The Benefits Of Soy

The amount of soy research continues to be published at a
staggering rate. I hope these weekly updates are beneficial to
you and your family.

BONE HEALTH SUPPORT

Soy Isoflavones Improve Bone Metabolism in Postmenopausal
Japanese Women

OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to determine whether soy
isoflavones alter bone resorption or bone formation by examining
biomarkers of bone turnover.

STUDY DESIGN. For this double blind, placebo-controlled study,
pre- and postmenopausal women between 40­63 years of age were
randomly assigned to either 1) isoflavone tablets (40 mg/day,
n=24), 2) vitamin tablets (25 mg vitamin C + 5 mg vitamin E;
n=24), or placebo tablets (n=19). Treatments were provided daily
for 4 weeks. Urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) and serum bone
gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGP) were measured
at baseline and after 4 weeks as markers of bone resorption and
formation, respectively.

RESULTS. Compared to the baseline values, consumption of 40 mg
isoflavones per day significantly decreased urinary Dpd, but had
no effect on serum BGP levels. Treatment with vitamin or placebo
tablets had no effect on these biomarkers. Similar effects were
observed when only postmenopausal women were included in the
analyses. Additionally, the percent reduction in Dpd in
postmenopausal women was significantly (P < 0.01) greater in the
isoflavone group compared to the vitamin and placebo groups.

CONCLUSION. The results of this study indicate that soy
isoflavones may favorably impact bone health as shown by
reduction in the bone resorption biomarker Dpd.

About the Author:

Mori M, Sagara M, Ikeda K, Miki T, Yamori Y. Soy isoflavones
improve bone metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women. Clinic
and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology 2004; 31:A44-S46.

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