title: Effect of Trifolium pratense-derived isoflavones on the lipid profile of postmenopausal women with increased body mass index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since current clinical evidence indicates that conventional estrogen hormone therapy (HT) increases cardiovascular risk, alternatives to estrogens are growing in popularity, especially among high-risk populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of Trifolium pratense-derived isoflavone supplementation on the lipid profile of postmenopausal women with increased body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty postmenopausal women aged > 40 years, HT non-users, were randomly assigned to one of two groups: either two capsules of T. pratense (80 mg red clover isoflavones) daily for a 90-day period or placebo of equal design. After a 7-day washout period, medication was crossed-over for another 90 days. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein A (LpA) levels were assessed at baseline, 90 and 180 days. Women were divided into two groups: those with increased BMI (>or=25 kg/m(2)) and those with BMI < 25 kg/m(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three women (88.3%) completed the trial. T. pratense isoflavone supplementation had a positive effect on the lipid profile of women with increased BMI, evidenced by a significant decrease in TC, LDL-C and LpA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isoflavones derived from T. pratense are an attractive alternative therapeutic option for high-risk populations such as postmenopausal women with increased BMI and abnormal lipid profile.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador. peterchedraui@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: San Miguel
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morocho
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D029921:Trifolium
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts