OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soy isoflavones with weak estrogen-like activities both on bone metabolism and on serum lipids in perimenopausal women.

METHODS:

Twenty-three healthy perimenopausal women were assigned randomly to either isoflavone or placebo groups. The isoflavone group (n = 12) received daily capsules of soy isoflavone extract (61.8 mg of isoflavones) and the placebo group (n = 11) received daily placebo capsules for four weeks. Urinary excretion of isoflavone was measured at weeks 0, 2 and 4. Urinary excretion of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, bone stiffness and levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride and cholesterol fractions were measured at weeks 0 and 4.

RESULTS:

As compared to the placebo group, urinary isoflavone, primarily daidzein, excretion was increased at weeks 2 and 4 in the isoflavone group. Excretion of bone resorption markers was reduced significantly in the isoflavone group. Both total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were decreased significantly in the isoflavone group. Other serum biochemical parameters were not changed in either group.

CONCLUSION:

Soy isoflavone supplementation for four weeks showed potentially beneficial effects on bone metabolism and on serum lipids in perimenopausal women. These effects could have the potential to reduce the risks of postmenopausal osteoporosis and of cardiovascular diseases in such women.