Isoflavones found in soy products are a promising class of nutrients that may have a positive effect on human health. In particular, the phytoestrogen metabolite equol is associated with a reduced risk of developing female hormone-related diseases. However, the effect of equol on estrogen remains unclear. Equol can modify blood and urinary estradiol (E2) levels. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between urinary estrogen levels, equol levels, and equol production status in Japanese women. We analyzed urine samples from 520 women by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Urinary E2 and 4-hydroxylated E2 levels were higher in equol producers (EQP) than in non-EQPs (P < 0.0001 and P=0.00112, respectively). After adjusting for age and tobacco use by analysis of covariance, the association remained significant (β = 0.299, P < 0.0001). Analysis of covariance demonstrated that equol levels in urine were also positively associated with urinary E2 (β = 0.597, P < 0.0001). The log equol concentration showed a significant, but moderate, negative association with the serum E2 concentration (β = - 0.0225, P = 0.0462). Our findings suggest that equol may promote urinary E2 excretion and modify blood E2 levels in women.
Department of Pre-Clinical Research, Anthem Biosciences Pvt. Ltd., #49, F1 & F2, Canara Bank Road, Bommasandra Industrial Area Phase 1, Bommasandra, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560099, India.
(S)-Equol is a chemically synthesized nutraceutical compound and its consumption provides several health benefits for humans. The new nutraceutical, enantiopure (S)-Equol was studied for acute and sub-chronic toxicity in Sprague Dawley Rats. The oral acute toxicity study showed that (S)-Equol is safe > 2000-5000 mg/kg body weight and it classified into GHS category 5/Unclassified.
The study focuses on how equol, an antioxidant derived from soybean flavonoids, impacts the in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes, which are often affected by oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Results show that 5 μM equol improves oocyte quality by enhancing cumulus cell expansion, polar body extrusion, and embryonic development post-activation, alongside boosting mitochondrial function and lipid accumulation.
Equol also reduces DNA damage and early cell death by regulating specific proteins, while lowering ROS levels through the NRF2/KEAP1 antioxidant pathway, suggesting it could enhance IVM practices for porcine oocytes.
Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a major public health concern that is exacerbated by the obesity pandemic. Dietary interventions have the potential to alleviate obesity-associated MASLD through variable mechanisms, including optimizing the gut microbiota. Previously, we reported that soy protein concentrate (SPC) with low or high levels of isoflavone (LIF or HIF) protected young obese Zucker rats from developing liver steatosis.
Food factors elicit physiological effects by interfering with the central dogma system, including DNA methylation, replication, transcription, and translation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding short RNAs that are approximately 20 nucleotides long and play a crucial role in the regulation of mRNA levels and translation processes. Importantly, miRNAs can be delivered to different locations in nanovesicles.
Oxidative stress is a frequent concern in the breeding of laying hens, and limit the healthy development of poultry. Dexamethasone (DXM) has been demonstrated to induce oxidative stress. Conversely, betaine is an alkaloid with a potent antioxidant activity.
