Serum steroid hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations, and urinary hydroxylated estrogen metabolites in post-menopausal women in relation to daidzein-metabolizing phenotypes

• Published in: The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 2004-04, Vol.88 (4), p.399-408
• Main Authors: Frankenfeld, Cara L, McTiernan, Anne, Tworoger, Shelley S, Atkinson, Charlotte, Thomas, Wendy K, Stanczyk, Frank Z, Marcovina, Santica M, Weigle, David S, Weiss, Noel S, Holt, Victoria L, Schwartz, Stephen M, Lampe, Johanna W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Equol; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycine max - metabolism; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; Humans; Hydroxyestrones - urine; Intestines - microbiology; Isoflavones - analysis; Isoflavones - metabolism; Middle Aged; O-desmethylangolensin; Phenotype; Postmenopause; Postmenopause - metabolism; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - analysis; Steroid hormones; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0960-0760; 1879-1220
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.01.006

Equol and O-desmethylangolensin ( O-DMA) are products of bacterial metabolism of daidzein, an isoflavone in soybeans; thus, the presence or absence of equol and/or O-DMA in urine is a marker of particular intestinal bacteria profiles. Plasma hormone concentrations may be lower in pre-menopausal women who harbor the bacteria capable of producing equol (equol producers) compared to women who do not (equol non-producers). We evaluated concentrations of serum hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and urinary 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OH E 1) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OH E 1) in relation to equol-producer and O-DMA-producer phenotypes in 89 post-menopausal women. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was 23% greater in O-DMA-producers compared to non-producers ( P=0.04). No significant differences in serum estrogens, androgens, metabolic hormones, or SHBG were observed in relation to either daidzein-metabolizing phenotype. Compared with non-producers within each phenotype, age-adjusted 2-OH E 1:16α-OH E 1 was 27% greater ( P=0.06) in equol-producers and 9% greater ( P>0.10) in O-DMA-producers, and 2-OH E 1 concentrations were 24% greater in equol producers ( P=0.07) and 42% greater in O-DMA producers ( P=0.02). No significant differences in 16α-OH E 1 were observed in relation to either phenotype. These results suggest that interindividual variability in intestinal bacteria may be related to differences in products of hormone metabolism in post-menopausal women.