Effects of freeze-dried tofu (Koya-dofu) therapy on migraine : A second report
Background: Migraines in women, particularly those associated with menstruation, are often resistant to treatment. In 2008, Kim et al . reported that freeze-dried tofu (Koya-dofu) therapy improved both migraine symptoms and menopause-related complaints in women. Koya-dofu primarily contains soybean isoflavones, which exhibit phytoestrogenic activity. This study investigates whether daily intake of freeze-dried tofu, rich in soy isoflavones, is effective in alleviating migraines in women. Methods: Ten female patients attending the internal medicine outpatient clinic of our hospital were enrolled in this study. Each patient consumed approximately 50 g (dry weight) of commercially available freeze-dried tofu (Koya-dofu) daily for one month. Headache frequency and severity were evaluated using patient-maintained headache diaries. Blood estradiol (E2) levels were measured before and after the therapy. Results: Among the six patients assessed over a four-week interval, three reported a reduction in the number of headache days. Two of four patients showed improvement over a two-week interval. Regarding headache severity, four of six patients experienced improvement over four weeks, and one of four over two weeks. Additionally, eight out of ten patients exhibited stable or decreased blood E2 levels following the therapy. Conclusions: Freeze-dried tofu (Koya-dofu) therapy was associated with symptom improvement in a number of cases. These findings suggest it may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment option for women suffering from migraines.
