The most recent findings on soy and isoflavones were presented in Washington DC on the occasion of the 9th International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment (October 16-19, 2010). A major part of the topics was dedicated to safety and health benefits in menopausal women, and to the issue of soy and breast cancer.
The working group of Dr. Allessandra Bitto (Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy) presented data on the relationship between soy isoflavones and the management of the metabolic syndrome (Bitto et al. 2010). Her working group had previously presented the results of a clinical long-term trials on the effects of 54 mg genistein on parameters of cardiovascular and bone health (Atteritano et al. 2007; Marini et al. 2007; Marini et al. 2008a; Marini et al. 2008b; Marini et al. 2010). In a new study the working group now started the supplementation of 120 women with either 54 mg of genistein or 54 mg of placebo. Bitto presented the first intermediate results after 6 months. At this time, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides CRP, homocystein and leptin were significantly improved (p < 0.05 vs. placebo). In addition, a marked increase of adiponectin was found (p < 0.01 vs. placebo). Insulin resistance and blood pressure decreased. The dose of 54 mg of genistein may therefore be effective in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.
References
Atteritano M, Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Mazzaferro S, Anna RD, Cannata ML, Gaudio A, Frisina A, Frisina N, Corrado F, Cancellieri F, Lubrano C, Bonaiuto M, Adamo EB and Squadrito F (2007). Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on some predictors of cardiovascular risk in osteopenic, postmenopausal women: a 2-years randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92(8):3068-3075.
Bitto A, Altavilla D, Marini H, Polito F, Minutoli L and Squadrito F (2010). Effects of genistein aglycone on insulin resistance and lipid metabolism in postmenstrual women with metabolic syndrome: preliminary results from a randomized clinical trial. 9th International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Washington DC, 16-19 October.
Marini H, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Burnett BP, Polito F, Di Stefano V, Minutoli L, Atteritano M, Levy RM, D'Anna R, Frisina N, Mazzaferro S, Cancellieri F, Cannata ML, Corrado F, Frisina A, Adamo V, Lubrano C, Sansotta C, Marini R, Adamo EB and Squadrito F (2008a). Breast Safety and efficacy of genistein aglycone for post-menopausal bone loss: A follow-up study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93(12):7487-7496.
Marini H, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Burnett BP, Polito F, Di S, V, Minutoli L, Atteritano M, Levy RM, Frisina N, Mazzaferro S, Frisina A, D'Anna R, Cancellieri F, Cannata ML, Corrado F, Lubrano C, Marini R, Adamo EB and Squadrito F (2010). Efficacy of genistein aglycone on some cardiovascular risk factors and homocysteine levels: A follow-up study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 20(5):332-340.
Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Atteritano M, Gaudio A, Mazzaferro S, Frisina A, Frisina N, Lubrano C, Bonaiuto M, D'Anna R, Cannata ML, Corrado F, Adamo EB, Wilson S and Squadrito F (2007). Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on bone metabolism in osteopenic postmenopausal women: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 146(12):839-847.
Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, Bitto A, Altavilla D, Atteritano M, Gaudio A, Mazzaferro S, Frisina A, Frisina N, Lubrano C, Bonaiuto M, D'Anna R, Cannata ML, Corrado F, Cancellieri F, Faraci M, Marini R, Adamo EB, Wilson S and Squadrito F (2008b). OPG and sRANKL serum concentrations in osteopenic, postmenopausal women after 2-year genistein administration. J Bone Miner Res 23(5):715-720.
Clinical effects 