title: Effects of natural S-equol supplements on overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome in the Japanese, based on sex and equol status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic studies indicate that soy intake has an important role in the prevention of age-related health problems. Daidzein, the principal isoflavone contained in soy, is converted to S-equol by the intestinal bacteria. Not all individuals, however, can produce S-equol, which is considered the most biologically active metabolite. We studied the effects of a natural S-equol supplement on metabolic parameters associated with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design with no washout period. All subjects were considered overweight or obese if they had a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2) . Placebo or natural S-equol tablets containing 10 mg S-equol were orally ingested each day for 12 weeks. A total of 54 Japanese overweight or obese outpatients were enrolled. The equol phenotype was determined, and various metabolic parameters, including cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Equol non-producers comprised 67.9% of the overweight or obese subjects. The ratio of equol non-producers in this overweight or obese subject group was higher than the previously reported ratio of equol non-producers (approximately 50%) in the general population. Compared with the placebo group, intervention with natural S-equol led to a significant decrease in HbA1c, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and CAVI score. Furthermore, the effect was more prominent in the subgroup of female equol non-producers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ratio of equol non-producers in overweight or obese populations might be higher than generally reported. Natural S-equol might have a role in glycaemic control and in the prevention of cardiovascular disease by its effects to lower LDL-C levels and CAVI scores in overweight or obese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan. tusui@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tochiya
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muranaka
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamakage
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimatsu
authors.forename: Asami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inaguma
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satoh-Asahara
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D060754:Equol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D060754:Equol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D048789:Phytoestrogens