Phytother Res. 2003 Feb; 17(2): 112-9.

Evaluation of a soybean product fujiflavone P40 as an antiosteoporotic agent in rats.

Hidaka S, Okamoto Y, Miyazaki K, Uesugi T.

Department of Dental Hygiene, Fukuoka College of Health Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan. sabrnrn@college.fdcnet.ac.jp

The preventive effects of Fujiflavone P40 (a soybean isoflavone product) against both bone loss and periodontal alteration were evaluated using an ovariectomized rat model. Rats were divided into five groups: sham-operated (Sham), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX given Fujiflavone P40, OVX given 17beta-oestradiol, and OVX given the vehicle for 17beta-oestradiol, respectively. Fujiflavone P40 contains 46.6% isoflavones which consist of 24.1% daidzin, 16.5% glycitin and 5.9% genistin. Administration of Fujiflavone P40 to OVX rats suppressed the body weight gain until 5 weeks. Fujiflavone P40 also decreased total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols and triglyceride level of OVX rats, significantly. After 7 weeks, Fujiflavone P40 did not recover the coarsened fibre of the periodontal ligament. The ovariectomy decreased the uterine weight by 78%. The administration of 17beta -oestradiol recovered the weight loss by 99%, while Fujiflavone P40 restored it by 33%. The ovariectomy decreased the tibial bone mineral density (BMD) by 22%. The administration of 17beta-oestradiol to OVX rats recovered the tibial BMD decrease by 100%, while Fujiflavone P40 recovered it by 78%. The results suggest that Fujiflavone P40 may be useful as a preventive agent for osteoporosis.Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.