Association between Equol Production Status and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Abstract

Equol is a metabolite of daidzein, a major soybean isoflavone with estrogenic and antioxidant activities. As the production of equol depends on the presence of certain members of the intestinal microflora, not all individuals can produce equol. We examined the relationship between NASH histological features and equol production. In an animal model, obese OLETF rats were intraperitoneally injected with a porcine serum to augment liver fibrogenesis. Equol-rich soy product, SE5-OH was orally administered during the experimental period. Treatment with SE5-OH markedly attenuated the development of liver fibrosis and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin. In clinical research, 38 NAFLD patients (13 men and 25 women) were included. The degree of fibrosis and ballooning in equol-nonproducers was significantly higher than in equol-producers in women. The percentage of nonproducers with NAFLD activity score (NAS) ≥ 5 was significantly higher than that of producers. None of the histological features were significantly different between nonproducers and producers in men. Decision tree analysis identified predictors for NAS ≥ 5 in women. The status of equol production was the strongest predictor, followed by fasting glucose. Since equol can be noninvasively detected in urine, it can be applied as a screening tool for the progression of NASH in women.

• Authors: Takemi Akahane, Daisuke Kaya, Ryuichi Noguchi, Kosuke Kaji, Haruna Miyakawa, Yukihisa Fujinaga, Yuki Tsuji, Hiroaki Takaya, Yasuhiko Sawada, Masanori Furukawa, Koh Kitagawa, Takahiro Ozutsumi, Hideto Kawaratani, Kei Moriya, Tadashi Namisaki, Hitoshi Yoshiji
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 22 Issue 21 (Nov 02 2021) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34769332 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Isoflavones
• SE5-OH
• Equol

Topics

• Animals
• Equol (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Isoflavones (pharmacology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (etiology, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (etiology, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred OLETF
• Swine