Relationship between lifestyle, body mass index, and dietary factors with the equol production

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed to find the relationship between lifestyle factor (smoking and physical activity), body mass index, and dietary component with equol-producing phenotype. Our work can be useful as basic data to modify lifestyle and nutrition to improve the metabolism of equol production, which is needed for women’s health. Materials and methods: Data were collected using interview and semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Equol was measured in urine and was collected after a 3-day soy challenge to determine equol-producing phenotypes. Results: Correlation analysis among lifestyle factors and dietary component with equol-production phenotpe was performed. Data show that equol producers accounted in 60.7% of the participants. Smoking was significantly correlated to equol-producing phenotype (p = 0.030; r = 0.224). Carbohydrate and dietary fiber were positively correlated with equol-producing phenotypes (p = 0.011; r = 0.202) and (p = 0.004; r = 0.218). No significant correlation observed between physical activity, BMI, dietary protein, and fat intake with equol-producing phenotypes (p = 0.677; r = 0.035), although we observed a lower dietary fat intake in equol producer compared to nonequol producer. Conclusion: These findings suggest that smoking habit, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber significantly influence equol-producing phenotypes. Clinical significance: Our study may be useful as basic data to modify lifestyle and nutrition to improve the metabolism of equol production, which is needed for women’s health.