The most significant food source of isoflavones in humans is soy-derived products, soybeans, soy flour, soy flakes, soy beverages and fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh, among others [9]. The authors studied all possible correlations between isoflavone consumption and the risk of breast cancer. Vlachopoulos C., Aznaouridis K., Stefanadis C. Prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with arterial stiffness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. For this reason, the results should be interpreted with caution, and more randomized clinical trials are imperative. Indeed, the dose levels of dietary isoflavones require a better definition, and the measurements of isoflavone consumption should be provided in quantifiable terms. Watanabe S., Yamaguchi M., Sobue T., Takahashi T., Miura T., Arai Y., Mazur W., Whl K., Adlercreutz H. Pharmacokinetics of soybean isoflavones in plasma, urine and feces of men after ingestion of 60 g baked soybean powder (kinako). With regard to the mechanisms by which isoflavones act to reduce cancer risk, it has been suggested that the effects are due to the similarity of the isoflavone molecule to estradiol. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Perna et al. (2019), included 16 prospective cohort studies involving 11,169 breast cancer cases and 648,913 participants [70]. Zamora-Ros R., Knaze V., Rothwell J.A., Hmon B., Moskal A., Overvad K., Tjnneland A., Kyr C., Fagherazzi G., Boutron-Ruault M.C., et al. In the meta-analysis reported by Chen et al. Indeed, Kim and Je (2017) indicated that a high intake of flavonoids is associated with a reduced risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases in men and women [56]. (2017) also analyzed eight studies of prostate cancer, and they found an association between isoflavone intake and prostate cancer risk [61]. Received 2020 Nov 30; Accepted 2020 Dec 15. Finally, isoflavones could be useful in reducing hot flushes associated with menopause. Jiang R., Botma A., Rudolph A., Hsing A., Chang-Claude J. Phyto-oestrogens and colorectal cancer risk: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies. Grosso et al. (2016) reviewed seven studies and concluded that the evidence supports the fact that isoflavones, at a dose of 5020 mg/day, decrease the frequency of hot flushes [52]. For this purpose, 23 studies with 2167 patients were included in this meta-analysis, which showed that a daily dose of more than 54 mg could decrease the endometrial thickness in North American women, whereas the contrary effect was observed in the Asian sample. Indeed, some authors speculate that hepatic and lipoprotein lipase activity may have been altered after variable isoflavone intake from soybean, although no experimental data were provided [67]. Soy isoflavones consumption and risk of breast cancer incidence or recurrence: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. Consequently, isoflavones can have estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects [3]. The four chemical forms of the three most abundant isoflavones. Effects of isoflavones in different cancer types. Karr S.C., Lampe J.W., Hutchins A.M., Slavin J.L. The aim of the present review is to gather the scientific evidence existing nowadays on the main beneficial effects of isoflavones on health: bone health, cardiovascular risk, cancer and menopausal symptoms. Morning 3: Temp 98.6 BP 124/83 Pulse 62 bpm. Gee J.M., DuPont M.S., Day A.J., Plumb G.W., Williamson G., Johnson I.T. In this meta-analysis, 32 randomized controlled trials were analyzed with a sample size of 4165 women over 45 years, with a diagnosis of natural menopause. However, all the authors agree that further studies are necessary so as to confirm these results. Although results vary greatly, most of these applications are supported by at least a few clinical studies. ); sue.uhe@ollitrop.yupairam (M.P.P. Menopause is characterized by a decrease in estrogen levels and is often accompanied by a range of symptoms. This fact was not taken into account in previous meta-analyses, and thus it may justify the discrepancies amongst them. Thus, soybean can be considered as the best food source. Regarding cancer, scientific evidence suggests that isoflavones could be useful in reducing the risk of suffering some types of cancer, such as breast and endometrial cancer, but further studies are needed to confirm these results. Metabolism of intraruminally administered [4-. Nevertheless, the results do not seem entirely conclusive, as there are discrepancies among the studies included in the systematic reviews and in the meta-analyses, probably related to their experimental designs. However, more studies are required to provide stronger evidence. Implications of phytoestrogen intake for breast cancer. In the meta-analysis reported by Applegate et al. This is mainly due to their potential adverse effects, which range from increased coronary heart disease to stroke and cancer [53,85]. According to the results gathered in the present review, it can be stated that there is scientific evidence showing the beneficial effect of isoflavones on bone health and thus in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis on postmenopausal women, although the results do not seem entirely conclusive as there are discrepancies among the studies, probably related to their experimental designs. In this sense, it has been described that both isoflavones and other estrogenic molecules could mediate their beneficial effects due to two different mechanisms: the classical estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling pathway and the activation of intracellular pathways such as protein tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) [5,6]. Potential mechanism of action of isoflavones on bone metabolism. ); sue.uhe@zelaznog.enatiam (M.G.