Soy Protein Isolate Reduces DHT

[dpdr]

In the second study we'll be looking at, 35 men were given soy protein isolate or milk protein isolate for 2 months to see how it affected their reproductive hormone levels. There were two versions of the soy protein diet: the low-isoflavone and the high-isoflavone diet. Each participant was put on each of the three diets with a 28-day washout period in between them.

Composition of the diets

The low-isoflavone soy protein isolate contained 0.02 mg isoflavones/kg body weight, while the high-isoflavone isolate contained 0.72 mg/kg body weight. Mean soy isoflavone intakes were 1.64 mg and 61.7 mg, respectively, with the most abundant isoflavones being genistein and daidzein. The milk protein isolate contained no isoflavones.

A third of the participants were categorized as equol excretors (meaning their bodies were able to produce equol from soy isoflavones), which seems to be consistent with other studies. Especially from a hair loss perspective, equol shows great promise, but it's currently unclear whether it's possible to affect one's ability to produce equol.

Soy protein isolate and testosterone

Halfway through the experiment, testosterone levels were slightly lower in the low-isoflavone diet (19.8 nmol/L) than the high-isoflavone diet (22.0 nmol/L) and the milk protein diet (22.1 nmol/L). At the end of the experiment, there was no statistically significant difference between testosterone levels. Levels of free testosterone were similar during all three diets.

Soy protein isolate and DHT

Serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and was decreased by the low-isoflavone diet (1952 pmol/L) and the high-isoflavone diet (1962 pmol/L) compared to the milk protein diet (2155 pmol/L) at the end of the experiment. The ratio of DHT to testosterone was also decreased.

Soy protein isolate and other effects

At the end of the study, serum estradiol and estrone were increased by the low-isoflavone diet compared with the milk protein diet. Levels of SHBG, gonadotropins, and 3-alpha-AG (a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity), did not vary significantly between the diets. DHEA-S was increased by the low-isoflavone diet, but DHEA levels were not significantly different.

Conclusion

Serum DHT was significantly reduced following the consumption of both a low-isoflavone and high-isoflavone soy protein isolate compared to a milk protein isolate. The reductions were 9.4% and 15%, respectively. The DHT/testosterone ratio was also decreased by 9.0% and 14%, respectively.

The reduction in the DHT/testosterone ratio suggests an inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. However, 3-alpha-AG, a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity, was not significantly affected. Levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were also not significantly different between the diets.

http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2 ... hair transplant-in.html

 

[A.J.Killer]

tnx, nice one. just hope it's true since there are different researches about soy.

 

[guitar66]

good post.

care to shed any light on what low vs high isoflavone diets might be comprised of? I always just thought soy was soy... But given that I recently gave up meat, I find myself interested in this topic. Also, how much soy do you consume before it becomes harmful?

 

[KANGA]

So wait... SOY IS GOOD NOW?!

*grabs a gun*

 

[KANGA]

good post.

care to shed any light on what low vs high isoflavone diets might be comprised of? I always just thought soy was soy... But given that I recently gave up meat, I find myself interested in this topic. Also, how much soy do you consume before it becomes harmful?

Interested in this as well.

 

[dpdr]

More about Soy

Soy Isoflavone Supplements Lower DHT and Stimulate Equol Production

Equol is is made when bacteria in the gut breaks down oestrogen-mimicking chemicals, known as "isoflavones", chemicals found naturally in soya beans and some other plants. The results of a study published some time ago in Biology of Reproduction indicated that equol effectively blocks a particularly potent form of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), linked with both male pattern baldness and an increased risk of prostate cancer.

DHT can be kept in check with Propecia (finasteride), which targets the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, and stops hair loss in about 80 per cent of cases and stimulates new growth in 30 per cent. However, benefits are lost when you stop taking the medication, and side-effects can include impotence, Gynocomastia, and possibly impair neurological and cognitive function. Equol, when injected into mice, did not stop DHT from being made per se, but put it in "handcuffs", stopping it from attaching to the male hormone receptors in the prostate and hair follicles. "Directly binding and inactivating DHT without influencing testosterone gives equol the ability to reduce many harmful effects of androgens without affecting the beneficial ones," says Professor Robert Handa, an endocrinologist at Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine, the senior author of the study.

