Dietary isoflavones and bone mineral density during midlife and the menopausal transition

Abstract

Objective To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between dietary intake of isoflavones and BMD of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) in Black, White, Chinese and Japanese women during the menopause transition (MT). Methods We tested whether tertiles of isoflavone intake were associated with baseline BMD, when all women were pre- or early perimenopausal. To analyze whether isoflavone intake was associated with longitudinal BMD, we fit piece-wise linear models to repeated measurements of baseline-normalized LS or FN BMD, as functions of time before or after the final menstrual period (FMP) date. Results Multiply-adjusted mean FN BMD values of premenopausal, Japanese women were monotonically, positively related to isoflavone consumption (p for trend = 0.0003). Otherwise, no statistically significant baseline associations were observed. During the time period of 1 year prior to through 5 years after the FMP, all participants lost LS and FN BMD. Loss was unrelated to isoflavone intake, with the exception of Japanese women during 1 year prior to 2 years after the FMP: higher tertiles of isoflavone intake were associated with greater annual LS BMD loss rates (p for trend = 0.01) and FN loss rates (p for trend = 0.04). Conclusions In Japanese women, higher isoflavone intake was associated with higher peak FN BMD but also with greater rates of LS and FN BMD loss during the MT. Results in the other racial/ethnic groups did not support a relation between dietary intake of isoflavones and either peak BMD or BMD loss during the MT.

Bone Health During the Menopause Transition and Beyond

“…In SWAN women, levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D below 20 ng/mL at the third follow up visit (when mean age was 48.5 years) were associated with 85% higher hazard for incident non-traumatic fractures 59 . Greater intake of isoflavones (such as from soy products) was also associated with greater BMD at the baseline visit 60,61 . However, more of a good thing is not always better.…”

The Potential Effects of Phytoestrogens: The Role in Neuroprotection

“…Various lignans found in plant cell walls and fiber-rich foods and seeds, had a positive effect on cognition and markers of AD induced in mice [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. It has been shown that higher dietary lignan intake may be associated with better cognitive function [ 70 , 71 ], while no improvement in cognitive performance was observed when consuming coumestrol [ 72 ]. However, dietary intake of isoflavones showed no association with cognition [ 70 ].…”

The influence of phytoestrogens on different physiological and pathological processes: An overview

“…Therefore, evidence of a beneficial effect of isoflavones and other phytoestrogens on bone mineral density in post-menopausal and peri-menopausal women are still limited (Greendale et al, 2015).…”