WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A 12-week treatment of the fermented soy germ-based nutritional supplement containing S-equol significantly lowered hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), LDL cholesterol and improved vascular stiffness, all factors that occur as part of metabolic syndrome, according to a first-of-its-kind peer-reviewed study reported in a poster at the Women's Health 2012 annual meeting. [1]

"This study is the first to provide evidence that a daily supplement of soy-based S-equol favorably change metabolic syndrome risk factors, particularly in women.  Because not all individuals have the ability to produce S-equol naturally after eating soy, the study results are very interesting and warrant examination in future studies," said Belinda H. Jenks, Ph.D., coauthor of the study and director of Scientific Affairs & Nutrition Education at Pharmavite LLC, an U.S. subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which sponsored the study. Development and ongoing research of a supplement containing S-equol is conducted by the Saga Nutraceuticals Research Institute of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 

S-equol [7-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-chroman] is a compound resulting -- when certain bacteria are present in the digestive tract -- from the natural metabolism, or conversion, of daidzein, an isoflavone found in whole soybeans. Not everyone can produce S-equol after soy consumption, as the production depends on the types of bacteria present in the large intestine and may be influenced by the amount of soy consumed. About 50 percent of Asians and 20 to 30 percent of North Americans and Europeans, who in general consume less soy than Asians, have the ability to produce S-equol. Research indicates that Japanese women have milder menopausal symptoms in those who are S-equol producers compared to nonproducers.  

Pharmavite LLC, the makers of Nature Made® vitamins and minerals and a subsidiary of Otsuka, is studying the supplement for the management of menopausal symptoms.  Recent controlled studies conducted with U.S. and Japanese postmenopausal women have documented that daily consumption of S-equol supplements reduced the frequency of hot flashes as well as muscle discomfort associated with menopause, while those in Japanese postmenopausal women also showed a significant inhibition of bone loss or resorption.  The new study offers additional insights into soy-based S-equol's potential benefits.

S-equol Supplement Reduces Metabolic Disease Indicators in Overweight Japanese Adults
In the new study, daily supplement doses containing 10 milligrams (mg) of S-equol significantly reduced three indicators of metabolic syndrome in 49 Japanese men and women, aged 31 to 77, who had body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more kilograms per meter squared, which is considered overweight by the World Health Organization.[2] During the study, the participants randomly received either the S-equol supplement or a placebo for 12 weeks and then were switched to the opposite treatment for 12 weeks. 

Measures of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) all were significantly lower in the S-equol treated group compared to those in the placebo group based on changes in the indicators from the study start to the study end.  Specifically, the average change in HbA1c, which reflects the average amount of the sugar glucose in a person's blood over three months, decreased significantly by -0.2 percent in the S-equol group vs. an increase of +0.1 percent in the placebo group, (p<0.05).  The average change in LDL-C levels also significantly decreased by -0.2 millimole/ liter (mmol/L) with S-equol vs. compared to an increase of +0.1 mmol/L with the placebo, (p<0.01).[3] Also, the average change in CAVI measures significantly decreased by -0.2 with S-equol vs. an increase of +0.1 with the placebo, (p<0.01). CAVI is a measure of the stiffness of walls of three arteries: the aorta and two in the lower leg.

Furthermore, favorable effects of the S-equol supplement were more prominent in the 25 women, aged 48 to 74, who were not S-equol producers after soy consumption.  Their HbA1c, LDL-C and CAVI measures all were significantly lower when receiving S-equol supplements, compared to the placebo:  -0.2 vs. +0.2 percent for HbA1c, -0.3 vs. +0.1 mmol/L for LDL-C and -0.3 vs. +0.2 for CAVI, (p<0.05, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively).

The complete data, which includes measurements of blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, leptin, adiponectin and CRP, will be submitted to a peer-review journal for publication.

About S-equol
The safety of the supplement containing S-equol previously was confirmed by standard animal testing, including a study documenting that S-equol itself, as well as the supplement containing S-equol, did not increase or stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. Studies involving postmenopausal women who consumed the supplement containing S-equol have not observed any safety problems, including analysis of breast and reproductive tissues and of hormone levels.  More information about S-equol and the supplement is at http://www.naturalequol.com.

The supplement is the product of fermentation of whole soy germ by the bacterial strain Lactococcus 20-92 using a patented and proprietary process by the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.  The process results in the conversion of the daidzein to S-equol. SE5-OH is created under current Good Manufacturing Practices.  Following fermentation, the bacteria undergo heat denaturation and are deactivated.  The process is designed to produce a S-equol rich product, or nutraceutical ingredient.  The ingredient has self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. supported the study.

Women's Health 2012: the 20th Annual Congress is presented by Journal of Women's Health and the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health in collaboration with NIH Office of Research on Women's Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Poster P41
The effect of a natural S-equol supplement on metabolic parameters in overweight adult Japanese males and females in equol- and non equol-producers.

Takeshi Usui MD, PhD, Mayu Tochiya MD, Noriko Satoh-Asahara MD, PhD and Akira Shimatsu MD, PhD of Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Japan; Belinda H. Jenks, PhD, of Scientific Affairs, Pharmavite LLC, Northridge, CA; Tomomi Ueno MS and Shigeto Uchiyama MS, of Saga Nutraceuticals Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan.

About Pharmavite LLC: For 40 years, Pharmavite has earned and maintained the trust of healthcare professionals, consumers, and retailers by manufacturing high-quality vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements that are safe, effective and science-based.  Nature Made® is the number one selling dietary supplement brand in the food, drug, club and mass channels.  The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Founded in 1964, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide.' Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for the treatment of diseases and consumer products for the maintenance of everyday health.  Otsuka is committed to being a corporation that creates global value, adhering to the high ethical standards required of a company involved in human health and life, maintaining a dynamic corporate culture, and working in harmony with local communities and the natural environment.  Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., the holding company for the Otsuka Group. The Otsuka Group has business operations in 23 countries and regions around the world, with consolidated sales of 1,090.2 billion Yen for fiscal year 2010. Visit Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. at http://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/

[1] "What is Metabolic Syndrome?" NHLBI, NIH. Nov 3 2011. Accessed at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ms/ on Jan. 24, 2012.

[2] WHO Global Database on Body Mass Index.  Accessed at http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html on Jan. 24, 2012.

[3] "What is atherosclerosis?" NHLBI/NIH July 1, 2011. Accessed at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/ on Jan. 24, 2012.

SOURCE Pharmavite LLC