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It is today universally recognized that diet plays a key role in prevention of some important pathology such as cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and cancer (1).
Epidemiological data indicate that less than 25% of Japanese climacteric women (2), 18% of Chinese and 14% in Singapore (3,4) complain of hot flushes compared with 85% of North American women (5) and with 70-80% of European (6).
In addition, when compared with the Western women, Asian women have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and estrogen dependent cancers (7,8). These data can be at least partially explained by the fact that Asian women follow a traditional soy diet rich in phytoestrogens, even though other factors such as differences in lifestyle, weight or overall diet may be implicated.
Phytoestrogens are a broad group of non-steroidal compounds of different structure that have been shown to bind to estrogen receptors (Ers). There are three main classes of phytoestrogens: isoflavones, coumestans and lignans. Among the isoflavones, genistein and daidzein are the most investigated (9).
Chemical structure of soy isoflavones
Functionally, phytoestrogens can exert both estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects depending on many factors including their concentration, the concentration of endogenous sex hormones, the relative levels of estrogen receptors α and β, and the nature of the response elements with which the receptors interact on the estrogen related genes. Phytoestrogens have been also shown to interact with pathway of cellular activity that do not involve Ers (10).
The current research effort is actually focused on verifying if phytoestrogens may provide protection to the systems affected by menopause, without exerting adverse effects on the breast and uterus encountered with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens.
Soyselect® isoflavones typical HPLC profile.
Daidzin
and genistin are the glucosides of daidzein and genistein.
(1) “Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases”, WHO Technical Report Series, 916. Report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation, World Health Organization. Geneva 2003.
(2) Lock M., Encounters with aging. Mythologies of menopause in Japan and North America. Berkley and Los Angeles. University of California Press, 1993.
(3) Boulet M.J., Oddens B.J., Lehert P., Vemer H.M., Visser A., Maturitas 19, 157 (1994).
(4) Tang G.W.K., Maturitas 19, 177 (1994).
(5) Notelovitz M., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 161, 1832 (1989).
(6) Rekers H., Mastering the menopause, in: A portrait of the menopause, H. Burger, M. Boulet (eds), The Parthenon Group, Park Ridge, New Jersey (1991).
(7) Aldercreutz H. Envir. Health Perspect. 103, 103 (1995).
(8) Grady D, Rubin S.M., Petitti D.B., Fox C.S., Black D., Ettinger B. et al., Ann. Intern. Med 117, 1016 (1992).
(9) Henderson V.W., Menopause 10, 189 (2003).
(10) Benassayag C, Perrot-Applanat M, Ferre F., J. Chromatogr. B 777, 233 (2002).
