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Soy Isoflavones and Gastrointestinal Health

  • Functional Foods (CM Whisner, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Soy isoflavones are known to have beneficial effects on several aspects of gastrointestinal physiological functions (contractility or motility, secretion, morphology, and barrier function). In this review, we discuss the effects of soy isoflavones on the overall gut function and inflammation and assess how these effects might be implicated in the treatment of several gut-related diseases.

Recent Findings

Soy isoflavones influence several key aspects of gastrointestinal health: improve basal intestinal secretion, alleviate inflammation, limit intestinal morphological damage, and improve epithelial barrier function in several clinically relevant murine models of gastrointestinal diseases.

Summary

Dietary supplementation with isoflavones proves to be a key means to improve the overall gut function and health. Future mechanistic studies with isoflavone interventions will help treat clinically related diseases such as cystic fibrosis and inflammatory-related gut problems such as colitis and diabetes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, 85308, USA

    Layla Al-Nakkash

  2. Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, 85308, USA

    Layla Al-Nakkash & Aaron Kubinski

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  1. Layla Al-Nakkash
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Correspondence to Layla Al-Nakkash.

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Al-Nakkash, L., Kubinski, A. Soy Isoflavones and Gastrointestinal Health. Curr Nutr Rep 9, 193–201 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00314-4

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