This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chen, Y.-M. Articles by Woo, J. L. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chen, Y.-M. Articles by Woo, J. L. F. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Osteoporosis

Soy Isoflavones Have a Favorable Effect on Bone Loss in Chinese Postmenopausal Women with Lower Bone Mass: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Department of Community and Family Medicine (Y.-M.C., S.C.H., S.S.H.L.), School of Pharmacy (S.S.S.H.), and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (J.L.F.W.), Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University (Y.-M.C.), Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China 510275

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Suzanne C. Ho, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 4th Floor, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR. E-mail: suzanneho{at}cuhk edu.hk.

Animal studies have shown that soy isoflavones have an effect in preventing estrogen-related bone loss, but few data are available in humans, especially in the Asian populations. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial examines the effects of soy isoflavones on bone loss in postmenopausal Chinese women, aged 48–62 yr. Two hundred and three eligible subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with daily doses of placebo (1 g starch; n = 67), mid-dose (0.5 g starch, 0.5 g soy extracts, and 40 mg isoflavones; n = 68), and high dose (1.0 g soy extracts and 80 mg isoflavones; n = 68). All were given 12.5 mmol (500 mg) calcium and 125 IU vitamin D₃. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the whole body, spine, and hip were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 1 yr post treatment. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that women in the high dose group had mild, but statistically significantly, higher favorable change rate in BMC at the total hip and trochanter (P < 0.05) compared with the placebo and mid-dose groups, even after further adjustments for the potential confounding factors. Further stratified analyses revealed that the positive effects of soy isoflavone supplementation were observed only among women with lower initial baseline BMC (median or less). In conclusion, soy isoflavones have a mild, but significant, independent effect on the maintenance of hip BMC in postmenopausal women with low initial bone mass.

This work was supported by Acatris Holding B.V. (The Netherlands).

Abbreviations: BMC, Bone mineral content; BMD, bone mineral density; YSM, years since menopause.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Poulsen, P. J. Moughan, and M. C. Kruger Docosahexaenoic Acid and 17{beta}-Estradiol Co-Treatment Is More Effective Than 17{beta}-Estradiol Alone in Maintaining Bone Post-Ovariectomy Experimental Biology and Medicine, May 1, 2008; 233(5): 592 - 602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Brink, V. Coxam, S. Robins, K. Wahala, A. Cassidy, F. Branca, and on behalf of the PHYTOS Investigators Long-term consumption of isoflavone-enriched foods does not affect bone mineral density, bone metabolism, or hormonal status in early postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2008; 87(3): 761 - 770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. N. Horcajada, V. Habauzit, A. Trzeciakiewicz, C. Morand, A. Gil-Izquierdo, J. Mardon, P. Lebecque, M. J. Davicco, W. S. S. Chee, V. Coxam, et al. Hesperidin inhibits ovariectomized-induced osteopenia and shows differential effects on bone mass and strength in young and adult intact rats J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2008; 104(3): 648 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Whelan, T. M Jurgens, and S. K Bowles Natural Health Products in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Ann. Pharmacother., May 1, 2006; 40(5): 836 - 849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Sacks, A. Lichtenstein, L. Van Horn, W. Harris, P. Kris-Etherton, M. Winston, and for the American Heart Association Nutrition Commi Soy Protein, Isoflavones, and Cardiovascular Health: An American Heart Association Science Advisory for Professionals From the Nutrition Committee Circulation, February 21, 2006; 113(7): 1034 - 1044. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Zhang, X.-O. Shu, H. Li, G. Yang, Q. Li, Y.-T. Gao, and W. Zheng Prospective Cohort Study of Soy Food Consumption and Risk of Bone Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women Arch Intern Med, September 12, 2005; 165(16): 1890 - 1895. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-M. Koh, Y.-S. Lee, C.-H. Byun, E.-J. Chang, H. Kim, Y. H. Kim, H.-H. Kim, and G. S. Kim {alpha}-Lipoic acid suppresses osteoclastogenesis despite increasing the receptor activator of nuclear factor {kappa}B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in human bone marrow stromal cells J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2005; 185(3): 401 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Weaver and J. M. K. Cheong Soy Isoflavones and Bone Health: The Relationship Is Still Unclear J. Nutr., May 1, 2005; 135(5): 1243 - 1247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Ho, Y.-m. Chen, and J. L. F. Woo Educational Level and Osteoporosis Risk in Postmenopausal Chinese Women Am. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2005; 161(7): 680 - 690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Messina Western soy intake is too low to produce health effects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2004; 80(2): 528 - 529. [Full Text] [PDF]