Role of Dietary Soybean Genistein in Osteoporosis Prevention

Bone homeostasis is regulated through osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoporosis, which is induced with its accompanying decrease in bone mass with increasing age, is widely recognized as a major public heath problem. Bone loss may be due to decreased osteoblastic bone formation and increased osteoclastic bone resorption. There is growing evidence that nutritional and food factors may play a part in the prevention of bone loss with aging and have been to be worthy of notice in the prevention of osteoporsis. Genistein, which is contained in soybeans, has been shown to have a stimulative effect on osteoblastic bone formation and a suppressive effect on osteoclastic bone resorption, thereby increasing bone mass. This factor has a regulative effect on protein synthesis and gene expression, which are related to bone formation in osteoblastic cells and bone resorption in osteoclastic cells. Oral administration of genistein has been shown to prevent on bone loss in ovariectomized rats, an animal model for osteoporosis, indicating a role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Intake of dietary soybean genistein has been shown to have a preventive effect on osteoporosis in human subjects, suggesting a role in the prevention of bone loss. This review discusses a role of dietary soybean genistein in osteoporosis prevention.