Soy Isoflavones and Osteoporosis Soy isoflavone tablets reduce osteoporosis risk factors and obesity in middle-aged Japanese women.
Article Summary: The study examines the effect of soy isoflavones on bone mineral density and also on body fat. Eighty-one Japanese women were used, all of whom were healthy and either premenopausal or postmenopausal. Two groups were randomly formed, one taking 100 mg tablets of soy isoflavones and the other taking placebo tablets. The placebo tablets simply contained a small dosage of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Each group was to take one tablet daily for 24 weeks total. By the end of the 24 weeks, a total of 70 women completed the study, 34 of them being on the soy isoflavone tablets and 36 being on the placebo tablets. A significant increase in bone mineral density was found only in the women taking soy isoflavones. Not only did this group experience increased bone mineral density, but they had a significant decrease in body fat |
and a reduction in BMI (Body Mass Index). However, the women taking the placebo tablets did not experience a change in bone mineral density and measured an increase in body fat, significantly increasing BMI. Therefore, soy isoflavones were found to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in menopausal women by increasing bone mineral density, while also decreasing body fat. Authors: Mori M, Aizawa T, Tokoro M, Miki T, Yamori Y. Institution: Country of Publication: Japan Source: Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2004 Dec;31 Suppl 2:S39-41. NIH |
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