Dietary phytoestrogens and estrogen inhibit experimental atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of phytoestrogen intake in combination with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on atherogenesis is largely unknown. The aim was thus to study the impact of phytoestrogens alone, or combined with oral estrogen, on experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.


METHODS
Two separate studies were performed in ovariectomized, cholesterol-fed female rabbits. In Study A, 45 rabbits were randomized to either a soy-free diet with or without oral 17 beta-estradiol (E2) 4 mg/day, or a soy-rich diet without any hormone for 14 weeks. In Study B, 100 rabbits were randomized into five groups (oral E2 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 mg/day, or no hormone) based on a soy-rich diet for 30 weeks.


RESULTS
By the end of treatment in Study A, aortic cholesterol content was twice the amount in the group treated with the soy-free diet compared with the soy-rich group and with the soy-free plus E2 group (p < 0.001). In Study B, aortic cholesterol content showed no significant difference between the groups (ANOVA, p = 0.49), but a tendency towards a lower aortic cholesterol content in the E2-treated animals compared with placebo was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary phytoestrogens significantly reduce aortic cholesterol content with a potency comparable to that of ERT, and seem to enhance (although mildly) the antiatherogenic effect of E2 in this model.
Alexandersen
P
P
Center for Clinical and Basic Research, Ballerup Byvej 222, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark.
Haarbo
J
J
Breinholt
V
V
Christiansen
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000032:analysis; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000032:analysis; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013025:Glycine max; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D008074:Lipoproteins; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D004958:Estradiol; C004742:daidzein; D002784:Cholesterol; D019833:Genistein