An isoflavone metabolite reduces arterial stiffness and blood pressure in overweight men and postmenopausal women.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Isoflavones reduce arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular events. Whether metabolites of isoflavones have similar bioactivity is unknown. The effect of supplemental trans-tetrahydrodaidzein (THD) a metabolite of daidzein on pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness was tested in overweight men and postmenopausal women.

METHODS:

25 subjects, 11 postmenopausal women, 14 men (age, 57 [7] years; body mass index, 30.3 [4.7]kg/m(2); mean [S.D.]) participated in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over trial of THD versus placebo.

DESIGN:

2 weeks run-in followed by either THD 1g daily or placebo, each intervention 5 weeks. Aorta-femoral artery PWV, blood pressure and plasma lipids were measured after run-in, THD and placebo.

RESULTS:

PWV was significantly reduced (signifying diminished central arterial stiffness): medians (25th and 75th%), placebo 9.9 m/s (8.7, 11.1), THD 8.8m/s (7.9, 10.9); RM ANOVA P=0.023, with Tukey procedure P<0.05. Systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced: means (S.D.), placebo 125.6 (14.7), THD 121.3 (12.2)mmHg; Tukey P<0.05. Plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol did not differ significantly. Absorption of THD >80% substantially exceeded that of parent isoflavones.

CONCLUSION:

A metabolite normally formed after consumption of isoflavones (formononetin, daidezein), taken orally, reduced blood pressure and central arterial stiffness indicating reduced cardiovascular risk.

• Authors: Paul Nestel, Akihiko Fujii, Lei Zhang
• Journal: Atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) Vol. 192 Issue 1 Pg. 184-9 (May 2007) ISSN: 0021-9150 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 16730732 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Isoflavones
• tetrahydrodaidzein

Topics

• Arteries (physiology)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (prevention & control)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Diet Surveys
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Elasticity
• Female
• Humans
• Isoflavones (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Overweight
• Postmenopause
• Pulsatile Flow (drug effects)