Daidzein, properties and benefits of the most potent isoflavone (2024)

Daidzein is a chemical compound derived from plants that, along with genistein and glycitein, form the group of isoflavones. It is a component present in some foods with properties and benefits for regulating and protecting various systems of the human body.

Although daidzein has a function in plants, in humans, it plays an important role in cardiovascular protection and as an antioxidant agent, thus protecting against the risk of cancer and delaying aging.

What is Daidzein

Considered a phytoestrogen, daidzein is a chemical substance produced by plants, only naturally present in plants and consumed by humans and animals through food.

Daidzein is an isoflavone, a subcategory of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds characterized by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin aging protective properties.

There are many characteristics of isoflavonoids and specifically what they can provide. So, next, we explain all their properties and benefits, what daidzein and genistein are for, as well as the foods from which you can obtain them.

Properties

• Antioxidant.
• Anti-menopausal.
• Anticancer.
• Anti-aging for the skin.

The properties of daidzein and those of polyphenolic compounds categorized as isoflavones have estrogenic activity. They can trick the body to be captured instead of natural estrogens. In this way, they can regulate different metabolic and hormonal functions.

Regarding the property of daidzein to regulate menopausal disorders, it is estimated that it can reduce the occurrence of hot flashes and other discomforts related to a woman’s climacteric when she stops menstruating.

There are studies indicating that in Asian communities, there is a lower incidence of discomfort caused by menopause due to the routine consumption of soy and foods derived from Glycine max, which is the name of the soybean plant.

There is also data on the lower rate of degenerative diseases due to the antioxidant action of isoflavones, with most studies highlighting that lower percentages may be related, as we have already mentioned, to soy consumption.

Cardiovascular problems and pathologies related to high cholesterol levels are also lower. Because daidzein reduces the amount of cholesterol that sticks to the arteries, it can be very beneficial for the functioning of the heart. This organ, which pumps blood and distributes oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, needs to exert less effort when the veins are clean. With less arterial fat, the heart needs to make less effort for the blood to reach all corners of the body.

In the case of breast and prostate cancer, it is estimated that daidzein may have an inhibitory function on the growth of cancer cells. It is likely that consuming isoflavones such as daidzein and genistein frequently reduces the growth of carcinogenic cells.

Thus, we explain the benefits of daidzein for each specific case below.

Benefits of Daidzein for Menopause

Just as genistein has properties to treat menopausal discomfort, the rest of the isoflavones have antiestrogenic action, something that allows them to be used in various medical therapies and as a supplement to relieve discomfort in women who cease to be fertile.

Daidzein for menopause has antiestrogenic properties. When there are high levels of 17-b-estradiol during the follicular phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, the isoflavone is unable to produce antiestrogenic effects.

However, when estradiol is low as occurs after menopause, isoflavones like daidzein can bind to ERs. Their action at that time increases considerably, producing beneficial properties and reducing hot flashes and flushes in women. Symptoms common in postmenopausal women.

Cardiovascular

Consuming products with isoflavones of the daidzein class can reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. There is evidence that flavonoids regulate blood vessels and LDL cholesterol levels, the so-called bad cholesterol.

Many authors indicate their benefits on lipid metabolism and cholesterol transport. They act together to preserve cardiovascular health by reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Protecting Bones and Increasing Bone Density

Another benefit attributed to daidzein and the rest of the isoflavones is their ability to decrease bone tissue destruction. Low levels of 17β-estradiol are associated with lower calcium bioavailability, leading to increased bone resorption when cytokines (enzymes) are activated in these cases. This leads to osteoporosis, quite common in postmenopausal women.

Various studies indicate and provide valuable information on the role of daidzein in preserving bone density and even in new bone formation.

The body, upon encountering phytoestrogens, seems to regulate its function and avoid having to reabsorb calcium from bones. Limiting bone weakness and, in many cases, promoting the creation of new bone tissue.

Now that we know the properties and benefits of daidzein, let’s see the natural foods where you can find it.

Foods with Daidzein

• Tofu.
• Soy.
• Soy germ.
• Pueraria mirifica (plant).
• Pueraria lobata (plant).
• Pueraria thomsonii (plant).
• Maackia amurensis (cell culture).

Foods with daidzein are always plant-based. It is present in seeds and medicinal plants frequently consumed by humans.

The food richest in daidzein is soy, followed by tofu. Soy is rich in isoflavones like genistein and glycitein, isoflavones with properties for the human body.

This food, soy, should be ingested regularly for the amount of daidzein it contains to be beneficial. Regular consumption of flavonoids of the isoflavone class is considered to be beneficial for health, functioning as functional foods in preventing cardiovascular diseases and tumor formation.

Soy is a very powerful food due to its beneficial properties. Often used as a remedy for menopausal symptoms and as an adjunct in treating estrogen imbalances.

Within soy, we can find 37% daidzein and 57% genistein. It also contains, in addition to these two isoflavones, glycitein at 6%, the third isoflavone composing the flavonoid subgroup.

On the other hand, soy germ is richer in the phytoestrogen daidzein, with its approximate value being 41-42%. Its nutritional values ​​are very similar, so in practice, consuming soy sprouts is almost the same as consuming the seeds in their different forms. If you want to add a food rich in isoflavones to your diet, you can do so with any type of soy.

Metabolization

In its natural form, it has few medicinal properties since its absorption is limited. When it passes into the intestines and the aglycones are released, the isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, and glycitein) produce a strong estrogenic action.

The glucosides conjugated with the isoflavones inhibit them, but once released from them, they can develop all their properties in the human body. At this point, phytoestrogens like isoflavones become truly interesting.

For daidzein to be bioavailable, enzymes and intestinal microbiota come into play. From this organic chemical transformation, daidzein and the rest of the isoflavonoids can be incorporated into the bloodstream, now producing all their protective and estrogen-modulating benefits.

Isoflavones like glycitein, daidzein, and genistein can be assimilated both in the intestines, by intestinal flora, and processed in the liver.

Assimilation and Excretion

By conjugating with glucuronic acid, isoflavones become more soluble, allowing the liver to degrade them to take advantage of their full potential, or to discard them to be expelled through urine.

The conjugation process that occurs in the body is reversible, meaning that unabsorbed glucosides can be secreted in bile to be deconjugated in the intestine and thus be absorbed again, and vice versa.

Properties with Genistein and other Flavonoids

The benefits of daidzein are not limited solely to incorporating it into metabolism through diet or isolated dietary supplements but, its full potential is realized when taken together with other flavonoids.

Within the subgroup of isoflavones, we can find more phytoestrogens, natural chemical compounds such as the following:

• Genistein

References

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