Genistein Decreases Food Intake, Body Weight, and Fat Pad Weight and Causes Adipose Tissue Apoptosis in Ovariectomized Female Mice

Abstract

Genistein, an isoflavone in soybean products, has estrogenic activity and is used as a natural substitute for estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Genistein was also shown to decrease fat pad weight in female mice. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of genistein on adipose tissue apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mature adipocytes were treated with 0, 1, 10, 100, and 400 micromol/L genistein and then assayed for apoptosis, whereas only mature adipocytes were assayed for viability. Mature adipocytes treated with genistein demonstrated a dose-related increase in apoptosis. Ovariectomized female mice (9 mo old) were given 0, 150, or 1,500 mg/kg genistein in the semipurified phytoestrogen-free casein-based diet for 3 wk (n=10). After mice were killed, body composition was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis, and parametrial (PM), inguinal (ING), and retroperitoneal (RP) fat pads were weighed and assayed for apoptosis (% DNA fragmentation). Genistein (1500 mg/kg) reduced food intake (FI) by 14% (P<0.01) and body weight (BW) by 9% (P<0.01). Body composition was not significantly affected, but PM and ING weights were decreased 22% (P<0.05) and 19% (P<0.07), respectively, by 1,500 mg/kg genistein. Apoptosis in ING fat was increased 290% (P<0.05) by 1,500 mg/kg genistein. These findings show that oral genistein treatment can reduce BW, mobilize body fat, and induce apoptosis of adipose tissue in ovariectomized female mice. Thus, genistein may be useful in treating or preventing increased adiposity after menopause.

Genistein Induces Estrogen-Like Effects in Ovariectomized Rats but Fails to Increase Cardiac GLUT4 and Oxidative Stress

“…A 3-week exposure to dietary genistein (1,500 mg=kg of food) has been shown to successfully decrease body fat in older OVX mice. 30 In contrast, we observed no effect of genistein on fat pad weight after a 2-week duration. This could perhaps be explained by the following differences in our studies: the dose of genistein that we used was lower (250 mg=kg vs. 1,500 mg=kg), the route of administration was different (subcutaneous injection vs. oral), our duration of exposure to genistein was shorter (2 weeks vs. 3 weeks), and, lastly, we used rats versus mice.…”

“…A reduction in fat pad weight by genistein has been attributed to an increase in lipolysis and adipocyte apoptosis. 30 Osteoporosis is a widely known phenomenon occurring in the estrogen-depleted state, i.e., following ovariectomy or postmenopause. The effects of bone loss in OVX mice have been shown to be reversed by a 4-week treatment of either 0.7 mg=day genistein or 0.03 mg=day 17b-estradiol administered via daily subcutaneous injections.…”

O tratamento com isoflavonas mimetiza a ação do estradiol no acúmulo de gordura em ratas ovariectomizadas

“…Esses resultados são semelhantes a dados da literatura, que relacionam o uso de ISO com menor acúmulo de tecido adiposo branco, indicando efeito antilipogênico (43)(44)(45)(46).…”

Cyanidin and malvidin in aqueous extracts of black carrots fermented with Aspergillus oryzae prevent the impairment of energy, lipid and glucose metabolism in estrogen-deficient rats by AMPK activation

“…Genistein administration (0.15 % supplemented diet) was shown to decrease both food intake and parametrial, inguinal and retroperitoneal fat pads in OVX mice (Kim et al 2006). Increased visceral fat mass results in the release of cytokines that induce inflammation (Tchernof and Després 2013).…”