The problem with Equol is that only a subset of the population appear are Equol “producers.â€￾

This study is significant in that it provides evidence that Soy Isoflavones taken in sufficient quantity and duration can turn possibly turn one into an “equol producerâ€￾.

There is also evidence that the addition of Sea Vegetables in sufficient quantities to Soy Isoflavones facilitate Equol production even in “non-producers.â€￾ More on that in our next update.

In a prior update, we featured a study that showed that consumption of dietary Soy lowered DHT levels, irrespective of one’s ability to produce Equol.


Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2009 Jul 14.

Isoflavone supplements stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum dihydrotestosterone levels in healthy male volunteers.

Tanaka M, Fujimoto K, Chihara Y, Torimoto K, Yoneda T, Tanaka N, Hirayama A, Miyanaga N, Akaza H, Hirao Y


Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing healthy men with soy isoflavones on the serum levels of sex hormones implicated in prostate cancer development. A total of 28 Japanese healthy volunteers (18 equol producers and 10 equol non-producers) between 30 and 59 years of age were given soy isoflavones (60 mg daily) supplements for 3 months, and the changes in their sex hormone levels were investigated at the baseline and after administration. The serum and urine concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and the levels of equol in the fasting blood samples and 24-h stored urine samples were also measured. All 28 volunteers completed the 3-month supplementation with isoflavone. No changes in the serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone were detected after 3-month supplementation. The serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin significantly increased, and the serum levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreased significantly after 3-month supplementation. Among the 10 equol non-producers, equol became detectable in the serum of two healthy volunteers after 3-month supplementation. This study revealed that short-term administration of soy isoflavones stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum DHT level in Japanese healthy volunteers. These results suggest the possibility of converting equol non-producers to producers by prolonged and consistent soy isoflavones consumption.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases advance online publication, 14 July 2009; doi:10.1038/pcan.2009.10.

http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateEquol7-09.html

 

[JLL]

good post.

care to shed any light on what low vs high isoflavone diets might be comprised of? I always just thought soy was soy... But given that I recently gave up meat, I find myself interested in this topic. Also, how much soy do you consume before it becomes harmful?

Some kind of soy extract.

There's some more info on soy isoflavones in one of my other posts about soy and hair growth:

As for soy, the best source of isoflavones are soy beans, which contain about 200 mg isoflavones per 100 grams (link). Tofu contains ~35 mg per 100 grams, while soy milk contains only ~9 mg. Thus, to get the 75 mg used in the study, you would either need to eat about 40 grams of soy beans (dry weight), a little over 200 grams of tofu, or a little less than a liter of soy milk.

Soy isoflavone supplements usually contain 40-60 mg per capsule.

 

[kamisama]

good post.

care to shed any light on what low vs high isoflavone diets might be comprised of? I always just thought soy was soy... But given that I recently gave up meat, I find myself interested in this topic. Also, how much soy do you consume before it becomes harmful?

Some kind of soy extract.

There's some more info on soy isoflavones in one of my other posts about soy and hair growth:

As for soy, the best source of isoflavones are soy beans, which contain about 200 mg isoflavones per 100 grams (link). Tofu contains ~35 mg per 100 grams, while soy milk contains only ~9 mg. Thus, to get the 75 mg used in the study, you would either need to eat about 40 grams of soy beans (dry weight), a little over 200 grams of tofu, or a little less than a liter of soy milk.

Soy isoflavone supplements usually contain 40-60 mg per capsule.

but there is something about soy that affect the thyroid right? cant remember what it is. Still its good to know at least its not that bad coz i love soy milk

 

[Brains Expel Hair]

but there is something about soy that affect the thyroid right? cant remember what it is. Still its good to know at least its not that bad coz i love soy milk

Correct, soy isoflavones have an inhibitory effect on the enzyme responsible for creating T3 and T4. The occasional ingestion of soy products might not be damning for your body but actually supplementing with the isoflavones would not be a good idea. Additionally if you look at the study posted either the numbers were copied wrong or the person who wrote the article was completely clueless about percentages when he did the conclusion section. The numbers listed in the results section show a favorable decrease in the LOW-isoflavone group compared to the high-isoflavone group, even though none of it was statistically significant.

