Effect of soy protein isolate supplementation on the estradiol biosynthesis pathway in a female rat model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt,

2 Department of Environment and Occupational Medicine, Environmental and Climate Change Research Institute, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Background
Soy protein isolate (SPI) has gained popularity as an alternative to animal proteins.
Soy consumption may have a link to rising serum estrogen in humans. This concern
is attributed to phytoestrogens, specifically isoflavones present in soy protein,
acting as estrogen substitutes and modulators.
Objective
The objective of this research was to assess the influence of SPI supplementation
on estradiol hormone levels and the expression of genes associated with estrogen
synthesis in female rats.
Materials and methods
Female Wistar rats (n=18) were evenly divided into three groups: group 1 (normal
control) received oral administration of a saline vehicle. Group 2 (low dose)
received 450 mg/kg body weight of SPI for 30 days. Group 3 (high dose)
received 900 mg/kg body weight of SPI for 30 days. All administrations were
conducted intragastrically.
Results and conclusion
The results of our study indicate that there was a significant increase in the levels of
estradiol hormone in groups receiving low and high doses of SPI when compared
with the control group. There was an upregulation in the messenger ribonucleic acid
expression of the Cyp19 gene in low-dose and high-dose groups. Moreover, the
low-dose group showed upregulation in the expression of the HSD3B gene. These
genes are involved in the biosynthesis pathway of estrogen hormone in females.
Therefore, the use of SPI should be cautious because it contains phytoestrogens
(isoflavones), which have structural similarities to endogenous female estrogen and
may cause hormonal disturbance in females.

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