Effects of soy isoflavones and the elucidation of its mechanism on postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26750062
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (2015); National Institute of Health and Nutrition (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Yuko Tousen 国立研究開発法人医薬基盤・健康・栄養研究所, 食品保健機能研究部, 研究員 (20360092)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 大豆イソフラボン / 血管運動性更年期症状 / 骨粗鬆症 / エクオール / 血流 / 骨密度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Soy isoflavones and equol (EQ), which is a metabolite of isoflavone daidzein, have an ability to cause weak estrogenic effects, and EQ have been reported to improve vasomotor symptoms, such as shoulder stiffness and hot flush, and osteoporosis in menopausal women. The objective of this study is to examine the ability of EQ to prevent the decrease of blood flow, which is the index of vasomotor symptoms as well as bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency in ovariectomised (OVX) rat.
Dietary supplementation with EQ prevented the decrease of blood flow and bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency in OVX rats. These results raise the possibility that dietary supplementation with EQ may relieve vasomotor symptoms and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Free Research Field

栄養学