The role of colonic bacteria in the metabolism of the natural isoflavone daidzin to equol.

ABSTRACT: Isoflavones are found in leguminous plants, especially soybeans. They have a structural similarity to natural estrogens, which enables them to bind to estrogen receptors and elicit biological activities similar to natural estrogens. They have been suggested to be beneficial for the prevention and therapy of hormone-dependent diseases. After soy products are consumed, the bacteria of the intestinal microflora metabolize isoflavones to metabolites with altered absorption, bioavailability, and estrogenic characteristics. Variations in the effect of soy products have been correlated with the isoflavone metabolites found in plasma and urine samples of the individuals consuming soy products. The beneficial effects of the soy isoflavone daidzin, the glycoside of daidzein, have been reported in in

SUBMITTER: Rafii F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4381290 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature