Soy isoflavones prevent the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated rise in leukocytes in rats.

Recent reports indicate that ovariectomy (ovx) increases lymphopoiesis. Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone, has been reported to reduce lymphocytes in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether naturally occurring isoflavones also affect lymphopoiesis in ovarian hormone deficiency. The present study was carried out using an ovariectomized (ovx) rat model. To mimic early menopause, forty-eight 12-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham-operated (sham; 1 group) or ovx (3 groups) and were fed a standard semi-purified diet for 120 days. Thereafter, the ovx groups received one of the three doses of isoflavones: 0 (ovx), 500 (ISO500), or 1000 (ISO1000) mg/kg diet for 100 days. Ovariectomy increased total leukocyte counts significantly (p < 0.05) as a result of increased (p < 0.05) lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil differential counts. Isoflavones at 500 and 1000 mg/kg diet returned the total leukocyte counts, as well as leukocyte subpopulations, to levels comparable to that of sham-operated rats. No other hematological parameters, e.g., red blood cell counts or red cell indices, were affected by ovariectomy or isoflavones. We conclude that soy isoflavones restore normal leukocyte counts elevated in ovarian hormone deficiency.

The effects of chromium and copper supplementation on mitogen-stimulated T cell proliferation in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to analyse effects of chromium and/or copper supplementation on immune function in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women. A 2 x 2 factorial research design was used and 40 subjects were supplemented with 0.394 g lactose, 200 microg Cr, 3.0 mg Cu, or 200 microg Cr and 3.0 mg Cu/d for 12 weeks. A significant interactive effect of Cr and Cu supplementation on lymphocyte proliferation was observed with ConA 50 microg/ml stimulation. After 12 weeks of supplementation, ConA-stimulated (50 microg/ml) lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower when Cu was added to the Cr supplementation group. Moreover, ConA-stimulated (100 microg/ml) lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower in the Cu supplementation group compared to the Cr supplementation group after 12 weeks of supplementation. These results suggest that Cu blocks enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation by Cr supplementation and that Cu supplementation has potential suppressive effects on the immune function in these subjects.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and anthropometric measures related to growth in male adolescents.

Sixty-four white boys between 10.6 and 14.3 years old participated in an adolescent nutrition assessment study evaluating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) as a measure of maturation. DHEAS, an adrenal androgen, is low in childhood and rises with the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Biochemical measures included plasma DHEAS assessed by radioimmunoassay, cholesterol assessed by an enzymatic method, and hemoglobin assessed by the cyanmethemoglobin method. Midarm muscle area (MAMA) was calculated from midarm circumference and triceps fatfold measurements. DHEAS was correlated significantly with height, weight, MAMA, and hemoglobin. By age, significant differences were found for height, weight, and MAMA, but not for any of the biochemical measures. For boys with DHEAS concentration less than 3 mumol/L, values for height, weight, body mass index, MAMA, and hemoglobin were significantly different from those for boys with higher DHEAS concentrations. No significant differences were found for age or nutrient intakes by DHEAS concentration groups. Mean plasma cholesterol concentrations decreased with increases in age and with maturation evidenced by higher DHEAS concentration. Cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with height and MAMA. Mean nutrient intakes estimated by a quantitative food frequency questionnaire met or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowances for these age groups. DHEAS identified maturation differences in male adolescents.