The randomized, controlled trial investigated whether a low fat, soy supplemented vegan diet ameliorates weight and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Eighty four participants were assigned to a vegan diet enriched with whole soybeans (n = 42) or to an omnivorous control diet (n = 42) for 12 weeks.
Dietary intake was quantified by processing level, and changes were correlated with body weight and frequency of severe hot flashes. Reduction in unprocessed or minimally processed animal food consumption within the vegan arm was significantly associated with weight loss (r = +0.45) and decreased severe hot flashes (r = +0.31). Likewise, decreased ultra processed animal food intake correlated with weight loss (r = +0.43).
Consumption of ultra processed plant based foods remained largely unchanged and bore no significant relationship to outcomes. The findings suggest that substituting animal products with a soy enriched, plant based diet confers measurable benefits for both weight reduction and vasomotor symptom relief. However, the study’s short duration and modest sample size limit generalizability, and reliance on self reported dietary logs may introduce bias.
Therefore, longer‐term studies employing objective dietary assessments are warranted to confirm durability of effect and to elucidate mechanisms underlying symptom improvement.
