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European Journal of Nutrition

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01-03-2020 | Type 2 Diabetes | Original Contribution

Urinary equol, but not daidzein and genistein, was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults

Authors: Hong-Li Dong, Xin-Yi Tang, Yun-Yang Deng, Qing-Wei Zhong, Cheng Wang, Zhe-Qing Zhang, Yu-Ming Chen

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 2/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Many studies have examined the association of isoflavone intake with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and produced inconsistent results. Few studies, however, explored the association using objective biomarkers (particular for daidzein metabolite-equol) of isoflavones. We aimed to explore the association of urinary equol, daidzein and genistein concentrations with T2D and examine the mediating roles of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4).

Methods

This prospective study included 2818 subjects. Urinary concentrations of equol, daidzein and genistein were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The associations between urinary isoflavones and T2D incidence were evaluated by cox proportional hazards model.

Results

After adjustment for covariates, urinary equol except daidzein and genistein was inversely associated with T2D incidence. In comparison with the first tertile, multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for T2D incidence in the second and third tertile of equol concentration were 0.52 (0.37, 0.73) and 0.72 (0.53, 0.97), respectively. In stratified analyses by sex, the HR (95% CI) of men in the second vs. first tertile of equol was 0.29 (0.14, 0.58). Equivalent estimation in women was 0.67 (0.45, 1.01). Neither women nor men in the third tertile showed significant difference of T2D incidence compared with the first tertile. In path analyses, there was no evidence of mediating effects of hsCRP and RBP4 on the “equol-T2D” relationship.

Conclusions

Urinary equol was favorably associated with a decreased T2D incidence in Chinese adults. The equol–T2D relationship might not be mediated by hsCRP and RBP4.

Trial registration

This study has been registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03179657.

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Title: Urinary equol, but not daidzein and genistein, was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults
Authors: Hong-Li Dong
Xin-Yi Tang
Yun-Yang Deng
Qing-Wei Zhong
Cheng Wang
Zhe-Qing Zhang
Yu-Ming Chen
Publication date: 01-03-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Type 2 Diabetes
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 2/2020
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01939-0

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