-A. The enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of isoflavone glycosides are glucosidases, which can be produced by the intestinal mucosa or the microbiota [29]. The work reported by Lambert et al. Dietary intake of flavonoid subclasses and risk of colorectal cancer: Evidence from population studies. That's what behavioral ecologist Jenny York learned while studying white-browed sparrow weavers . May affect males and females differently A 2015 study of 205 people found that the full moon may affect sleep differently in males and females. As far as the mechanisms of action involved in the decrease in triglyceride concentration are concerned, it has been reported that hepatic lipase and/or lipoprotein lipase activity may be increased as a result of isoflavone presence. Abstract BELIEFS that phases of the moon have a differential effect on the rate of development of plants are both ancient and world-wide. Finally, it is important to mention that despite the fact that potential isoflavone adverse effects have been widely studied, little is known about the side effect of the bacterial metabolite equol. (2015), the authors examined the efficacy of phytoestrogens in reducing hot flushes [86]. Murota K., Nakamura Y., Uehara M. Flavonoid metabolism: The interaction of metabolites and gut microbiota. Interestingly, soy protein isolate (void of isoflavones through alcoholic extraction during the protein solation phase) did not show these effects. However, there is still a great heterogeneity among studies, which makes the current data inconclusive. ); sue.uhe@zednanref.oderfla (A.F.-Q. In a more recent systematic review, including two meta-analyses, as well as one multicenter and randomized controlled trial, Chen and his team concluded that isoflavones reduced lumbar spine bone mineral density loss [53]. This fact suggests that other components, such as fiber in the soy foods, may account for these negative associations. . The association between dietary isoflavones intake and gastric cancer risk: A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Treutter D. Significance of flavonoids in plant resistance and enhancement of their biosynthesis. Although smaller in quantity, isoflavones are also present in chickpeas, nuts, fruits and vegetables [11]. 1Nutrition and Obesity Group, Department of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and Lucio Lascaray Research Institute, 01006 Vitoria, Spain; sue.uhe@zemog.aoias (S.G.-Z. Effects of Acid Rain on Plants and Trees. This article was originally published with the title "The Effects of Moonlight" in Scientific American 13, 37, 289 (May 1858), doi:10.1038/scientificamerican05221858-289, Daryl G. Kimball and Frank von Hippel | Opinion. Isoflavones have received attention due to their putative healthy properties. Postprandial lipemia detects the effect of soy protein on cardiovascular disease risk compared with the fasting lipid profile. You et al. Chen L.R., Ko N.Y., Chen K.H. (2016) also studied whether there was an association between different types of interventions and the reduction in hot flushes and night sweats [90]. Moreover, this association was more prominent among postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. This study was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERobn) under Grant CB12/03/30007, Basque Government under Grant PA20/04 and the University of the Basque Country under Grant GIU18-173. In a study reported by Ko et al., the authors quantified the plasma concentrations of daidzein, genistein, glycitein and equol in Korean men and women [36]. This fact does not seem to be influenced by genetics since migrating from eastern to western countries appears to cause the loss of this protective effect. Applegate C.C., Rowles J.L., Ranard K.M., Jeon S., Erdman J.W. Matulka R.A., Matsuura I., Uesugi T., Ueno T., Burdock G. Developmental and Reproductive Effects of SE5-OH: An Equol-Rich Soy-Based Ingredient. Daily J.W., Ko B.S., Ryuk J., Liu M., Zhang W., Park S. Equol Decreases Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. aimed to compare the effects of animal and plant-sourced proteins on lipemia and blood pressure [60]. Zhao T.T., Jin F., Li J.G., Xu Y.Y., Dong H.T., Liu Q., Xing P., Zhu G.L., Xu H., Miao Z.F. Bustamante-Rangel M., Delgado-Zamarreo M.M., Perez-Martin L., Rodriguez-Gonzalo E., Dominguez-Alvarez J. In the last few decades, scientific evidence has stressed the importance of plants in the prevention and/or supportive treatment of a plethora of diseases, many of them chronic, age-associated disorders. The gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Moon produces two bulges in the ocean on opposite sides of the Earth. Some gardening folklore suggests that planting crops according to the phases of the moon will give you a better harvest, but there is little scientific evidence to back this up. As previously mentioned, soybeans and their derived foodstuffs are the main isoflavone sources in the human diet, at least if we do not consider red clover extract supplements, which are being widely used by menopausal women as nutraceutical therapy [13]. Soy Consumption and the Risk of Prostate Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oral isoflavone supplementation on endometrial thickness: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. But that doesn't mean that they dig in their heels and argue about it. Future research in this field should quantify isoflavones as accurately as possible, analyzing larger cohorts and lengthening the follow-up stage. In their systematic revision, which included 1307 menopausal (n = 139) and post-menopausal (n = 1268) women, Perna et al. Isoflavone intake in four different European countries: The VENUS approach. 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