Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: REIMANN and co-authors,
Listed in Issue 134
Abstract
REIMANN and co-authors, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, have looked at soy isoflavones and the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.
Background
Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease because many risk factors are aggravated by the menopause. Phyto-oestrogens may modulate these risk factors favourably. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phyto-oestrogens on the atherogenic amino acids homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).
Methodology
A multicentre, double-blind, crossover intervention trial in 89 postmenopausal women from Denmark, Germany, and the UK was performed. Subjects consumed fruit cereal bars with or without soy isoflavones (50 mg/day) for 8 weeks each with an 8-week washout period in between.
Results
Urinary phyto-oestrogens increased significantly after isoflavone intervention (p < 0.001). Isoflavone supplementation did not affect plasma total homocysteine or ADMA. For homocysteine, changes from baseline were 0.32 micromol/L, and 0.29 micromol/L for isoflavone treatment and placebo, respectively. For ADMA concentrations, changes from baseline were -0.02 micromol/L, and 0.00 micromol/L for isoflavone treatment and placebo, respectively. There was no association between plasma total homocysteine and ADMA. Changes from baseline in plasma ADMA and folate were negatively correlated (r = -0.18, p = 0.017).
Conclusion
These results challenge the overall health effect of isoflavone supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women.
References
Reimann M. et al. Consumption of soy isoflavones does not affect plasma total homocysteine or asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in healthy postmenopausal women. Journal of Nutrition 136 (1): 100-105, Jan 2006.
Comment
A study for 8 weeks only with only 89 women consuming cereal bars is probably not definitive regarding the role of isoflavones in modulating risks of heart disease in postmenopausal women.
