Higher usual dietary intake of phytoestrogens is associated with lower aortic stiffness in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
Phytoestrogens have been postulated to protect against cardiovascular diseases, but few studies have focused on the effect of Western dietary phytoestrogen intake.


RESULTS
Four hundred three women with natural menopause either between 1987 and 1989 or between 1969 and 1979 were selected from the baseline data of the PROSPECT study (n=17 395). Isoflavone and lignan intake was calculated from a food-frequency questionnaire. Aortic stiffness was noninvasively assessed by pulse-wave velocity measurement of the aorta. Linear regression analysis was used. After adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, mean arterial pressure, follow-up time, energy intake, dietary fiber intake, glucose, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, increasing dietary isoflavone intake was associated with decreased aortic stiffness: -0.51 m/s (95% CI -1.00 to -0.03, fourth versus first quartile, P for trend=0.07). Increasing dietary intake of lignans was also associated with decreased aortic pulse-wave velocity: -0.42 m/s (95% CI -0.93 to 0.11, fourth versus first quartile, P for trend=0.06). Results were most pronounced in older women: for isoflavones, -0.94 m/s (95% CI -1.65 to -0.22, P for trend=0.02), and for lignans, -0.80 m/s (95% CI -1.85 to -0.05), fourth versus first quartile.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study support the view that phytoestrogens have a protective effect on the risk of atherosclerosis and arterial degeneration through an effect on arterial walls, especially among older women.
van der Schouw
Yvonne T
YT
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Y.T.vanderSchouw@jc.azu.nl
Pijpe
Anouk
A
Lebrun
Corinne E I
CE
Bots
Michiel L
ML
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
van Staveren
Wija A
WA
Lamberts
Steven W J
SW
Grobbee
Diederick E
DE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003187:Compliance; D004032:Diet; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017705:Lignans / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010944:Plants; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D017705:Lignans; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations