Soy isoflavones prevent ovariectomy-induced atherosclerotic lesions in Golden Syrian hamster model of postmenopausal hyperlipidemia

Abstract

Soy isoflavones, independent of the protein source, prevent hypercholesterolemia and the formation of atherosclerotic lesions induced by ovarian hormone deficiency in hamsters. The antiatherogenic mechanisms of isoflavones need further investigation.

Effects of Legumes Consumption on the Association of Cholesterol and Bone Mineral Density in Ovariectomized Rats

“…Cui et al (2005) also reported that concentrations of total-and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly higher in post-menopausal women than premenopausal women. Total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were also significantly higher in OVX rats than sham (Uesugi et al, 2001;Lucas et al, 2003). Limitations of this study were that isoflavones and other phytoestrogen contents in the legumes were not measured.…”

“…In fact, Uesugi et al(2001) found that administration of daidzein, genistein reduced serum levels of triglyceride and totalcholesterol in ovariectomized-induced rats. Lucas et al (2003) also showed that supplement of soy isoflavones decreased plasma cholesterol concentration in a dose-dependent manner in ovariectomized hamster. On the contrary, Rios et al (2008) and Gallo et al (2005) reported that isoflavones and soy extract had no effects lipid profile in postmenopausal women and in OVX rats, respectively.…”

“…Frota et al (2008) also showed that consumption of cowpea seed and its protein isolate significantly reduced plasma levels of total-cholesterol, non HDL-cholesterol, and fat accumulation in the liver of hypercholesterolemic hamsters. There was no study to investigate the dietary effect of mung bean and adzuki bean on lipid profile, but most legumes containing isoflavones and phenolic compounds had been suggested to have similar effect as compared with soybean (Uesugi et al, 2001;Lucas et al, 2003). In fact, Uesugi et al(2001) found that administration of daidzein, genistein reduced serum levels of triglyceride and totalcholesterol in ovariectomized-induced rats.…”

“…Isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogens have beneficial effects against cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms (Albertazzi and Purdie, 2008;Lim et al, 2007). In ovariectomized rat model, soy protein isolate decreased concentrations of triglyceride (Uesugi et al, 2001), cholesterol (Uesugi et al, 2001) and LDL-cholesterol, but increased HDL-cholesterol concentration (Uesugi et al, 2001;Lucas et al, 2003) and bone mass (Devareddy et al, 2006). However, there has been no study to show the association between lipid profile and bone mass in osteoporotic animal model.…”

Identification of urinary isoflavone excretion phenotypes related to the cholesterol lowering ability of soy protein in Golden Syrian hamsters

“…Total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol were significantly less in hamsters fed soy protein with or without isoflavones or fed 1.3 mmol daidzein/kg diet in a casein-based diet (~ content of total isoflavones in a 25% soy protein diet), compared with a high fat/casein control diet, illustrating similar efficacy for cholesterol lowering by soy protein and daidzein. The cholesterol-lowering effects of isoflavones increased with increasing isoflavone doses in six mo-old ovariectomized Golden Syrian hamsters (7). In another study, plasma isoflavones were positively correlated with plasma LDL+VLDL-C in female hamsters, and males fed isoflavones in a casein/lactalbumin diet showed no cholesterol-lowering compared with the control diet, but isoflavones within a soy diet increased cholesterol-lowering (8).…”