title: Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The phytoestrogen genistein has been shown to be the most efficacious in clinical and experimental studies. We studied whether genistein treatment affects some cardiovascular risk markers in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy postmenopausal women, who were 52 to 60 years of age, were enrolled in a 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. After a 4-week stabilization on a standard fat-reduced diet, participants were randomly assigned to receive either genistein (n = 30; 54 mg/d) or placebo (n = 30). At baseline and after a 6-month treatment, we measured fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), osteoprotegerin (OPG), fibrinogen, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  By comparison with placebo, genistein treatment decreased significantly fasting glucose (genistein = -8.7 +/- 2.3%; placebo = 3.2 +/- 2.3%; P < 0.001), fasting insulin (genistein = -12 +/- 3.33%; placebo = 36 +/- 3.29%; P < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (genistein = -14 +/- 5.8%; placebo = 42 +/- 0.6%; P < 0.001). After genistein-treatment, fibrinogen decreased (genistein = 3.18 +/- 0.12 g/L; placebo = 3.83 +/- 0.04 g/L; P < 0.001) with respect to placebo. In the genistein group, serum OPG was lower (-2 +/- 0.3%) than in placebo (9 +/- 1.5%; P < 0.001), and serum SHBG was higher (63 +/- 3.8 nmol/L) compared with placebo (53 +/- 2.9 nmol/L; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that genistein may have a favorable effect on some cardiovascular markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crisafulli
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cucinotta
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frisina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Elena B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cancellieri
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buemi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017698:Postmenopause; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000097:blood; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007328:Insulin; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D005340:Fibrinogen; D019833:Genistein