The pharmacokinetic behavior of the soy isoflavone metabolite S-(−)equol and its diastereoisomer R-(+)equol in healthy adults determined by using stable-isotope-labeled tracers1234

摘要

Background: The nonsteroidal estrogen equol occurs as diastereoisomers, S-(−)equol and R-(+)equol, both of which have significant biological actions. S-(−)equol, the naturally occurring enantiomer produced by 20–30% of adults consuming soy foods, has selective affinity for estrogen receptor-β, whereas both enantiomers modulate androgen action. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of the diastereoisomers, despite current interest in developing equol as a nutraceutical or pharmaceutical agent.