Neither soyfoods nor isoflavones warrant classification as endocrine disruptors: a technical review of the observational and clinical data

Messina, Mark; Mejía, Sonia Blanco; Cassidy, Aedín; Duncan, Alison; Kurzer, Mindy S.; Nagato, Chisato; Ronis, Martin J. J.; Rowland, Ian; Sievenpiper, John L.; Barnes, Stephen

doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1895054

Cited by 47 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 665 publications

(819 reference statements)

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“…Because legumes are a rich source of isoflavones, which are also known phytoestrogens, they are occasionally considered equivalent to isoflavones [307]. Recently, soybean consumption has been rapidly increasing in Western countries, where in the past it was only 1/20-1/50 of that in Asian countries.…”

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, soybean consumption has been rapidly increasing in Western countries, where in the past it was only 1/20-1/50 of that in Asian countries. The mean daily isoflavone consumption per person in Japan is 30-50 mg, whereas that in the United States and Europe is of only few milligrams [307]. As discussed above, isoflavones are noteworthy substances as they have antioxidant activities that can help prevent cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis, and have a positive effect on menstrual irregularity in non-menopausal women, and alleviate climacteric symptoms.…”

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed above, isoflavones are noteworthy substances as they have antioxidant activities that can help prevent cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis, and have a positive effect on menstrual irregularity in non-menopausal women, and alleviate climacteric symptoms. Despite its numerous benefits for humans, isoflavones are sometimes mentioned as endocrine disruptors based on animal studies, but this is not considered a significant problem owing to sufficient human data demonstrating the health benefits of isoflavones [307]. Recently, a comprehensive review of studies published until January 31, 2021, reported the relationship between endocrine-related parameters and legume and/or isoflavone intake [307].…”

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite its numerous benefits for humans, isoflavones are sometimes mentioned as endocrine disruptors based on animal studies, but this is not considered a significant problem owing to sufficient human data demonstrating the health benefits of isoflavones [307]. Recently, a comprehensive review of studies published until January 31, 2021, reported the relationship between endocrine-related parameters and legume and/or isoflavone intake [307]. Of 417 reports (229 observational studies, 157 clinical trials, 32 systematic reviews and meta-analyses) that met the inclusion criteria, none presented evidence suggesting that isoflavone intake induces thyroid functional impairment as a side effect [307].…”

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, a comprehensive review of studies published until January 31, 2021, reported the relationship between endocrine-related parameters and legume and/or isoflavone intake [307]. Of 417 reports (229 observational studies, 157 clinical trials, 32 systematic reviews and meta-analyses) that met the inclusion criteria, none presented evidence suggesting that isoflavone intake induces thyroid functional impairment as a side effect [307]. Moreover, no adverse events were observed concerning breast or uterine endometrial tissues, and estrogen levels in women, as well as related to testosterone or estrogen levels, and sperm or semen-related parameters in men [307].…”

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Current Perspectives on the Beneficial Effects of Soybean Isoflavones and Their Metabolites for Humans

Kim

2021

Antioxidants

167

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Soybeans are rich in proteins and lipids and have become a staple part of the human diet. Besides their nutritional excellence, they have also been shown to contain various functional components, including isoflavones, and have consequently received increasing attention as a functional food item. Isoflavones are structurally similar to 17-β-estradiol and bind to estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ). The estrogenic activity of isoflavones ranges from a hundredth to a thousandth of that of estrogen itself. Isoflavones play a role in regulating the effects of estrogen in the human body, depending on the situation. Thus, when estrogen is insufficient, isoflavones perform the functions of estrogen, and when estrogen is excessive, isoflavones block the estrogen receptors to which estrogen binds, thus acting as an estrogen antagonist. In particular, estrogen antagonistic activity is important in the breast, endometrium, and prostate, and such antagonistic activity suppresses cancer occurrence. Genistein, an isoflavone, has cancer-suppressing effects on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancers, including breast cancer. It suppresses the function of enzymes such as tyrosine protein kinase, mitogen-activated kinase, and DNA polymerase II, thus inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Genistein is the most biologically active and potent isoflavone candidate for cancer prevention. Furthermore, among the various physiological functions of isoflavones, they are best known for their antioxidant activities. S-Equol, a metabolite of genistein and daidzein, has strong antioxidative effects; however, the ability to metabolize daidzein into S-equol varies based on racial and individual differences. The antioxidant activity of isoflavones may be effective in preventing dementia by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Alzheimer’s-related tau proteins. Genistein also reduces allergic responses by limiting the expression of mast cell IgE receptors, which are involved in allergic responses. In addition, they have been known to prevent and treat various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, osteoporosis, diabetes, brain-related diseases, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and inflammation. Further, it also has positive effects on menstrual irregularity in non-menopausal women and relieving menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. Recently, soybean consumption has shown steep increasing trend in Western countries where the intake was previously only 1/20–1/50 of that in Asian countries. In this review, I have dealt with the latest research trends that have shown substantial interest in the biological efficacy of isoflavones in humans and plants, and their related mechanisms.

