Metabolism of isoflavones and lignans by the gut microflora: a study in germ-free and human flora associated rats

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2003-05, Vol.41 (5), p.631-636
• Main Authors: Bowey, E., Adlercreutz, H., Rowland, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chromans - urine; Daidzein; Digestive System - microbiology; Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; Equol; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal - urine; Feces - microbiology; Female; General pharmacology; Genistein; germ-free animals; Germ-Free Life; Gut bacteria; hormone metabolism; Humans; intestinal absorption; intestinal microorganisms; Isoflavones - metabolism; lignans; Lignans - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytoestrogens; plant estrogens; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; soybean products; soybeans
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00324-1

We have investigated the metabolism of isoflavones and lignans in germ-free (GF) rats and rats associated with human faecal bacteria (human flora associated [HFA] rats), in order to provide unequivocal evidence for the role of the gut microflora in the absorption and metabolism of these phytoestrogens. Furthermore, we have investigated whether certain metabolic characteristics (high equol-producing and low equol-producing status) of human intestinal floras can be transferred to GF rats. Germ-free rats fed a soy-isoflavone containing diet excreted large quantities of daidzein and genistein in urine indicating that the gut microflora is not required for the absorption of isoflavones. The isoflavone metabolites equol, O-desmethylangolensin and the lignan enterolactone were not detectable in urine from the GF rats, but were present in HFA rat urine, indicating that they were products of gut microflora activity. Colonization of GF rats with a faecal flora from a human subject with the capacity to convert daidzein to equol, resulted in the rats excreting substantial amounts of the metabolite. In contrast, equol was undetectable in urine of HFA rats associated with a faecal flora from a low equol-producing subject. The results therefore show that the inability of some subjects to produce equol is a consequence of the lack of specific components of the gut microflora.