Obesity prevalence in relation to gut microbial environments capable of producing equol or O-desmethylangolensin from the isoflavone daidzein

Abstract

Background Studies have observed associations between the gut microbiome and obesity. O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) and equol are gut bacterial metabolites of daidzein, a compound found in high amounts in soy foods. Approximately 80–95% and 25–60% of individuals harbor gut microbial communities capable of producing ODMA or equol, respectively. Given that other phenotypes of gut bacterial metabolism of dietary compounds have been associated with obesity, we hypothesized that daidzein-metabolizing phenotypes would be associated with obesity. Objective To compare the prevalence of ODMA-producer and equol-producer phenotypes in obese, overweight, and normal weight individuals. Methods Adults aged 18 to 95 years (n=297) provided a first-void urine sample after a three-day soy challenge, and urinary ODMA and equol concentrations were used to classify individuals as producers or non-producers. Body mass index was calculated from self-reported weight and height. Results There were 60 ODMA non-producers and 173 equol non-producers. Obese individuals were 2.8-times more likely to be ODMA non-producers (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.2) compared to normal weight individuals, when adjusted for age, race (white vs. non-white), and gender and menopausal status (male, premenopausal female, and postmenopausal female). Obesity was not associated with equol-producer phenotype (OR=1.1, 95% CI: 0.5, 2.2). Stronger associations with obesity were observed in the ODMA non-producers who were also equol producers than equol non-producers. Conclusions Results from this analysis suggest that the ODMA-producer phenotype, but not equol-producer phenotype, is associated with obesity in adults. These results support further work to replicate these findings and evaluate mechanisms of the observed associations.

Metabolomics reveals differences between three daidzein metabolizing phenotypes in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors

“…The prevalence of equol + ODMA producers in our participants was consistent with the general Caucasian population [10,41]. Nonproducers had significantly higher indices of obesity and visceral adiposity than did the equol + ODMA producers, even in this study population of overweight and obese individuals, which is consistent with a recent report indicating that the ODMA (nonequol producer) phenotype is associated with obesity in adults [42].…”

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Foods and Derived Products Containing Ellagitannins and Anthocyanins on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers: Analysis of Factors Influencing Variability of the Individual Responses

“…Similar cases have been reported for the conversion of the soy isoflavone daidzein into equol, where volunteers can be categorized into equol producers and non-producers and this stratification might explain the discrepancy of the soy/isoflavones effects on human health, mainly cardiovascular. Thus, obesity has been correlated with the non equol-producer phenotype [187]. In addition, a positive correlation has been observed in the cardiovascular risk profiles and the equol-producer phenotype in pre-hypertensive postmenopausal women [188].…”

Urolithins, the rescue of “old” metabolites to understand a “new” concept: Metabotypes as a nexus among phenolic metabolism, microbiota dysbiosis, and host health status

“…The interindividual differences in metabolizing the isoflavone daidzein to equol or O-desmethyl-angolensin (ODMA) might explain the discrepancy of the soy/isoflavones effects on human health (cardiovascular, obesity, bone density, etc.). For example, the ODMA-producer phenotype, but not the equol-producer phenotype, has been associated with obesity in adults [113] but not with bone density and body composition [114]. In addition, equol/ODMA producers had more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles than nonproducers in Chinese prehypertensive postmenopausal women [100].…”