ABSTRACT
Body composition changes with the onset of puberty; adipose tissue increases, suggesting that gonadal steroids can influence body fat. Several studies have investigated the effect of the hormone replacement therapy on body composition in postmenopausal women. It is well known that aging is associated to major quantitative changes in body composition: generally, fat mass increases while lean body mass decreases. Many diseases and disorders are anticipated or accompanied by abnormalities in body composition, the most common of which is obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that diets rich in phytoestrogens can have beneficial effects on obesity, both in animals and humans. Several studies have investigated the effect of the hormone replacement therapy on body composition in postmenopausal women Phytoestrogens could also be a useful alternative to hormone replacement therapy for preventing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease in menopause. Changes in energy expenditure, body composition, and regional body fat may be influenced and even accelerated by the menopause transition.
