Dietary genistein induces sex-dependent effects on murine body weight, serum profiles, and vascular function of thoracic aortae.

Background: The influence on, or interaction of, sex and dietary genistein on serum markers of cardiovascular health and cardiovascular function remain unclear.

Objectives: Our purpose was to examine the effects of a genistein-containing diet (600 mg/kg food) (600G) and a genistein-free diet (0G), on cardiovascular risk parameters of male and female mice.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed the diets for 1 month, after which time blood pressure, serum markers, and in vitro vascular reactivity was measured.

Results: Males fed the 600G diet gained significantly less weight than males fed the 0G diet (by 1.71 g); diet had no effect on female weight gain. Males fed the 600G diet also exhibited significantly elevated serum insulin (2.9 [0.5] vs 1.8 [0.4] ng/dL), and decreased serum glucose (0.15 [0.01] vs 0.24 [0.02] ng/dL) levels, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of insulin to glucose; insulin and glucose levels were not changed by dietary genistein in females. Arterial pressure measurements from 0G-fed males were lower than other groups. However, basal vascular reactivity of isolated aortic rings was significantly increased by the 600G diet in both males (from 0.55 [0.03] to 0.94 [0.18] g) and females (from 0.45 [0.04] to 0.78 [0.09] g). Aortic wall thickness was not affected by diet. Norepinephrine-mediated contractility was also greater in aortic rings of male and female mice fed the 600G diet, and differences from the 0G diet persisted in the presence of L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester but were completely accounted for by increased basal reactivity.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that 1 month of a 600G or 0G diet significantly alters vascular function independent of sex. In contrast, sex-dependent differences exist in well-established serum markers of cardiovascular health and disease.