Emerging evidence of the health benefits of S-equol, an estrogen receptor β agonist

• Published in: Nutrition reviews 2011-08, Vol.69 (8), p.432-448
• Main Authors: Jackson, Richard L, Greiwe, Jeffrey S, Schwen, Richard J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Biotransformation; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; daidzein; Equol - blood; Equol - metabolism; Equol - pharmacology; Estrogen Receptor beta - agonists; Estrogen Receptor beta - metabolism; estrogen receptor β; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intestines - microbiology; Isoflavones - metabolism; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Male; Osteoporosis - blood; Osteoporosis - drug therapy; Phytoestrogens - blood; Phytoestrogens - pharmacology; Prostatic Neoplasms - blood; Prostatic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Risk Factors; S-equol; soy isoflavones; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00400.x

Many clinical studies have been carried out to determine the health benefits of soy protein and the isoflavones contained in soy. S‐equol is not present in soybeans but is produced naturally in the gut of certain individuals, particularly Asians, by the bacterial biotransformation of daidzein, a soy isoflavone. In those intervention studies in which plasma S‐equol levels were determined, a concentration of >5–10 ng/mL has been associated with a positive outcome for vasomotor symptoms, osteoporosis (as measured by an increase in bone mineral density), prostate cancer, and the cardiovascular risk biomarkers low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and C‐reactive protein. These studies suggest that S‐equol may provide therapeutic benefits for a number of medical needs.