Home Ingredients SoyGD2® (Soy Germ Isoflavones)
Menopause SupportWomen's Health

SoyGD2® (Soy Germ Isoflavones)

Glycine max
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

SoyGD2® is a soy germ extract rich in isoflavones, especially daidzein, the part of the soybean with the highest natural isoflavone content. In one randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women, soy germ isoflavones reduced hot flashes more than placebo over 24 weeks. That trial did not measure bone at all, and it found no effect on blood lipids.

Studied Dose The single published trial used 84 mg or 126 mg of soy germ isoflavones daily for 24 weeks, and the higher dose worked no better than the lower one. Products commonly provide 40 to 80 mg per day, which is less than either amount that was tested.
Active Compound Soy germ (Glycine max) extract rich in isoflavones, especially daidzein.

Benefits

Menopausal symptom relief

In one randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women aged 45 to 60, hot flash frequency fell 44.3% on 84 mg a day and 48.5% on 126 mg a day over 24 weeks, compared with 27.8% on placebo. The Kupperman menopause index fell 57.8% and 56.7% on those doses, compared with 34.6% on placebo. Both differences were statistically significant (p<0.01), but a large share of the improvement also occurred in the placebo group on its own.

Supported by Trial 1

Bone health: not measured here

The one trial cited on this page did not measure bone in any way, so there is no bone evidence here for this extract. Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens and bone has been looked at in other research, but that work is not on this ingredient and is not cited on this page.

Supported by Trial 1

Honest evidence note

The same trial found no effect on blood lipids, and no change in estradiol, FSH or LH. That is reassuring for safety, but it also means the hormonal mechanism was not demonstrated. The higher 126 mg dose was no better than 84 mg, everything on this page rests on a single trial, and the women studied were Chinese, whose usual soy intake is typically much higher than a Western diet's.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Phytoestrogen activity

Soy isoflavones can bind estrogen receptors, which is the proposed explanation for the hot flash results. In the trial cited here, blood estradiol, FSH and LH did not change, so this mechanism is a proposal rather than something the study confirmed.

2

Equol conversion

Daidzein can be converted by gut bacteria into equol, a more active phytoestrogen. Not everyone's gut bacteria do this. The trial cited here does not report equol status, so its role in these results is unknown.

Clinical trials

1
Soy Germ Isoflavones and Menopause — RCT
PubMed

Randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women aged 45 to 60, given soy germ isoflavones at 84 mg or 126 mg daily for 24 weeks. (Ye et al. 2012, Menopause)

90 early postmenopausal Chinese women aged 45 to 60. This is the only trial cited on this page.

Hot flash frequency fell 44.3% at 84 mg and 48.5% at 126 mg, compared with 27.8% on placebo. The Kupperman index fell 57.8% and 56.7%, compared with 34.6% on placebo. Both were significant against placebo (p<0.01). There was no effect on blood lipids, no change in estradiol, FSH or LH, and no extra benefit from the higher dose. Bone was not measured.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are most common.
Derived from soy; avoid if you have a soy allergy.
Mild stomach upset is occasionally reported.

Important Drug interactions

Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens. If you have a personal or family history of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, or you have endometriosis or fibroids, talk to your doctor before taking them.
If you take tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, ask your oncologist before using this. Check with your doctor first if you are on hormone therapy.
Thyroid medication — take separately and monitor.

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Frequently asked questions about SoyGD2® (Soy Germ Isoflavones)

What is SoyGD2?

SoyGD2® is a soy germ extract rich in isoflavones, especially daidzein, the part of the soybean with the highest natural isoflavone content. In one randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women, soy germ isoflavones reduced hot flashes more than placebo over 24 weeks.

What is SoyGD2 used for?

SoyGD2 is researched primarily for Menopause Support and Women's Health. In one randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women aged 45 to 60, hot flash frequency fell 44.3% on 84 mg a day and 48.5% on 126 mg a day over 24 weeks, compared with 27.8% on placebo.

What is the recommended dosage of SoyGD2?

The clinically studied dose is The single published trial used 84 mg or 126 mg of soy germ isoflavones daily for 24 weeks, and the higher dose worked no better than the lower one. Products commonly provide 40 to 80 mg per day, which is less than either amount that was tested. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is SoyGD2 safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, SoyGD2 is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated — digestive symptoms are most common. Derived from soy; avoid if you have a soy allergy. It may also interact with some medications. SoyGD2 is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does SoyGD2 interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens. If you have a personal or family history of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, or you have endometriosis or fibroids, talk to your doctor before taking them. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for SoyGD2?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for SoyGD2 as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Ye YB, Wang ZL, Zhuo SY, et al. Soy germ isoflavones improve menopausal symptoms but have no effect on blood lipids in early postmenopausal Chinese women: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Menopause. 2012;19(7):791-8..PubMedUsed to support: Single RCT supporting a hot flash and menopause symptom benefit versus placebo. The same paper reports no effect on blood lipids and no change in estradiol, FSH or LH, and it did not measure bone.