Cardiovascular protective effects of synthetic isoflavone derivatives in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Abstract

Dietary flavonoids are thought to protect against cardiovascular disease. We have studied the effects of bioactive isoflavone metabolites on hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction and the development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE0) mice fed a Western high-fat diet. Supplementation with dihydrodaidzein (DiD), dehydroequol (DeE) (both 25 mg kg-1·day-1) and their combination (D/ D; 12.5 mg kg-1·day-1 for each) for 24 weeks reduced plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol. D/D also reduced the triglyceride level. In the abdominal aorta of apoE0 mice, these compounds significantly increased endothelial nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasorelaxatio..