minnesota codes 1°1-3, 4°1-4, 5°1-3 at a standardECG performed in the 12 months preceding the study;

• coagulopathy;

• use of oral or transdermal estrogen, progestin, androgens, selective estrogen receptormodulators, or other steroids;

• treatment in the preceding six months with polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acidssupplements, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids, that wouldinterfere with evaluation of the study medication;

• smoking habit of more than 2 cigarettes daily.