The bioavailability of soy isoflavones in vitro and their effects on gut microbiota in the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem

Abstract

Since soy isoflavones have many potentially beneficial properties, they have received increasing attention. However, there are few studies on their bioavailability and effects on gut microbiota. In this experiment, the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME) was used to study the bioavailability of soy isoflavones and their effects on gut microbiota. The effects of soy isoflavones on the growth and antibacterial properties of probiotics were also studied in vitro. The results shows that the digestion of soy isoflavones mainly occurs in the colon, and the antioxidant capacity changes with the progress of digestion. Soy isoflavone can regulate gut microbiota, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, and affect the growth of obesity-related bacteria. Moreover, soy isoflavones can promote the growth of probiotics and significantly improve their antibacterial ability in vitro. Overall, soy isoflavones have the potential to be a functional food by improving gut microbiota.