Analysis of the biotransformation mechanism of soy isoflavones via equol-producing HMA mice model

Abstract

• This study is the first to use the equol-producing human microbiota-associated mice model to study the soy isoflavones biotransformation mechanisms. • The soy isoflavones supplement improves carbon metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, and key metabolic regulatory factors, thereby promoting the biotransformation ability of soy isoflavones. • Mid-dose soy isoflavones enhances biotransformation, which may be related to changes in the gut microbiota. Soy isoflavones (SI) have been shown to modulate the structure of gut microbiota, while the biotransformation mechanism of SI under the effect of gut microbiota remains unclear. Here, an equol-producing human microbiota-associated (HMA) mice model was used to examine the possible mechanisms that affect SI biotransformation. The metagenomic sequencing data show that SI supplement significantly modulates the gut microbiota composition and promotes enrichment of genes. Taxonomic and functional annotation indicated that the secretion of some regulatory factors in carbon metabolism and glycolysis might promote SI biotransformation. In addition, differences in dosing are critical, as they might be related to changes in the gut microbiota. This study demonstrated that mid-dose SI treatment significantly improved carbon metabolism and glycolysis and its key metabolic regulatory factors, thereby promoting the biotransformation ability of SI. Mastering these results will provide a new perspective for the biological activity and health effects of SI.