Do soy isoflavones increase estrogen?

What Is Soy Isoflavone?

Soy isoflavones are flavonoid compounds, a type of secondary metabolites formed during soybean growth, and a biologically active substance. Since soy isoflavones are extracted from plants and have a similar structure to estrogen, soy isoflavones are also called phytoestrogens. The estrogenic effect of soy isoflavones affects hormone secretion, metabolic biological activity, protein synthesis, and growth factor activity.

Studies have shown that soy isoflavones have a bidirectional regulatory effect on human estrogen. The so-called bidirectional regulation means that when the human body is deficient in estrogen, soy isoflavones can play a role in supplementing the lack of estrogen; when the human body's estrogen level is high, it binds to the estrogen receptor, to a certain extent limiting the normal binding of human estrogen and estrogen receptors, and reducing the higher estrogen in the body.

The content of soy isoflavones in soybeans is 0.1% to 0.2%. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016)" recommends eating 30 to 50g of soybeans per day, which can basically meet the human body's demand for soy isoflavones.

What Are The Functions Of Soy Isoflavone?

1.Relieve menopausal symptoms

Because of its similar structure to estrogen, soy isoflavones can mimic some of the effects of estrogen in the body, thereby helping to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of menopausal women. Menopause is an important physiological stage in a woman's life. As ovarian function gradually declines, estrogen levels drop significantly, often leading to hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, insomnia and other problems. Research shows that moderate intake of soy isoflavones can effectively reduce these menopausal symptoms and improve quality of life.

2.Protect cardiovascular health

Soy isoflavones have also shown significant effects in protecting cardiovascular health. It can lower the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) while increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), helping to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis. In addition, soy isoflavones also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can reduce the inflammatory reaction on the blood vessel wall, protect vascular endothelial cells, and maintain the normal function of the cardiovascular system.

3.Prevent osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common health problem faced by the elderly, especially women. Soy isoflavones play a positive role in promoting bone health. It increases bone density, improves bone strength, and reduces the risk of fractures. This effect is partly attributed to its ability to promote osteoblast activity and inhibit osteoclast activity, thus helping to maintain normal bone metabolism and reconstruction.

4.Antioxidant

As a powerful antioxidant, soy isoflavones can scavenge free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress damage to cells and tissues. Oxidative stress is one of the important factors leading to cell aging and disease, and the antioxidant effects of soy isoflavones help delay the aging process and protect the integrity of cell structure and function. In addition, it promotes the renewal and repair of skin cells, keeping the skin elastic and shiny.

5.Improve women’s reproductive health

Soy isoflavones also have positive effects on female reproductive health. It can regulate estrogen levels in the body, improve the endometrial environment, and increase the pregnancy rate. At the same time, it also has the functions of relieving dysmenorrhea and regulating the menstrual cycle.

What Is The Application Of Soy Isoflavone?

As an important bioactive substance, soy isoflavones are widely used in multiple industries. The following are its main application areas:

Food industry:

Functional food and beverages: Soy isoflavones are widely used in foods such as functional foods and beverages as antioxidants and nutritional enhancers. In 2021, the food supplement sector consumed 38% of the global soy isoflavone production, which is the largest single application market.

Cosmetics industry:

Moisturizing and anti-aging: Soy isoflavones are added to skin care products due to their moisturizing and anti-aging properties. Between 2020 and 2021, the consumption of soy isoflavones in the cosmetics field increased by 9%, showing strong growth momentum.

Pharmaceutical industry:

Relieve menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease: Studies have shown that soy isoflavones help relieve menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, so they are used in the production of related drugs. The pharmaceutical industry accounts for about 15% of the global soy isoflavone market share.

Animal nutrition and health:

Soy isoflavones are also used in animal nutrition, such as laying hen farming. By adding soy isoflavones, the development of animal gonads can be promoted, and the egg production rate and production performance can be improved. For example, the Muleton 301 product exclusively represented by Beijing Chuangfuhui uses soy isoflavones as the core raw material to improve the production performance of laying hens.

Health care products industry:

Health food and health care products: Soy isoflavones, as an ingredient of health food, have been widely used internationally. In the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea and other countries, there are many types of health foods containing soy isoflavones, including tablets, oral liquids, powders, etc. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved soy isoflavones as a health food as early as 1996.