TITLE:
Review: Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Aging Properties of Equol in Prostate Health (BPH)
AUTHORS:
Edwin D. Lephart
KEYWORDS:
Androgens; Estrogens; Isoflavonoid; Equol; BPH; SERM; Selective Androgen Modulator (SAM)
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
24,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH) is the pathological cellular progression of glandular proliferation
associated with aging. The primary changes in prostate disorders are mediated
by the conversion of the principle androgen, testosterone, to its more potent
metabolite, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT). However, recent evidence
suggests that estrogen hormonal actions via estrogen receptor subtypes also
play an important role in BPH. Current pharmaceutical options for BPH have
advantages, limitations and adverse effects. Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM) treatments for BPH include botanicals such as polyphenols and
isoflavones. Equol is a polyphenolic/isoflavonoid molecule derived from
intestinal metabolism, dairy and dietary plant sources. Equol has potent
anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties to decrease prostatic irritation and
potentially neoplastic growth. It has the unique characteristic to bind
specifically 5α-DHT by sequestering 5α-DHT from the androgen receptor (AR),
thus decreasing androgen hormone actions to improve prostate health by acting
as a selective androgen modulator (SAM). It also has affinity for estrogen
related receptor gamma (ERR-γ) and
estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) within
the prostate that is known to improve male health via selective estrogen
receptor modulatory (SERM) activities to decrease inflammation, cellular
proliferation and carcinogenesis. The possible clinical efficacy of equol on
the symptoms associated with BPH is presented and the reviewed findings suggest
that equol may provide a well-tolerated and rapid beneficial therapy for BPH
that can be used alone or in combination with current pharmaceutical therapies.
The beneficial clinical efficacy of equol observed may be due to the multiple
positive biological actions that are not present in current pharmaceutical
treatments.