phytoestrogens and Hip-Fractures

Vitamin D is known to increase Ca absorption in adults. However, the threshold vitamin D status to benefit Ca absorption is lower than the target vitamin D status for higher bone mineral density and lower fracture risk, pointing to another pathway for vitamin D to benefit bone. One possibility is by affecting osteoblast and osteoclasts directly. Vitamin D-related bone metabolism may also be affected by soy isoflavones, which selectively bind to the estrogen receptor β and may reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. We discuss a possible synergistic effect of soy isoflavones and vitamin D on bone by affecting osteoblast and osteoclast formation and activity in postmenopausal women.

Topics: Absorption; Bone Density; Calcium; Drug Synergism; Female; Genistein; Glycine max; Hip Fractures; Humans; Isoflavones; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Phytoestrogens; Postmenopause; Risk Factors; Vitamin D