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SECOND INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ON THE ROLE OF SOY
IN PREVENTING AND TREATING CHRONIC DISEASESeptember 15-18, 1996
Brussells, Belgium
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
(Oral Abstracts)Soy and Bone Health
Short-Term Effects of Soybean Isoflavones on Bone in Postmenopausal Women
J.W. Erdman Jr., R.J. Stillman, K.F. Lee, and S.M. Potter, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801.Soy food products have a number of biologically-active components, including isoflavones which are known to possess weak estrogenic activity. Recently, genistein and daidzein, the two prominent isoflavones from soy, have been suggested to have estrogen-like activity with regard to bone metabolism. As part of a study focusing upon the hypocholesterolemic effects of soy protein and isoflavones in postmenopausal women, we investigated changes in bone density and bone mineral content prior to and following a six-month feeding period. Sixty-six post menopausal women received 40 g protein daily from either isolated soy protein with 1.39 mg total isoflavones /g protein (ISP), isolated soy protein with 2.25 mg total isoflavones /g protein (ISP+), or casein/nonfat dry milk (control). Both ISP and ISP+ were fortified with calcium to levels equivalent to that provided by the control proteins. Total and regional bone mineral content and density was assessed by the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry at baseline and at completion of the study. Results indicated significant increases in both bone mineral content and bone mineral density in the lumbar spine for the ISP+ group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Similar trends were noted for other skeletal areas. Although this was a fairly short-term study for the evaluation of changes in bone parameters, these results indicate a potential role for the soybean isoflavones in maintaining bone health. (Supported by the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board and Protein Technologies International).
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