Early exposure to estrogen has positive effects on the female skeleton at adulthood. Infants can be exposed to high levels of genistein, with potential estrogen-like activity, by consuming soy-based infant formula. The objective of study 1 and 2 was to determine if neonatal exposure of genistein to female and male mice, respectively, during early development results in a higher bone mineral density (BMD) and peak load of femurs and lumbar vertebrae (LV) at adulthood. In study 1, female mice exposed to genistein had higher vertebral BMD, but this did not result in higher peak load of LV3. In study 2, exposure of male mice to genistein resulted in higher vertebral BMD than control but did not translate into LV3 that are more resistant to fracture. In conclusion, early exposure of female and male mice to genistein can influence the developing skeleton in a permanent manner.
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