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Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Side Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Current Perspectives on the Beneficial Effects of Soybean Isoflavones and Their Metabolites for Humans

Kim

2021

Antioxidants

167

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Endocrine Disruptors

Kougias,

Kundu

2023

Patty's Toxicology

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Endocrine disruption is a relatively new field of study, as endocrine disruptors were not formally acknowledged by regulatory agencies until 1996. Over the years, many federal and international regulatory agencies and professional associations have provided varying terminology and classifications; however, in general, exposure to endocrine disruptors, or endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs), at environmentally relevant doses results in adverse effects consequent to interfering with endocrine function. Apart from minor nomenclature disagreements, there are challenges and limitations to this field, as EDC classification criteria can vary substantially in considering evidence for a biologically plausible causal relationship between the endocrine activity and the induced adverse effect. Accordingly, international consensus for unambiguous designation of EDCs is lacking. Therefore, this chapter will not attempt to resoundingly identify all known or suspected EDCs; rather, the objective of this chapter is to first provide historical context to chemical regulation, including on endocrine disruption and its development as a field, and then follow with a review of the health implications, which highlights some fundamental concepts of endocrine disruption and incorporates a tale of the infamous public health disaster resulting from prescribing pregnant women diethylstilbestrol (DES), a potent synthetic estrogen. The current testing guidelines and standards for EDCs are also reviewed, demonstrating the restricted focus on canonical endocrine disruption that is characterized by nuclear hormone receptor‐based activity and the estrogenic, androgenic, thyroidal, and steroidogenic (EATS) modalities. To end, some of the more recently regulated EDCs, particularly bisphenol A and phthalates, as well as other ubiquitous EDCs, like phytoestrogens and flame retardants, are reviewed.

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Recent updates on diet‐derived gut microbial metabolites

Prasain,

Barnes

2024

eFood

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Emerging evidence indicates that the health‐beneficial effects of ingested food components depend on in part, their upper and lower gastrointestinal uptake and metabolism and the gut microbial composition of the host. Several dietary components, such as polyphenols, are poorly absorbed in the upper intestinal compartments and extensively metabolized by the colonic microbiota resulting in the production of an array of metabolites. These microbiota‐mediated products possess specific solubility, reactivity, bioavailability, and biological activities. However, identifying and characterizing a wide range of metabolites is challenging due to the high chemical diversity of dietary components and interindividual variability of the gut microbiota. It is, therefore, critical to design an animal model that effectively mimics human microbial metabolism and use multidisciplinary omics approaches such as metabolomics to detect and identify a wide range of metabolites. Here, we provide the current state of knowledge of major diet‐derived gut microbial metabolites and their potential biological activities.

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Neither soyfoods nor isoflavones warrant classification as endocrine disruptors: a technical review of the observational and clinical data

Cited by 47 publications

References 665 publications

Current Perspectives on the Beneficial Effects of Soybean Isoflavones and Their Metabolites for Humans

Current Perspectives on the Beneficial Effects of Soybean Isoflavones and Their Metabolites for Humans

Endocrine Disruptors

Recent updates on diet‐derived gut microbial metabolites

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