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Ipriflavone

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Introduction

Ipriflavone is made from a compound that comes from soy plants. It has been used to improve bone strength, such as in postmenopausal women. It can be taken as a pill.

Dosages

200 milligrams 3 times daily

What Research Shows

Likely Effective

Osteoporosis—may prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women, especially when used with standard treatment A1-A16

May Be Effective

Uterine fibroids —may help preserve bone density and ease symptoms C1

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to take ipriflavone for a short time. It may lower white blood cell counts in some people.B1 Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period or by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References►

A. Osteoporosis

A1. Melis GB, Paoletti AM, et al. Ipriflavone and low doses of estrogens in the prevention of bone mineral loss in climacterium. Bone Miner. 1992 Oct;19 Suppl 1:S49-56.

A2. Passeri M, Biondi M, et al. Effect of ipriflavone on bone mass in elderly osteoporotic women. Bone Miner. 1992 Oct;19 Suppl 1:S57-62.

A3. Agnusdei D, Adami S, et al. Effects of ipriflavone on bone mass and calcium metabolism in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Bone Miner. 1992 Oct;19 Suppl 1:S43-48.

A4. Gambacciani M, Spinetti A, et al. Effects of ipriflavone administration on bone mass and metabolism in ovariectomized women. J Endocrinol Invest. 1993 May;16(5):333-337.

A5. Valente M, Bufalino L, et al. Effects of 1-year treatment with ipriflavone on bone in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Calcif Tissue Int. 1994 May;54(5):377-380.

A6. Adami S, Bufalino L, et al. Ipriflavone prevents radial bone loss in postmenopausal women with low bone mass over 2 years. Osteoporos Int. 1997;7(2):119-125.

A7. Agnusdei D, Bufalino L. Efficacy of ipriflavone in established osteoporosis and long-term safety. Calcif Tissue Int. 1997;61 Suppl 1:S23-7.

A8. Agnusdei D, Crepaldi G, et al. A double blind, placebo-controlled trial of ipriflavone for prevention of postmenopausal spinal bone loss. Calcif Tissue Int. 1997 Aug;61(2):142-147.

A9. de Aloysio D, Gambacciani M, et al. Bone density changes in postmenopausal women with the administration of ipriflavone alone or in association with low-dose ERT. Gynecol Endocrinol. 1997 Aug;11(4):289-293.

A10. Gambacciani M, Ciaponi M, et al. Effects of combined low dose of the isoflavone derivative ipriflavone and estrogen replacement on bone mineral density and metabolism in postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 1997 Sep;28(1):75-81.

A11. Gennari C, Adami S, et al. Effect of chronic treatment with ipriflavone in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Calcif Tissue Int. 1997;61 Suppl 1:S19-22.

A12. Gennari C, Agnusdei D, et al. Effect of ipriflavone--a synthetic derivative of natural isoflavones--on bone mass loss in the early years after menopause. Menopause. 1998 Spring;5(1):9-15.

A13. Nozaki M, Hashimoto K, et al. Treatment of bone loss in oophorectomized women with a combination of ipriflavone and conjugated equine estrogen. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1998 Jul;62(1):69-75.

A14. Alexandersen P, Toussaint A, et al. Ipriflavone in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001 Mar 21;285(11):1482-1488.

A15. Katase K, Kato T, et al. Effects of ipriflavone on bone loss following a bilateral ovariectomy and menopause: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Calcif Tissue Int. 2001 Aug;69(2):73-77.

A16. Zhang X, Li SW, et al. Effects of ipriflavone on postmenopausal syndrome and osteoporosis. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2010;26(2):76-80.

B. Safety

B1. Alexandersen P, Toussaint A, et al. Ipriflavone in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001 Mar 21;285(11):1482-1488.

C. Uterine Fibroids

C1. Moroni RM, Martins WP, et al. Add-back therapy with GnRH analogues for uterine fibroids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Mar 20;(3):CD010854.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
Last Updated: 5/27/2020

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