Effects of the Phytoestrogen Genistein on the Circulating Soluble Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB Ligand-Osteoprotegerin System in Early Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 89; no. 1; pp. 188 - 192
• Main Authors: Crisafulli, Alessandra, Altavilla, Domenica, Squadrito, Giovanni, Romeo, Adolfo, Adamo, Elena B, Marini, Rolando, Inferrera, Maria A, Marini, Herbert, Bitto, Alessandra, D’anna, Rosario, Corrado, Francesco, Bartolone, Sebastiano, Frisina, Nicola, Squadrito, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.01.2004; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Medical sciences; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Human; Receptor activator Nfkb ligand; Ligand; Genistein; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Bone disease; Osteoprotegerin; Osteoporosis; Treatment; Phytestrogen; Postmenopause; Female; Hormone replacement therapy; Transcription factor NFκB; Mechanism of action; Osseous tissue
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-030891

We investigated the serum levels of both receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) in postmenopausal healthy women after a 1-yr therapy with genistein, (n = 30; 54 mg/d), hormone replacement therapy (n = 30; 1 mg/d 17β-estradiol combined with norethisterone acetate) and placebo (n = 30). By comparison with placebo, the soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio was lower in the genistein group (−69 ± 7%; P < 0.01 vs. placebo 81 ± 24%) and in hormone replacement therapy-treated women (−11 ± 2%; P < 0.01 vs. placebo). A positive correlation (r = 0.63; P < 0.01) was found between 1-yr percentage change in sRANKL/OPG ratio and 1-yr change in urinary deoxypyridinoline, a bone resorption marker. A negative correlation was observed between 1-yr percentage change in sRANKL/OPG ratio and 1-yr change in femoral neck bone mineral density (r = −0.7; P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the sRANKL-OPG system may mediate the beneficial effects of genistein on bone remodeling in postmenopausal women.