03.29.06
Epigenetics Linked to Benefits of Soy
A new study by Duke Medical Center researchers showed that pregnant mice that ate a diet rich in genistein, an active ingriedient in soy, produced offspring that had an altered coat color and were less likely to develop obesity later in life. The cause of these significant changes was found to be an epigenetic alteration: hypermethylation of six cytosine-guanine (CG sites) upstream of the transcriptional start site of the Agouti gene.
The research article is published in the April 1, 2006 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
[...] Following the research article on soy in their April issue, Environmental Health Perspectives has decided to focus their latest issue on “The Science of Soy: What Do We Really Know?” It’s a succinct summary of what little is known about the science of soy products, and how little is known about their benefits or risks. The wide variety of soy-based foods, beverages, and nutraceuticals now readily available tout this versatile food’s purported benefits of preventing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, as well as treating menopausal symptoms. Many of soy’s effects are attributed to its isoflavone components, but the strength of the relationships and whether the effects are beneficial are strongly debated ; one of the most heated debates is over the safety of soy-based infant formula. Most researchers agree that we are only just beginning to understand the nature of soy, and that far more human data are needed in order to make solid recommendations regarding its health benefits. Link [...]