 

[JLL]

but there is something about soy that affect the thyroid right? cant remember what it is. Still its good to know at least its not that bad coz i love soy milk

Correct, soy isoflavones have an inhibitory effect on the enzyme responsible for creating T3 and T4. The occasional ingestion of soy products might not be damning for your body but actually supplementing with the isoflavones would not be a good idea. Additionally if you look at the study posted either the numbers were copied wrong or the person who wrote the article was completely clueless about percentages when he did the conclusion section. The numbers listed in the results section show a favorable decrease in the LOW-isoflavone group compared to the high-isoflavone group, even though none of it was statistically significant.

I'm the clueless person who wrote the article

Wouldn't be the first time I have a typo in a post, but I'm unable to spot the mistake here. Perhaps you could help me and point it out? This is from the abstract:

Serum collected on d 1, 29, and 57 of each treatment revealed that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and DHT/testosterone were significantly decreased by the low-iso SPI [9.4% (P = 0.036) and 9.0% (P = 0.004), respectively] and the high-iso SPI [15% (P = 0.047) and 14% (P = 0.013), respectively], compared with the MPI at d 57.

And this is my post conclusion:

Serum DHT was significantly reduced following the consumption of both a low-isoflavone and high-isoflavone soy protein isolate compared to a milk protein isolate. The reductions were 9.4% and 15%, respectively. The DHT/testosterone ratio was also decreased by 9.0% and 14%, respectively.

P < 0.05 in all cases so looks statistically significant. Maybe I'm blind.

 

[eth0]

would changing my daily protein supplement I take for the gym from whey protein to soy protein help?

Here is the link to the soy protein I could change to

http://www.myprotein.co.uk/bulk-powders ... n-isolate/

 

[Brains Expel Hair]

Soy protein isolate and testosterone

Halfway through the experiment, testosterone levels were slightly lower in the low-isoflavone diet (19.8 nmol/L) than the high-isoflavone diet (22.0 nmol/L) and the milk protein diet (22.1 nmol/L). At the end of the experiment, there was no statistically significant difference between testosterone levels. Levels of free testosterone were similar during all three diets.

Soy protein isolate and DHT

Serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and was decreased by the low-isoflavone diet (1952 pmol/L) and the high-isoflavone diet (1962 pmol/L) compared to the milk protein diet (2155 pmol/L) at the end of the experiment. The ratio of DHT to testosterone was also decreased.

Soy protein isolate and other effects

At the end of the study, serum estradiol and estrone were increased by the low-isoflavone diet compared with the milk protein diet. Levels of SHBG, gonadotropins, and 3-alpha-AG (a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity), did not vary significantly between the diets. DHEA-S was increased by the low-isoflavone diet, but DHEA levels were not significantly different.

Conclusion

Serum DHT was significantly reduced following the consumption of both a low-isoflavone and high-isoflavone soy protein isolate compared to a milk protein isolate. The reductions were 9.4% and 15%, respectively. The DHT/testosterone ratio was also decreased by 9.0% and 14%, respectively.

The reduction in the DHT/testosterone ratio suggests an inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. However, 3-alpha-AG, a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity, was not significantly affected. Levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were also not significantly different between the diets.

http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2 ... hair transplant-in.html

In the underlined section of the results it shows the low isoflavone group as having the lowest DHT levels. Low isoflavone had a 9.42% reduction compared to milk (2155-1952)/2155. High isoflavone group only had an 8.96% reduction, (2155-1962)/2155. And DHT/test ratio for milk was 2155/22.1=97.51, low was 2155/19.8=98.59, and high was 1962/22.0=89.18, this leads to an increase in ratio by 1.11% for low and a decrease of 8.54% for high protein soy. The ratios are of course using testosterone measures sampled half way through the experiment so who knows if thats what they used but the reduction in serum DHT is definitely off meaning its difficult to decide which numbers are actually correct.

 

[JLL]

Yeah, good point. Will have to dig up the full paper to see what's going on. Maybe the percentage reductions are values compared to baseline?