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equol
An isoflavone (phytoestrogen)
Biochemistry:
- synthesized from daidzein by Asaccharobacter celatus
- other gut bacteria can also synthesize equol
Physiology:
- not an essential nutrient
- not everyone has enough A celatus in their gut to produce equol
Pharmacology:
- metabolite of soy produced by gut bacteria
- equol production linked to 50% lower white matter lesion burden
Clinical manifestations:
- equol is linked to improved brain function in older adults [3]
- equol is associated with executive function
- some studies have found that consumption of soy foods in the diet has no effect on cognitive function [4]
Notes:
- equol is available as a dietary supplement*
* no randomized clinical trials support benefit
Interactions
drug adverse effects of estrogens
Specific
5-hydroxy equol
General
isoflavone
polyphenol
Properties
SIZE: MW = 242.3 G/MOL
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=91469
References
- Merck Index, I2th ed, Merck & Co, Rahway NJ, 1996 # 3677
- George J
Soy Metabolite Tied to Dementia Risk Factor -
Equol production linked to lower white matter lesion levels.
MedPage Today October 22, 2020
https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/89271
- Sekikawa A, et al
Associations of equol-producing status with white matter lesion and
amyloid-beta deposition in cognitively normal elderly Japanese.
Alzheimer's Dement 2020
PMID: 33117881 Free PMC article.
- Nuzum N
Gut microbiome: Meet Asaccharobacter celatus - the brain health bug
Medical Xpress. March 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/gut-microbiome-meet-asaccharobacter-celatus-the-brain-health-bug/ar-BB1i6Keb
- Nuzum N
Gut microbiome: meet Asaccharobacter celatus - the brain health bug.
The Conversation. Feb 9, 2024
https://theconversation.com/gut-microbiome-meet-asaccharobacter-celatus-the-brain-health-bug-208344
- Kreijkamp-Kaspers S, Kok L, Grobbee DE et al
Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake and Cognitive Function in Older Women.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2007 May;62(5):556-62
PMID: 17522362