Soy Isoflavones

In particular, soy isoflavones like genistein, daidzein and glycitein have demonstrated a wide variety of beneficial effects in postmenopausal women, including supporting cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, metabolic and bone health, as well as healthy cell division.^1-4

Soy Isoflavones

Soy is rich in phytoestrogenic plant-derived compounds with estrogen-like effects called isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein. These isoflavones activate estrogen receptors, but they prefer the receptor Erβ—which is found mainly in bone, urogenital tissue and the cardiovascular system—over Erα, which is found mainly in breast and uterine tissues.⁵

As a result, soy isoflavones have demonstrated benefits for women after menopause, such as helping maintain bone density as well as healthy blood lipid levels and glucose metabolism and promoting heart health.^6-9

Soy isoflavones also support healthy cell signaling and help protect against oxidative stress.^4,13

^References

1. Rizzo G, Baroni L. Soy, Soy Foods and Their Role in Vegetarian Diets. Nutrients. Jan 5 2018;10(1):43-94. doi:10.3390/nu10010043
2. Sekikawa A, Ihara M, Lopez O, et al. Effect of S-equol and Soy Isoflavones on Heart and Brain. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2019;15(2):114-135. doi:10.2174/1573403X15666181205104717
3. Mukund V, Mukund D, Sharma V, Mannarapu M, Alam A. Genistein: Its role in metabolic diseases and cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. Nov 2017;119:13-22. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.09.004
4. Krizova L, Dadakova K, Kasparovska J, Kasparovsky T. Isoflavones. Molecules. Mar 19 2019;24(6):1076. doi:10.3390/molecules24061076
5. Chen LR, Chen KH. Utilization of Isoflavones in Soybeans for Women with Menopausal Syndrome: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci. Mar 22 2021;22(6)doi:10.3390/ijms22063212
6. Kanadys W, Baranska A, Blaszczuk A, et al. Effects of Soy Isoflavones on Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. May 17 2021;18(10)doi:10.3390/ijerph18105346
7. Baranska A, Blaszczuk A, Kanadys W, et al. Effects of Soy Protein Containing of Isoflavones and Isoflavones Extract on Plasma Lipid Profile in Postmenopausal Women as a Potential Prevention Factor in Cardiovascular Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. Jul 24 2021;13(8)doi:10.3390/nu13082531
8. Fang K, Dong H, Wang D, Gong J, Huang W, Lu F. Soy isoflavones and glucose metabolism in menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mol Nutr Food Res. Jul 2016;60(7):1602-14. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201501024
9. Sathyapalan T, Aye M, Rigby AS, et al. Soy isoflavones improve cardiovascular disease risk markers in women during the early menopause. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. Jul 2018;28(7):691-697. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2018.03.007
10. Daily JW, Ko BS, 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. J Med Food. Feb 2019;22(2):127-139. doi:10.1089/jmf.2018.4265
11. Crisafulli A, Marini H, Bitto A, et al. Effects of genistein on hot flushes in early postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind EPT- and placebo-controlled study. Menopause. Jul-Aug 2004;11(4):400-4. doi:10.1097/01.gme.0000109314.11228.e5
12. D'Anna R, Cannata ML, Marini H, et al. Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on hot flushes, endometrium, and vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Menopause. Mar-Apr 2009;16(2):301-6. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e318186d7e2
13. Ramdath DD, Padhi EM, Sarfaraz S, Renwick S, Duncan AM. Beyond the Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Soy Protein: A Review of the Effects of Dietary Soy and Its Constituents on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrients. Mar 24 2017;9(4):324-48. doi:10.3390/nu9040324