An assesment of the oestrogenic effect of soyprotein on female rabbits

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 67 - 69
• Main Authors: Akinloye, O, Akintunde, C.O, Banjoko, S.O, Adaramoye, A.O, Adeleye, A.O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant, fungal and microbial proteins, edible seaweeds and food yeasts; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol; Estrogenic effect; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Luteinzing hormone; Soyprotein; Uteius; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Soyprotein; Luteinzing hormone; Cholesterol; Uteius; Estrogenic effect; Nutrition; Estrogen; Rabbit; Gonadotropin; Lagomorpha; Biological activity; Feeding; Soy protein; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Uterus; Food intake; Female genital system; Hormonal regulation; Plant protein; Luteinizing hormone; Serum; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00323-5

The oestrogen effect of soyprotein on female rabbits, fed for a period of 6 weeks, was investigated. Results indicate significant increase ( P<0.05) in uterus weight and serum albumin of soyprotein-fed rabbits when compared with the control. There was a significant positive correlation between total soyprotein intake and uterus weight in test animals ( r=0.808, P<0.05). Furthermore, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were significantly reduced ( P< 0.05) in soyprotein- fed rabbits compared to the control. As similar reduction ( P< 0.05) in serum total cholesterol levels was observed in soyprotein-fed rabbits compared to the control. However, there were no significant differences ( P<0.05) in the average daily food intake or body weight-gain of the test animals compared to the control. These results suggest a cholesterol-lowering capacity of soyprotein and provide strong evidence of its oestrogenic effect on female rabbits. Its consumption may therefore be a risk factor in female infertility.