scholarly journals Modest Hormonal Effects of Soy Isoflavones in Postmenopausal Women*

1999 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 3479-3484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison M. Duncan ◽  
Kerry E.W. Underhill ◽  
Xia Xu ◽  
June LaValleur ◽  
William R. Phipps ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Endometrial Biopsy ◽  
Soy Isoflavones ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Hormonal Effects ◽  
Physiological Importance ◽  
Estrone Sulfate ◽  
Vaginal Cytology

Abstract Soy isoflavones have been hypothesized to exert hormonal effects in postmenopausal women. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of three soy powders containing different levels of isoflavones in 18 postmenopausal women. Isoflavones were consumed relative to body weight[ control: 0.11 ± 0.01; low isoflavone (low-iso): 1.00 ± 0.01; high isoflavone (high-iso): 2.00 ± 0.02 mg/kg/day] for 93 days each in a randomized crossover design. Blood was collected on day 1 of the study (baseline) and days 36–38, 64–66, and 92–94 of each diet period, for analysis of estrogens, androgens, gonadotropins, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), prolactin, insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. Vaginal cytology specimens were obtained at baseline and at the end of each diet period, and endometrial biopsies were performed at baseline and at the end of the high-iso diet period, to provide additional measures of estrogen action. Overall, compared with the control diet, the effects of the low-iso and high-iso diets were modest in degree. The high-iso diet resulted in a small but significant decrease in estrone-sulfate (E1-S), a trend toward lower estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1), and a small but significant increase in SHBG. For the other hormones, the few significant changes noted were also small and probably not of physiological importance. There were no significant effects of the low-iso or high-iso diets on vaginal cytology or endometrial biopsy results. These data suggest that effects of isoflavones on plasma hormones per se are not significant mechanisms by which soy consumption may exert estrogen-like effects in postmenopausal women. These data also show that neither isoflavones nor soy exert clinically important estrogenic effects on vaginal epithelium or endometrium.

scholarly journals Soy Isoflavones Exert Modest Hormonal Effects in Premenopausal Women1

1999 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison M. Duncan ◽  
Barbara E. Merz ◽  
Xia Xu ◽  
Theodore C. Nagel ◽  
William R. Phipps ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Soy Isoflavones ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Early Follicular Phase

Soy isoflavones are hypothesized to be responsible for changes in hormone action associated with reduced breast cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of isoflavone consumption in 14 premenopausal women. Isoflavones were consumed in soy protein powders and provided relative to body weight (control diet, 10 ± 1.1; low isoflavone diet, 64 ± 9.2; high isoflavone diet, 128 ± 16 mg/day) for three menstrual cycles plus 9 days in a randomized cross-over design. During the last 6 weeks of each diet period, plasma was collected every other day for analysis of estrogens, progesterone, LH, and FSH. Diet effects were assessed during each of four distinctly defined menstrual cycle phases. Plasma from the early follicular phase was analyzed for androgens, cortisol, thyroid hormones, insulin, PRL, and sex hormone-binding globulin. The low isoflavone diet decreased LH (P = 0.009) and FSH (P = 0.04) levels during the periovulatory phase. The high isoflavone diet decreased free T3 (P = 0.02) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (P = 0.02) levels during the early follicular phase and estrone levels during the midfollicular phase (P = 0.02). No other significant changes were observed in hormone concentrations or in the length of the menstrual cycle, follicular phase, or luteal phase. Endometrial biopsies performed in the luteal phase of cycle 3 of each diet period revealed no effect of isoflavone consumption on histological dating. These data suggest that effects on plasma hormones and the menstrual cycle are not likely to be the primary mechanisms by which isoflavones may prevent cancer in premenopausal women.

scholarly journals Estrogen Activity and Novel Tissue Selectivity ofΔ 8,9-Dehydroestrone Sulfate in Postmenopausal Women

