Daidzein, its effects on impaired glucose and lipid metabolism and vascular inflammation associated with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Over the last decades, the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing substantially. Emerging evidences from epidemiological studies have shown the association between higher intake of soy isoflavones and reduced risk of T2D and its associated health risks. Daidzein, a soy isoflavone, has been found to have a promising therapeutic potential in managing T2D pathophysiology. Fermented soybean is the major source of daidzein; however, it can also be formed via the consumption of its glycosylated moiety, daidzin with subsequent hydrolysis by intestinal bacterial enzyme. Many studies reported the prophylactic effect of daidzein on the improvement of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dislipidemia, obesity, inflammation, and other complications associated with T2D. The molecular mechanisms underlying the action of daidzein include diverged pathways where daidzein has been shown to interact with several signaling molecules and receptors to achieve desirable effect. Although the specific molecular mechanism is still elusive, further studies are thus needed to understand it in detail. In this review, we discuss the antidiabetic potential of daidzein with respect to the evidences from various clinical, preclinical, and cell culture studies and the underlying molecular mechanism in a precise way to have a comprehensive account on this isoflavone with promising therapeutic potential. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(5):407-417, 2018.

In Vivo Rodent Models of Type 2 Diabetes and Their Usefulness for Evaluating Flavonoid Bioactivity

“…Daidzein belongs to the isoflavone subclass of flavonoids, and is present predominantly in the form of glucosides in various plants, including red clover, alfalfa, soybean, and some legumes [117]. Previous studies suggest that daidzein exerts anti-diabetic effects by improving glucose and lipid metabolism, and downregulating blood glucose, total cholesterol levels, and improving glucose uptake via GLUT4 translocation, as well as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation [118,119,120,121]. In in vivo studies, Cheong et al [122] demonstrated that 0.1% daidzein in the diet for 4 weeks suppressed the rise in fasting glucose, lipid levels, and IR and AMPK activation in gastrocnemius muscle compared to the diabetic (Lepr db/db mouse) control group.…”

Biological Effect of Soy Isoflavones in the Prevention of Civilization Diseases

“…Isoflavones mainly occur in plants in the form of biologically inactive glycosides (e.g., genistin and daidzein). After ingestion, they are hydrolyzed in the gut by intestinal bacterial β-glucosidases, resulting in the formation of appropriate bioactive aglycones (e.g., genistein and daidzein) [9,10]. Daidzein can be metabolized to dihydrodaidzein and then to equol or O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) (Figure 1).…”

Simultaneous determination of five isoflavones in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS: Comparative pharmacokinetic characteristics of Puerariae lobatae radix in normal and type 2 diabetic rats

“…It has been used traditionally to treat diarrhea, thirst, muscle stiffness, and diabetes for many centuries , and recently has been made commercially available in Western dietary supplements . It abounds in a variety of isoflavones and modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that the isoflavones such as puerarin, daidzein, and genistein have pharmacological activities that regulate hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes .…”