Biological and Cultural Influences on Menopause (Koonenki) in Japan

玛格丽特·洛克对日本更年期的开创性研究表明，更年期症状（即，潮热，盗汗）可能不是普遍的。 洛克和其他人提出，日本人大量食用大豆中的植物雌激素（雌激素植物化学物质），可以改善中年症状。 这项研究旨在确定大豆消费是否以及如何影响更年期过渡。该项目将测试以下假设：1A。 绝经过渡期的特征是雌二醇（E2）和垂体促性腺激素促卵泡激素（FSH）和促黄体激素（LH）水平高度可变，反映了性腺激素神经调节功能障碍。 植物雌激素暴露水平较高的女性FSH和LH. 2A的变化较小。 具有更多可变E2、FSH和LH的女性将有更频繁或更严重的中年痴呆。 这些假设将在两组45-55岁的日本妇女中进行检验，她们来自日本大豆消费量最高和最低的东北和近畿地区。 在第1年，将采用手指点刺血斑法对女性进行E2、FSH、LH和植物雌激素染料木黄酮和大豆苷元的纵向采样。 将进行饮食频率问卷、症状检查表、调查和访谈。 第2-3年将致力于分析和撰写血液样本，调查和人种学数据。 这些数据将有助于我们了解跨文化的变化，在老化的环境影响的内分泌学和经验的更年期过渡的建模。

Margaret Lock's pioneering research on konenki (menopause) in Japan showed that menopausal symptoms (i.e., hot flushes, night sweats) may not be universal. Lock and others have proposed that phytoestrogens (estrogenic plant chemicals) in soy, consumed in great quantities by Japanese, ameliorate midlife symptoms. This study aims to identify whether and how soy consumption affects the menopausal transition. The project will test the following hypotheses:1A. The menopausal transition will be characterized by highly variable levels of estradiol (E2) and the pituitary gonadotropins follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), reflecting dysfunction in the neural regulation of gonadal hormones.1B. Women with higher phytoestrogen exposure will have less variation in FSH and LH.2A. Women with more variable E2, FSH, and LH will have more frequent or severe midlife symptoms.2B. Women with higher phytoestrogen exposure will have less frequent or severe midlife symptoms.These hypotheses will be tested in two populations of Japanese women, aged 45-55, from Tohoku and Kinki, regions of Japan with the highest and lowest soy consumption. In Year 1, women will be sampled longitudinally for E2, FSH, LH, and the phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein using finger prick blood spot methods. Dietary frequency questionnaires, symptom checklists, surveys, and interviews will be administered. Years 2-3 will be devoted to analysis and write-up of blood samples, surveys, and ethnographic data. These data will contribute to our understanding of cross-cultural variation in aging by enabling modeling of environmental influences on endocrinology and experience of the menopausal transition.