1999 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 2020-2027
Author(s):  
E. Baracat ◽  
M. Haidar ◽  
F. J. López ◽  
J. Pickar ◽  
M. Dey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Partial Agonist ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Bone Resorption Marker ◽  
Gonadotropin Secretion ◽  
Estrone Sulfate ◽  
Tissue Selectivity

Recent basic and clinical advances have consolidated the concept of tissue-selective estrogens, i.e. molecules that express different degrees of partial agonist, full agonist or antagonist activity in different tissues or cells.Δ 8,9-Dehydroestrone sulfate (Δ8,9-DHES) is a conjugated estrogen and a component of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE). It is metabolized in the human in at least a 1:1 ratio to its 17β form, 17β-Δ8,9-DHES. To evaluate its activity in different clinical and biochemical parameters, a clinical research study was conducted with Δ8,9-DHES and estrone sulfate as a comparator in postmenopausal women. Δ8,9-DHES was given orally at a daily dose of 0.125 mg for 12 weeks in a group of 10 women. Two additional groups of women received either estrone sulfate alone (1.25 mg/day) or the combination of Δ8,9-DHES and estrone sulfate at the previously specified doses. A significant and consistent suppression of hot flushes (number, severity, and total score) was observed with Δ8,9-DHES, reaching more than 95% suppression in all parameters of vasomotor symptoms. This level of activity was equal to that obtained with the much higher dose of estrone sulfate, and it was sustained for the duration of the treatment period (12 weeks). Measurements of a bone resorption marker, i.e. urinary excretion of N-telopeptide, demonstrated that Δ8,9-DHES at 8 weeks produced a degree of suppression (40%) similar to that observed with the higher dose of estrone sulfate. Gonadotropin secretion (FSH and LH) was significantly suppressed in women receiving Δ8,9-DHES, similar to that observed with estrone sulfate alone or with the combination of the two. Other parameters, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were not modified significantly, whereas serum globulins (sex hormone-binding globulin and corticosteroid-binding globulin) showed only marginal increases after Δ8,9-DHES administration. Taken together with preclinical data, it is found thatΔ 8,9-DHES is an active estrogen with a distinct pharmacological profile that results in significant clinical activity in vasomotor, neuroendocrine (gonadotropin and PRL) and bone preservation parameters, whereas displaying little or no efficacy, at the dose tested, on other peripheral parameters normally affected by estrogens. Collectively, this information supports the concept thatΔ 8,9-DHES is an integral component of CEE, with distinct tissue selectivity contributing to the CEE’s overall clinical activity, and places this estrogen as a distinct member of a novel class of centrally active molecules with unique peripheral tissue selectivity.

scholarly journals Association between Soy Food and Dietary Soy Isoflavone Intake and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Prospective Cohort Study in Korea

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1407
Author(s):  
Jihyun Im ◽  
Kyong Park
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Soy Isoflavones ◽  
Korean Women ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Soy Isoflavone ◽  
Soy Foods ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease In Women

The association between soy food and soy isoflavone intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is uncertain, especially in women. We aimed to investigate this association in Korean women. We analyzed data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, including 4713 Korean women aged 40–69 years with no CVD or cancer at baseline. Dietary information was obtained using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the incidence of CVD was assessed using biennial self-reported questionnaires on medical history. The mean follow-up time was 7.4 years, during which 82 premenopausal and 200 postmenopausal women reported CVD incidence. The highest tofu, total soy foods, and dietary soy isoflavone intake groups were significantly associated with a decreased CVD risk in premenopausal women (tofu: hazard ratio (HR) 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.19–0.80; total soy food: HR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18–0.70; dietary soy isoflavones: HR 0.44; 95% CI, 0.22–0.89), whereas no association was observed in postmenopausal women. Other soy foods showed no association with CVD incidence. Dietary soy isoflavones and total soy foods are associated with a decreased CVD risk in premenopausal women. Among soy foods, only tofu showed significant health benefits.

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