Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women.
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.
Crisafulli
Alessandra
A
Department of Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy.
Altavilla
Domenica
D
Marini
Herbert
H
Bitto
Alessandra
A
Cucinotta
Domenico
D
Frisina
Nicola
N
Corrado
Francesco
F
D'Anna
Rosario
R
Squadrito
Giovanni
G
Adamo
Elena B
EB
Marini
Rolando
R
Romeo
Adolfo
A
Cancellieri
Francesco
F
Buemi
Michele
M
Squadrito
Francesco
F
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
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