大豆、大豆异黄酮研究历程

Research progress of soy and isoflavones

近20年来,大豆和大豆异黄酮对机体健康影响的研究报道逐渐全面、深入,目前它们的作用已较为清晰。大豆异黄酮首次引起人们的注意是在1940年,羊在采食富含大豆异黄酮的植物后出现繁殖问题,研究发现了大豆异黄酮的植物雌激素作用。1950年,在啮齿类动物研究中也发现了异黄酮的雌激素作用,研究者提出假设认为,大豆异黄酮可能具有促生长作用,随着验证试验的开展,发现大豆异黄酮也具有抗雌激素作用。1990年,基于已有的研究基础,美国癌症研究所开始提供经费研究大豆食品,其在疾病预防方面的重要作用受到广泛关注。后来研究发现,大豆异黄酮和大豆食品能够减缓绝经女人热潮红状况,并抑制骨质疏松。1995年,研究报道了大豆蛋白能够降低胆固醇,这引起了世界大豆研究领域的震惊。从此,研究者把大豆异黄酮作为常规激素治疗的替代品,开展了广泛的研究。2002年,研究者认为,部分个体的肠道细菌能够将大豆异黄酮黄豆苷原转化为雌马酚,这类个体在食入大豆蛋白后的受益更大。目前,研究者开展了大量体外和动物试验评价大豆异黄酮的安全性。

A amount of research on the health effects of soy and isoflavones has been conducted during the past 20 years, which are remarkable comprehensive and more in-depth. Isoflavones first came to the attention of the scientific community in 1940 because of fertility problems ob- served in sheep grazing on a type of isoflavone-rich clover. In 1950, as a result of their estro- genic effects in rodents, isoflavones were studied as possible growth promoters, although shortly thereafter, it was shown that isoflavones could also function as antiestrogens. It was not until the 1990s, the role of soyfoods in disease prevention began to receive widespread attention because of research sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Subsequently, isoflavones and soy- foods were being studied for their ability to alleviate hot flashes and inhibit bone loss in post- menopausal women. In 1995, soy protein was found to lower cholesterol, which attracted world- wide attention. The isoflavones began to be widely discussed as potential alternatives to conven- tional hormone therapy. In 2002, it was hypothesized that individuals possessing the intestinal bacteria capable of converting the soybean isoflavone daidzein into the isoflavan equol weremore likely to benefit from soy intake. Re- cently, in vitro and animal research into the safety of isoflavone exposure has been con- ducted.