Conclusions : Isoflavone treatments exert a moderately beneficial effect against  estrogen-deficient bone loss in women .
The effect appears dependent on whether isoflavone treatments are in aglycone form ; we conclude that beneficial effects against bone loss may be enhanced for isoflavone aglycones
Background : Age-related estrogen deficiency leads to accelerated bone resorption .
There is evidence that , through selective estrogen receptor modulation , isoflavones may exert beneficial effects against  estrogen-deficient bone loss .
Isoflavone aglycones show higher bioavailability than their glycosidic counterparts and thus may have greater potency .
Objective : To summarize evidence , we executed a systematic review and meta- analysis examining isoflavone therapies and bone mineral density ( BMD ) loss in peri- and postmenopausal women .
Soy protein and isoflavones: their effects on blood lipids and bone density in postmenopausal women.
The effects of soy protein ( 40 g/d ) containing moderate and higher concentrations of isoflavones on blood lipid profiles , mononuclear cell LDL receptor messenger RNA , and bone mineral density and content were investigated in 66 free-living , hypercholesterolemic , postmenopausal women during a 6-mo , parallel-group , double-blind trial with 3 interventions . After a control period of 14 d , during which subjects followed a National Cholesterol Education Program Step I low-fat , low-cholesterol diet , all subjects were r and omly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary groups : Step I diet with 40 g protein/d obtained from casein and nonfat dry milk ( CNFDM ) , Step I diet with 40 g protein/d from isolated soy protein containing 1.39 mg isoflavones/g protein ( ISP56 ) , or Step I diet with 40 g protein/d from isolated soy protein containing 2.25 mg isoflavones/g protein ( ISP90 ) . Total and regional bone mineral content and density were assessed . Non-HDL cholesterol for both ISP56 and ISP90 groups was reduced compared with the CNFDM group ( P < 0.05 ) . HDL cholesterol increased in both ISP56 and ISP90 groups ( P < 0.05 ) . Mononuclear cell LDL receptor mRNA was increased in subjects consuming ISP56 or ISP90 compared with those consuming CNFDM ( P < 0.05 ) . Significant increases occurred in both bone mineral content and density in the lumbar spine but not elsewhere for the ISP90 group compared with the control group ( P < 0.05 ) . Intake of soy protein at both isoflavone concentrations for 6 mo may decrease the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women . However , only the higher isoflavone-containing product protected against spinal bone loss
Conclusions : Isoflavone treatments exert a moderately beneficial effect against  estrogen-deficient bone loss in women .
The effect appears dependent on whether isoflavone treatments are in aglycone form ; we conclude that beneficial effects against bone loss may be enhanced for isoflavone aglycones
Background : Age-related estrogen deficiency leads to accelerated bone resorption .
There is evidence that , through selective estrogen receptor modulation , isoflavones may exert beneficial effects against  estrogen-deficient bone loss .
Isoflavone aglycones show higher bioavailability than their glycosidic counterparts and thus may have greater potency .
Objective : To summarize evidence , we executed a systematic review and meta- analysis examining isoflavone therapies and bone mineral density ( BMD ) loss in peri- and postmenopausal women .