| |
Isoflavones
Digesting Isoflavones
Isoflavones with attached sugar molecules, also called glycosides,
simply cannot be digested by stomach acids and require a specific
enzyme called beta-glucosidase for removal. This enzyme is produced
through fermentation that takes place within the body. Fermentation or
the process of converting organic compounds to simpler versions is one
of the many metabolic reactions that occur in the human body.
Depending on the status of the glycoside, fermentation starts
to take place in parts of the small intestine or as far down as the
colon. Glycosides (inactive isoflavones) can also be partially
transformed through heat processing. Examples of foods that are
transformed in this manner are soy milk and tofu. In this form, these
foods are better prepared for fermentation by the body and the
subsequent, absorption by the cells. Isoflavones found in isolated soy
protein and soy flour take even longer to be transformed, requiring
fermentation in the colon.
Unfortunately, there is considerable variability in a person’s
ability to metabolize isoflavones. For example, a person without the
proper micro flora poorly absorbs isoflavones. According to one US
researcher, some 30% of people cannot absorb isoflavones because of
their intestinal bacteria profile. This may be some of the reason that
not all people, most specifically women, feel the positive effects of
isoflavones. By consuming the active aglycone form, AglyMax takes the
individual variability out of the equation.
Also, the condition of a person’s micro flora can be altered.
A round of antibiotics will wipe out your good bacteria in the process
of eliminating the bad, and it doesn’t help that our food source is
constantly exposed to antibiotics as well.
Once in the Blood...
Researchers believe that isoflavones’
main mechanism of action is through receptor binding. We know that
isoflavones need to be transformed into an aglycone prior to absorption
but what happens afterward when they enter the blood stream?
As with all things ingested and absorbed into the bloodstream, the body
immediately prepares the isoflavones for excretion. This process is
called first-pass and occurs primarily in the liver, but has also been
shown to occur in intestinal wall cells prior to absorption into the
blood. Isoflavones are lipophilic (fat-loving) compounds, so the body
attempts to make them easier to excrete by attaching glucuronic acid or
sulfate to them.
Once the isoflavone has been transformed back into an inactive
form, they are excreted through the kidney in urine or through bile. If
excreted in bile, some of the inactive isoflavones will have the chance
to get reabsorbed because bile is sent to the intestinal tract where
the micro flora secretes a type of enzyme to remove the glucuronic
acid, freeing the isoflavone once again. This process is called
enterohepatic recycling.
Advantage of Aglycones
Since little to no processing by the body is required, the aglycones,
found in Effisoy, are readily absorbed from the stomach and small
intestine. The advantages of aglycones include:
- Eliminates individual variation from isoflavone absorption
- The speed of absorption is quicker since the isoflavones do not need to travel to the colon,
nor go through the metabolism process of becoming aglycones
- Speedy absorption leads to higher concentrations of aglycones (active isoflavones) in the
blood where they have a greater chance of exerting their effects
|
|
|
|
| Clinically Proven. |
| Effisoy with Aglymax is clinically proven relief for the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. |
 |
|
| |
|
How did you hear about Effisoy?
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|