Effect of equol producing status on exercise training-induced improvement in arterial elasticity

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11341
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kokugakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Hayashi Koichiro 國學院大學, 人間開発学部, 教授 (90433474)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 唯 國學院大學, 人間開発学部, 助教 (50782843)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: エクオール / 動脈硬化 / 有酸素運動 / イソフラボン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Equol is a metabolite of dietary soy isoflavone daidzein by gut microbiome and has an estrogen-like activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the equol producing status affects aerobic exercise-induced improvement in carotid and aortic arterial elasticity in postmenopausal women. We estimated carotid arterial compliance and aortic arterial stiffness before and after eight weeks of aerobic exercise training. Carotid arterial compliance and aortic stiffness increased and decreased in the equol producers but not in the non-producers after the intervention. In the isoflavone supplementation group, there were no changes in any parameters after the intervention irrespective of the equol status. These results suggest that the equol promotes the ameliorative effect of aerobic exercise training on central arterial stiffening in postmenopausal women.

Free Research Field

スポーツ健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

この研究の学術的意義は運動トレーニングによる動脈機能の適応や改善に腸内環境に依存した生理活性物質であるエクオールが関与することを世界に先駆けて明らかにした点である。本研究により，閉経後女性において，エクオールの存在が有酸素運動の動脈硬化改善効果を促進する可能性が示唆された。これらの研究成果は，大豆製品を日常的に摂取する習慣のある日本人女性において，エクオール産生能に基づいた運動や食事・サプリメントの最適な選択方法の提示につながるものと考えている。