Xiao Zhang1, Akira Fujiyoshi2, Vasudha Ahuja1, Abhishek Vishnu1, Emma Barinas-Mitchell1, Aya Kadota2, Katsuyuki Miura2, Daniel Edmundowicz3, Hirotsugu Ueshima2, Akira Sekikawa4. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 2. Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan. 3. Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, USA. 4. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: akira@pitt.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Equol, an isoflavone (ISF)-derived metabolite by the gut microbiome in certain individuals termed as equol-producers, might be the key anti-atherogenic component of ISFs. Our objective was to determine the association between equol-producing status and aortic atherosclerosis assessed as aortic calcification (AC). METHODS: This population-based study of 302 Japanese men aged 40-49, free of cardiovascular disease, examined serum levels of equol and ISFs, AC in the entire aorta by electron-beam computed tomography with Agatston method, and cardiovascular risk factors. We defined equol-producers as individuals with serum levels of equol ≥20 nM and prevalent AC as an AC score ≥ 10. We analyzed the association between equol-producing status and AC using Tobit and logistic regressions. We performed age-stratified analyses since age was a significant effect-modifier. RESULTS: The 70th to 90th percentile AC scores were 4 to 243 in equol-producers and 15 to 444 in non-producers, respectively. Overall, equol-producers (41% of the sample) had lower AC scores (-209, [95% confidence interval (CI): -455, 36]) and odds of AC (odds ratio (OR): 0.7 [95% CI: 0.4, 1.3]), although not statistically significant, compared to non-producers after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors. Among men aged 46-49, equol-producers had significantly lower AC scores (-428 [95% CI: -827, -29]). Furthermore, there were null associations between serum levels of ISFs and both AC score and the odds of AC. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged Japanese men, equol-producers had a non-significantly lower burden of aortic atherosclerosis than non-producers whereas ISFs had a null association. Studies with larger sample sizes in both sexes are warranted.
BACKGROUND: Equol, an isoflavone (ISF)-derived metabolite by the gut microbiome in certain individuals termed as equol-producers, might be the key anti-atherogenic component of ISFs. Our objective was to determine the association between equol-producing status and aortic atherosclerosis assessed as aortic calcification (AC). METHODS: This population-based study of 302 Japanese men aged 40-49, free of cardiovascular disease, examined serum levels of equol and ISFs, AC in the entire aorta by electron-beam computed tomography with Agatston method, and cardiovascular risk factors. We defined equol-producers as individuals with serum levels of equol ≥20 nM and prevalent AC as an AC score ≥ 10. We analyzed the association between equol-producing status and AC using Tobit and logistic regressions. We performed age-stratified analyses since age was a significant effect-modifier. RESULTS: The 70th to 90th percentile AC scores were 4 to 243 in equol-producers and 15 to 444 in non-producers, respectively. Overall, equol-producers (41% of the sample) had lower AC scores (-209, [95% confidence interval (CI): -455, 36]) and odds of AC (odds ratio (OR): 0.7 [95% CI: 0.4, 1.3]), although not statistically significant, compared to non-producers after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors. Among men aged 46-49, equol-producers had significantly lower AC scores (-428 [95% CI: -827, -29]). Furthermore, there were null associations between serum levels of ISFs and both AC score and the odds of AC. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged Japanese men, equol-producers had a non-significantly lower burden of aortic atherosclerosis than non-producers whereas ISFs had a null association. Studies with larger sample sizes in both sexes are warranted.
Authors: Michael H Criqui; Julie O Denenberg; Robyn L McClelland; Matthew A Allison; Joachim H Ix; Alan Guerci; Kevin P Cohoon; Preethi Srikanthan; Karol E Watson; Nathan D Wong Journal: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol Date: 2014-05-08 Impact factor: 8.311
Authors: Robyn L McClelland; Neal W Jorgensen; Matthew Budoff; Michael J Blaha; Wendy S Post; Richard A Kronmal; Diane E Bild; Steven Shea; Kiang Liu; Karol E Watson; Aaron R Folsom; Amit Khera; Colby Ayers; Amir-Abbas Mahabadi; Nils Lehmann; Karl-Heinz Jöckel; Susanne Moebus; J Jeffrey Carr; Raimund Erbel; Gregory L Burke Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2015-10-13 Impact factor: 24.094