大豆素在肠道细菌作用下可产生二氢大豆素、雌马酚、ODMA。分别有30%~55%的人能产生雌马酚。肠道生理、宿主基因、膳食因素可能与雌马酚产生的个体差异有关,但雌马酚产生的影响因素尚未明确。某些大豆摄入量高的人群研究表明,尿液和血清雌马酚浓度与乳腺癌及前列腺癌发生呈负相关关系。大豆补充剂与骨密度研究提示,在雌马酚产生者中,大豆产品对骨密度保持更有效。雌马酚产生的影响因素及雌马酚与人类健康间的关系尚需进一步确定。
Under the function of human intestinal bacteria,soybean can produce equol and O-desmethylangolensin.Among humans,30% ~ 55% have the bacteria capable of producing equol.Factors that influence the capacity to produce equol are not clearly established;however,gut physiology,host genetics,and diet factors are probably related to the individual difference of equol producing.Some studies on high soy-consuming populations reported an inverse association between urinary and serum equol concentrations and breast and prostate cancer risk.Furthermore,several studies of soy supplementation and bone density suggest that soy products may be more effective in maintaining bone density in equol-producing individuals.It requires further identification of the factors influencing the equol producing and the relationship between equol and human health.