Influence of equol production capacity on female lower urinary tract symptoms

We aimed to investigate the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms in females and their equol production capacity.

In this cross-sectional study, the production capacity of equol in Japanese women (aged 20-75 years), with (group L, n = 95) and without (group C, n = 122) lower urinary tract symptoms, was examined. Equol production was determined by measuring the concentration of urinary equol by immunochromatography. Equol production was defined as a urinary equol concentration of 1.0 μM or more. The presence of lower urinary tract symptoms was determined using three questionnaires that evaluated lower urinary tract symptoms.

The proportions of equol production in groups L and C were 28.4% and 52.5%, respectively (p = 0.0004). Multivariate analysis (logistic regression analysis) showed that the inability to produce equol was a significant risk factor for lower urinary tract symptoms (odds ratio, 2.21; p = 0.0144).

This study revealed that equol production capacity may be associated with lower urinary tract symptoms. Further research, including interventional studies, is required for verification. Additionally, because lower urinary tract symptoms include a variety of symptoms, the association between each symptom and equol production capacity needs to be investigated.