Title

 

Authors

F. Squadrito¹, A. Bitto¹, H. Marini², R. D’Anna³, D. Altavilla¹.
 
¹Department of clinical and experimental medicine and pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina Italy
²Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Messina Italy
³Department of Obstetrical and Gynecological Sciences, University of Messina, Italy

 

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome refers to the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors that include diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Postmenopausal women develop obesity, insulin resistance, and potentially metabolic syndrome because of decreased serum estrogen levels. Insulin resistance and visceral obesity have been recognized as the most important pathogenic factors. The clinical heterogeneity of the syndrome can be explained by its significant impact on glucose, fat and protein metabolism, cellular growth and differentiation, and endothelial function. While leptin increases with body fat, low adiponectin levels are strongly associated with insulin resistance. We measured glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin, visfatin and adiponectin in 120 postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome who were randomized to receive 54 mg/day of genistein aglycone or placebo, in addition to their usual therapy, for 1 year. At the end of the study, genistein treatment significantly reduced (p<0.05 vs placebo recipents) HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin and visfatin. Moreover a marked increase (p<0.01 vs placebo recipients) in serum levels of adiponectin was also observed. These promising preliminary results suggest a role for genistein aglycone in the treatment of metabolic disorders associated with menopause.