Dietary soy phytoestrogens produce anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze

• Published in: Brain research 2001-09, Vol.913 (2), p.180-184
• Main Authors: Lund, Trent D, Lephart, Edwin D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androgens - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anxiety; Anxiety - drug therapy; Anxiety - etiology; Anxiety - physiopathology; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Consumption; Diet; Drinking - physiology; Eating - drug effects; Eating - physiology; Elevated plus-maze; Estrogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Food, Formulated; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycine max - chemistry; Isoflavones; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Maze Learning - physiology; Phytoestrogen; Phytoestrogens; Plant Preparations; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Sex Characteristics; Soy; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(01)02793-7

Naturally occurring estrogen-like molecules in plants (phytoestrogens), present via soy, in animal diets, exert many of the biological responses evoked by physiological estrogens. This study characterized the effects of dietary phytoestrogens on the expression of body weight, consummatory behavior, and anxiety (as expressed in the elevated plus-maze). Phytoestrogens produced anxiolytic effects in both male and female Long–Evans rats. Additionally, phytoestrogens decreased body weight but increased consumption of food and/or water.