Microbial Metabolism of the Soy Isoflavones Daidzein and Genistein in Postmenopausal Women: Human Intervention Study Reveals New Metabotypes

Abstract

Background: Soy isoflavones belong to the group of phytoestrogens and are associated with beneficial health effects but are also discussed to have adverse effects. Isoflavones are intensively metabolized by the gut microbiota leading to metabolites with altered estrogenic potency. The population is classified into different isoflavone metabotypes based on individual metabolite profiles. So far, this classification was based on the capacity to metabolize daidzein and did not reflect genistein metabolism. We investigated the microbial metabolite profile of isoflavones considering daidzein and genistein. Methods: Isoflavones and metabolites were quantified in the urine of postmenopausal women receiving a soy isoflavone extract for 12 weeks. Based on these data, women were clustered in different isoflavone metabotypes. Further, the estrogenic potency of these metabotypes was estimated. Results: Based on the excreted urinary amounts of isoflavones and metabolites, the metabolite profiles could be calculated, resulting in 5 metabotypes applying a hierarchical cluster analysis. The metabotypes differed in part strongly regarding their metabolite profile and their estimated estrogenic potency.

Factors driving the inter-individual variability in the metabolism and bioavailability of (poly)phenolic metabolites: A systematic review of human studies

“…The studied populations have displayed a distinct distribution of these metabotypes, but, in most cases, the proportion of equol-producers was below 50%, while that of O -DMA producers was above 50% of the population [ 79 , 80 , 82 , 83 , 47 , [118] , [119] , [120] , [121] , [122] , [123] , [124] , [125] , [126] , [127] , [128] , [129] ]. Nevertheless, a couple of recent reports seem to deny the existence of a specific O -DMA-producing phenotype, as O -DMA was found in urine of the 95% [ 46 ] and 100% [ 130 ] of German postmenopausal women and Spanish adults, respectively. Future studies will confirm whether O -DMA production is characterized by quantitative differences (high vs .…”

“…Recently, Soukup et al [ 46 ] assessed the metabolic profile of isoflavones considering both daidzein and genistein, in 59 post-menopausal women consuming a soy supplement for 12 weeks. The study population was classified into 5 isoflavone metabotypes ( cluster production ), characterised by different proportions of daidzein, genistein, equol, dihydrodaidzein, dihydrogenistein, and 4-ethylphenol.…”

Using Targeted Metabolomics to Unravel Phenolic Metabolites of Plant Origin in Animal Milk

“…This is, however, the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that it has been found in goat's milk. In addition, it is important to note that both equol and ODMA are not produced by all humans, as their occurrence is related to specific gut bacteria consortia [29,30].…”

(Poly)phenol-related gut metabotypes and human health: an update

“…In addition to the classic daidzein equol and ODMA metabotypes, a recent paper including 60 postmenopausal women investigated novel daidzein and genistein related gut metabotypes. 133 After 12-week daily consumption of a soy isoflavone extract, the authors defined 5 metabotypes according to hierarchical cluster analysis. Cluster 1 and 2 shared similar characteristics in terms of high equol production, while cluster 2 showed higher 4-ethylphenol (4EP) production and lower genistein production than cluster 1; cluster 3 produced the highest proportions of 4EP but no or very small proportions of equol; cluster 4, in which most women were included, had the highest proportions of daidzein and genistein; while cluster 5 exhibited high proportions of dihydrodaidzein and dihydrogenistein.…”