Isoflavones improve plasma homocysteine status and antioxidant defense system in healthy young men at rest but do not ameliorate oxidative stress induced by 80% VO2pk exercise.

Aims: (1) Determination of whether isoflavones, as antioxidants and estrogen-like substances, reduce the atherosclerotic process. (2) Assessment of isoflavone anti-atherosclerotic effectiveness by means of measuring plasma markers of atherosclerosis: homocysteine (Hcy), antioxidant status, and lipid peroxidation. (3) Testing of isoflavone antioxidant effectiveness in the presence and absence of oxidative stress induced by exercise.