22 November 2023 , 16:02
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A vegan diet can almost eradicate hot flushes in postmenopausal women by around 95%, research has revealed.
Research published in the scientific journal Menopause, the results, from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington DC, says the reduction is caused by changes in gut microbiome that come with a low-fat vegan diet. Participants who started the vegan diet also lost around 6.4 pounds in a 12-week study.
This lifestyle change can also decrease the risk of developing health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as the bacteria that can lead to these issues are less abundant. Co-author Dr Hana Kahleova said: “Women who want to fight hot flashes should feed the bacteria in their gut a vegan diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, which also leads to weight loss and protects against heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”
The vegan diet appeared to have a large impact (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The findings were found from secondary analysis of the WAVS trial. In the study, 84 postmenopausal women reporting two or more moderate-to-severe hot flashes daily were assigned 12 weeks on either a vegan diet or sticking to their usual eating habits. For the secondary analysis, stool samples from 11 of the participants were used to study changes in gut microbiome.
The study is the first to find that reductions in microbes Porphyromonas and Prevotella corporis are associated with the decrease in severe daytime hot flashes. Prevotella corporis has also been found in the gut of people with rheumatoid arthritis and seems to have pro-inflammatory properties.
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Changes in the abundance of other bacteria looked at in the study may play a role in alleviating hot flashes by stabilising oestrogen levels, reducing inflammation, and increasing satiety, among other benefits.