New research: Soy germ isoflavones reduce bone loss

Minneapolis – A new study published in this month's European Journal of Nutrition demonstrates a strong correlation between reducing bone loss in non-obese postmenopausal women and the dose-dependent effect of soy germ isoflavones, particularly SoyLife®. These findings support previous scientific findings regarding soy isoflavones for post-menopausal women.

According to the authors of the study, "Osteoporosis is a health condition experienced by about one in three postmenopausal women, with estrogen deficiency often acting as the major cause. Hormone replacement therapy has been the most effective treatment for maintaining bone density. This treatment often has adverse side effects such as an increased risk for endometrial cancer and breast cancer."

"It is imperative to find natural, safe and effective alternatives for women to help maintain bone health after menopause – without the risky side effects associated with long-term hormone replacement therapy use. This promising research is another step in advancing soy germ isoflavones as a safe, effective option," said Jocelyn Mathern, RD and Technical Specialist, Acatris.

The study aimed to examine the effects of a high-dose supplementation of soy germ isoflavones (84 and 126 mg SoyLife® EXTRA/day) in slowing bone loss in 90 early postmenopausal Chinese women. Isoflavones are found predominately in soy products. Their structure and functions are similar to estrogen, and observational studies suggest that higher intakes of soy and soy products may lower the prevalence of osteoporosis.

Soy isoflavones have been supported by proprietary scientific studies to promote women's health, bone health, heart health, prostate health and cognitive function. A focus of the study, SoyLife® is a range of ingredients from soy germ, rich in isoflavones. More than just an isoflavone concentrate, SoyLife® offers the complete spectrum of natural soy compounds, the Soy MatrixTM, which enhances the bio-availability of isoflavones.

"In addition to this research, more studies are examining the effects of either soy or isoflavones on bone density in humans," said Mathern. "We are awaiting results of a large study, the Osteoporosis Prevention Using Soy (OPUS) study, a multi-site, two year research study on the use of soy isoflavones to prevent bone loss in 400 postmenopausal women. Both this current study and OPUS used SoyLife®, and we're excited to see SoyLife® helping lead the way in determining the required dosage of soy isoflavones for safely decreasing bone loss and preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women."

Another recent study published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility demonstrated soy isoflavones' effectiveness and key role in improving mood and cognitive function in postmenopausal women. This research strongly points to soy isoflavone supplementation as a natural, effective way to significantly improve the quality of life for postmenopausal women.

Acatris, division of the Dutch Royal Schouten Group, is an international organization that produces, markets and distributes ingredients for the food, health and nutrition industry. The product portfolio contains branded ingredients such as SoyLife®, FenuLife® and LinumLife®.