Genistein-induced changes in lipid metabolism of ovariectomized rats

The effect of the isoflavone, genistein, on the lipid metabolism of ovariectomized rats was studied. Three types of experiments were performed. In the first one, the rats were fed diets supplemented with 0.01 or 0.1% of genistein for 14 days. In the second and third experiments, the direct effect of genistein on the liver and fat tissue were measured respectively by means of liver perfusion or incubation of isolated adipocytes with the isoflavone. Genistein in food significantly decreased blood serum and muscle triglyceride concentrations and increased the level of free fatty acids in serum. Serum free cholesterol was diminished and liver cholesterol was enhanced after genistein ingestion. When genistein acted directly on the liver during perfusion, a smaller incorporation of 14C-glucose into lipids was observed, and in parallel a greater output of free fatty acids into the medium was noticed. These changes were accompanied by diminution of the liver triglyceride contents. Genistein, acting on the adipocytes strongly depressed both basal and insulin-induced lipid synthesis, when glucose was used as a substrate. The effect of the isoflavone alone on the lipolysis in the adipocytes was negligible. However, it intensified lipolysis induced by epinephrine. The results obtained let us conclude that genistein in food can reduce the fattening processes in ovariectomized rats. This effect of genistein may be attributed, at least in part, to its direct influence on lipid metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue.