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 .
Association between dietary phyto-oestrogens and bone density in men and postmenopausal women.
Phyto-oestrogens have been associated with a decreased risk for osteoporosis , but results from intervention and observational studies in Western countries have been inconsistent . In the present study , we investigated the association between habitual phyto-oestrogen intake and broadb and ultrasound attenuation ( BUA ) of the calcanaeum as a marker of bone density . We collected 7 d records of diet , medical history and demographic and anthropometric data from participants ( aged 45 - 75 years ) in the European Prospect i ve Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk study .  Phyto-oestrogen ( biochanin A , daidzein , formononetin ; genistein , glycitein ; matairesinol ; secoisolariciresinol ; enterolactone ; equol ) intake was determined using a newly developed food composition data base . Bone density was assessed using BUA of the calcanaeum . Associations between bone density and phyto-oestrogen intake were investigated in 2580 postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy and 4973 men .  Median intake of total phyto-oestrogens  was 876 ( interquartile range 412 ) μg/d in postmenopausal women and 1212 ( interquartile range 604 ) μg/d in men . The non-soya isoflavones formononetin and biochanin A were marginally significant or significantly associated with BUA in postmenopausal women ( β = 1·2 ; P < 0·1 ) and men ( β = 1·2 ; P < 0·05 ) , respectively ; enterolignans and equol were positively associated with bone density in postmenopausal women , but this association became non-significant when dietary Ca was added to the model . In the lowest quintile of Ca intake , soya isoflavones were positively associated with bone density in postmenopausal women ( β = 1·4 ; P < 0·1 ) . The present results therefore suggest that non-soya isoflavones are associated with bone density independent of Ca , whereas the association with soya or soya isoflavones is affected by dietary Ca
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 .