[Influence of lipid metabolism of germ free mice' by soy isflavones].

Objective: To study the role of the intestinal floras in the effect of soy isflavones (SI) on lipid metabolism by germ free (GF) mice.

Methods: GF mice were fed by high fat diet and different doses of SI. After 4 weeks, the indexes of blood lipid and oxidation and weigh livers, intestines and hearts were tested.

Results: The weight of livers and intestines were increased, while the weight of hearts was decreased by feeding high fat diet to GF mice. But, SI can reduced the increase of intestine and decrease of heart. SI can also raise the level of HDL-c, while it can't improve antioxidant level.

Conclusion: SI can protect hearts and intestines from GF mice which were fed by fat lipid diets: SI also increases the level of HDL-c which is benefit of prevention of atherosclerosis. So the beneficial effects of SI not completely dependent on the equol which is produced by intestinal flora.