title: Soy-isoflavone-enriched foods and inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women: interactions with genotype and equol production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dietary isoflavones are thought to be cardioprotective because of their structural similarity to estrogen. The reduction of concentrations of circulating inflammatory markers by estrogen may be one of the mechanisms by which premenopausal women are protected against cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the effects of isolated soy isoflavones on inflammatory biomarkers [von Willebrand factor, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, C-reactive protein (CRP), and endothelin 1 concentrations]. Differences with respect to single-nucleotide polymorphisms in selected genes [estrogen receptor alpha (XbaI and PvuII), estrogen receptor beta [ERbeta (AluI) and ERbeta[cx] (Tsp509I), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Glu298Asp), apolipoprotein E (Apo E2, E3, and E4), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (TaqIB)] and equol production were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventeen healthy European postmenopausal women participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover dietary intervention trial. Isoflavone-enriched (genistein-to-daidzein ratio of 2:1; 50 mg/d) or placebo cereal bars were consumed for 8 wk, with a washout period of 8 wk between the crossover. Plasma inflammatory factors were measured at 0 and 8 wk of each study arm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isoflavones improved CRP concentrations [odds ratio (95% CI) for CRP values >1 mg/L for isoflavone compared with placebo: 0.43 (0.27, 0.69)]; no significant effects of isoflavone treatment on other plasma inflammatory markers were observed. No significant differences in the response to isoflavones were observed according to subgroups of equol production. Differences in the VCAM-1 response to isoflavones and to placebo were found with ERbeta AluI genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isoflavones have beneficial effects on CRP concentrations, but not on other inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women, and may improve VCAM-1 in an ERbeta gene polymorphic subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom. w.l.hall@reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vafeiadou
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallund
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bügel
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koebnick
authors.forename: Manja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Branca
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dadd
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dahlman-Wright
authors.forename: Jan-Ake
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minihane
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D060754:Equol; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D045730:Soy Foods; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C007610:4',7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoflavone; D015415:Biomarkers; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D060754:Equol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein