• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group ($-7.0{\pm}15.8$, P = 0.0074) and placebo group ($-6.3{\pm}14.6$, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by $6.3{\pm}4.1%$ (P = 0.004) and OC increased by $9.3{\pm}6.2%$ (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group ($-0.6{\pm}0.5$) and placebo group ($-0.6{\pm}0.4$), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.948-956
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• 2000

There is growing evidence that soy isoflavone play beneficial roles in the prevention of chronic diseases such as hormone dependent cancers, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and also reduced incidence of menopausal symptoms. However current data are not sufficient to determine the effective doses for beneficial as well as harmful effects and to support dietary recommendation for isoflavones. Since soy products containing isoflavone are one of the common food items that Koreans consume daily basis, assessing consumption of soy isoflavone by Koreans will give a valuable information on making dietary recommendations for isoflavones. the present study was designed to assess dietary intake of isoflavone of Korean middle-aged women who might receive the most beneficial effects from isoflavone consumption thereby prevent post menopausal related symptoms and diseases. In this study isoflavone contents of soy products were analyzed and soy products and isoflavone consumption of these subjects were assessed by a self-reported dietary questionnaire and isoflavone intake data base. Subjects were consisted of 178 Korean women (35~60 y) who live in urban and rural area. All subjects provided detailed information on demographics, anthropometry, health history, menopausal symptoms, health history, menopausal symptoms, and dietary intake using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which was developed for Koreans. The average age of the subjects was 46.6 years. The soy products which the subjects frequently consumed were soybean paste soup, braised fried soybean, tofu residue stew, tofu, soy milk, natto stew, bean sprouts, and soybean broth which contained 10.68 mg, 3.34 mg, 2.44 mg, 2.42 mg, 2.42 mg, 1.12 mg, 1.02 mg, 0.33 mg of isoflavone per 100 g, respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of isoflavones ranged from 0 to 144.3 mg, and the mean daily isoflavone (sum of daidzein and genisten) intake of the subjects was 24.41 mg.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2005

Soy and soy foods are a rich source of isoflavones, which possess several biological activities. The effect of soy isoflavones, genistin and diadzin and their respective aglycones, on glucose uptake in adipocytes isolated from normal or high-fat fed rats was examined. As expected, insulin stimulated glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. However, genistin and daidzin and their aglycones inhibited glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent (25-100μM) manner. In a time-course response, the aglycones significantly inhibited glucose uptake throughout 3 hr (after 30, 60, 120, 180 min), whereas the glycones only significantly inhibited the glucose uptake after 120 min and 180 min in the isolated rat adipocytes. Thus, the glucosides of genistein and daidzein, i.e. genistin and daidzin, were much less effective in inhibiting glucose uptake than their aglycones. In addition, genistin and daidzin did not significantly affect the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, whereas genistein and daidzein did significantly inhibited glucose uptake compared to the vehicle control group by 47.5% and 24.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). The isoflavones also significantly inhibited glucose uptake in adipocytes isolated from rats fed a high-fat diet (50% of total calorie intake) when compared to the vehicle control. Finally, the isoflavones were found to enhance lipolysis in adipocytes isolated from high-fat fed rats, where the glycerol released by the aglycones was also higher than that released by the glycones. The current results showed that the inhibitory effect of daidzein on glucose uptake was very similar to that of genistein. The aglycones were more potent in inhibiting the uptake of glucose and a more potent stimulator of lypolysis than the glycones in adipocytes isolated from high-fat fed rats.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.31-43
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• 2005

Isoflavones are naturally occurring plant chemicals belonging to the 'phytoestrogen' class. The isoflavones are strikingly similar in chemical structure to natural estrogens. The phenolic ring is a key structural element of most compounds that bind to estrogen receptors. Dietary components that recently have received attention for their action as phytoestrogens are soy isoflavones. Soy products are the most significant dietary sources of isoflavones. Recently It is concerned clinical nutrition of isoflavone that is driven by reason of alternative sources of exogenous estrogen are constantly being needed. Estrogen therapy after the menopause offers protection from cardiovascular disease, reduces the extent of osteoporosis and relieves menopausal symptoms. Exogenous estrogen treatment is a fear of possible increased risk of developing breast cancer and because of side effects. Daily intake of soybean or soy food can affirmative effect to disease occurrence, that is based on mechanical investigation, experimental results of animals and human. Research into isoflavone is going on various field to relieve hormone - dependent disease such as cancer, menopausal symptom, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Isoflavone is plenty in soybean meal, soy by-product, but only limited information is available on isoflavone efficacy into animal husbandry. Thus we conducted three experiments to investigate the effects of dietary isoflavone on productivities, antioxidative responses and bone metabolism in poultry. Dietary supplementation of isoflavone resulted in preventing the lipid oxidation of plasma and egg yolk. Dietary isoflavone improved bone development in egg-type growing chicks and broilers in terms of tibial strength. It was suggested that the proper use of feed additives such as isoflavone might provide means of improving antioxidative effect, skeletal strength, egg and eggshell quality.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2006

This study was performed to determine the effect of soy isoflavones on brain development and function in rats. Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats were provided diets containing different levels of soy isoflavones for 6 weeks; 0 ppm (control), 50 ppm (low isoflavone intake; LI), 250 ppm (medium isoflavone intake; MI) and 500 ppm (high isoflavone intake; HI). Learning ability was evaluated by a Y-shaped water maze and the activity of acetylcholinesterase in brain was assayed after decapitation. Food intake and body weights as well as weights of brain, liver, spleen, heart and kidney showed no significant difference among the four groups, which means 500 ppm of isoflavones is safe. In the water maze test, the frequency of error counted when rats entered one end of the alley without platform was significantly lower in the HI group than in the control group, and the escape latency as swim time taken to escape on the hidden platform was significantly shorter in the HI group than in the LI and control groups. The activity of acetylcholinesterase of the brain was significantly higher in the HI and MI groups than in the control group. Therefore, the results indicate that isoflavones may improve the cognitive function without adverse effects.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2004

This study was undertaken to determine the bioavailability of isoflavones in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats by providing diets containing different levels of soy isoflavones for 6 weeks: 0.025% (low isoflavone intake; LI), 0.125% (medium isoflavone intake; MI), and 0.25% (high isoflavone intake; HI). The subsequent fecal and urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was then measured. As the levels of dietary isoflavones increased, the amount of food intakes significantly decreased, and weight gain was slower in female rats. In male rats, there was no significant difference in weight gains related to dietary intakes. Urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was significantly higher in the MI and HI groups in both male and female rats than the control and LI groups. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the urine was significantly lower in the MI and HI groups. Fecal daidzein increased as dietary isoflavone intakes increased in female rats; however, in male rats the increase was significant only in the HI group. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the feces of female rats was not significantly different among the four groups. When dietary isoflavones were increased from 0.025% to 0.25%, the amounts of daidzein and genistein excreted in the urine and feces increased; however, the low recovery rate of both daidzein and genistein in the urine implies an increased bioavailability of isoflavones. We also observed sex-related differences in the urinary and fecal recovery of isoflavone intakes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.371-375
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• 1997

The content of genistein and daidzein which were known to be major antioxidative compounds in soybeans were detected by $C_{18}$ reverse phase HPLC. Most of isoflavones in soybeans were detected in the methanol extract but much less amount of isoflavones in the water extract. Among the four different kind of soybeans, the isoflavone content was highest in brown soybean, followed by yellow, small black and black soybean, in the order. These isoflavones were known to be soluble in hot water, which means transfer of isoflavone content was highest in brown soybean, followed by yellow, small black and black soybean, in the order. These isoflavones were known to be soluble in hot water, which means transfer of isoflavones in soy curd into whey during soy curd processing. To identify the change of isoflavone content during processing of soybean curd, soybean curd were made from yellow, brown and black soybean and isoflavone content were determined in each soybean curd, curd residue and whey. Most of soflavones were remained in the whey, it means most of useful antioxidative compounds were wasted. Thus, it is necessary to develop new technology to collect these isoflavones lost during soybean curd processing.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.742-749
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• 2016

Boar taint, an unpleasant odor of pork, is associated with two substances including androstenone and skatole. Testosterone is a steroid hormone as well as a strong predictor for androstenone secretion. Isoflavones of soy origin play a role in modulating the metabolism of sex hormones. Although several methods responsible for reducing boar taint are under investigation, the precise mechanism by which isoflavones reduce testosterone has not yet been identified. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of isoflavones extracted from a soy by-product on the concentration of serum testosterone in mouse. A total of 24 mice were supplemented with basal diet (control), daidzin plus genistin mix (T1), or isoflavone extracts (T2). After 11 days of treatment, size and weight of testis, as well as the concentration of sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen, were analyzed. There was no difference in size or weight of testis from mice among control, T1, and T2. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) both in T1 and T2 when compared with the control group. Furthermore, estrogen concentration in blood was increased (p < 0.05) in T2 (numerically increased in T1) compared with the control group. Taken together, the use of isoflavones extracted from soy by-products would be a plausible strategy for reducing testosterone level, ultimately reducing boar taint without castration of piglets.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.393-399
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• 2013

Asian populations are thought to receive significant health benefits from traditional diets rich in soybeans due to high isoflavone contents. However, available epidemiologic data only weakly support this hypothesis. The present study was carried out to assess the pharmacokinetics of isoflavones in South Korean women after ingestion of soy-based foods. Twenty-six healthy female volunteers (20-30 y old) consumed three different soy products (i.e., isogen, soymilk, and fermented soybeans) with different aglycone/glucoside ratios. Plasma and urine isoflavone concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after ingestion of one of the soy products. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the WinNonlin program. The area under the curve (AUC) for plasma daidzein levels of the soymilk group ($2,101{\pm}352ng{\cdot}h/mL$) was significantly smaller than those of the isogen ($2,628{\pm}573ng{\cdot}h/mL$) and fermented soybean ($2,593{\pm}465ng{\cdot}h/mL$) groups. The maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) of daidzein for the soymilk group ($231{\pm}44$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than those of the isogen ($160{\pm}32$ ng/mL) and fermented soybean ($195{\pm}35$ ng/mL) groups. The half-lives of daidzein and genistein in the soymilk group (5.9 and 5.6 h, respectively) were significantly shorter than those in the individuals given isogen (9.6 and 8.5 h, respectively) or fermented soybean (9.5 and 8.2 h, respectively). The urinary recovery rates of daidzein and genistein were 42% and 17% for the isogen group, 46% and 23% for the fermented soybean group, and 33% and 22% for the soymilk group. In conclusion, our data indicated that soy products containing high levels of isoflavone aglycone are more effective for maintaining plasma isoflavone concentrations. Additional dose-response, durational, and interventional studies are required to evaluate the ability of soy-based foods to increase the bioavailability of isoflavones that positively affect human health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.905-911
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• 2001

Phytoestrogens, especially soy-derived isoflavones, are receiving great scrutiny as a food supplement for preventing hormone dependent diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis. These beneficial effects of phytoestrogens are caused by functioning as partial agonists or antagonists of estrogens. In contrast to the common usage of soy bean, Yak-kong(Rhynchosia Molubilis ; ) has been used as supplements of estrogen fir preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis in Oriental medicine. To investigate estrogenic effects of Yak-kong and soy bean on the proliferation of MG-63 osteoblastic cells, each bean was extracted with 70% methanol and dried by freeze-drying. Yak-kong treatment of MG-63 cells resulted in an increase of cell proliferation to a maximum of 76% compared to 68% of soy bean treatment. Treatment of MG-63 cells with Yak-kong extract also resulted in an increase of transactivation of an ERE(estrogen response element)-luciferase reporter plasmid and IGF-I expression selectively. Despite increased effects of both bean treatments on the expression of estrogen receptor $\alpha$(ER$\alpha$) and $\beta$(ER$\beta$), soy bean treatment decreased transactivation of an ERE-luciferase reporter plasmid and did not further enhance IGF-I expression. Together, our data demonstrates that the greater estrogenic response of Yak-kong extract for MG-63 cell proliferation is mediated by ER derived transactivation of ERE and selective induction of IGF-I expression.