Question about Equol Producers

Are there any studeis that examine the capabilites of different ethnicities capabilites of producing equol? From what researchers tell us, only 30% of the population are equol producers. So, does that mean that 30% of humans CAN produce equol or that 30% DO produce equol? I would lean towards the latter.
All of the world’s equol producing population is found in far eastern countries with heavy soy based diets. However, when people of these same ethnicities move to the west, subsequently adopting a western diet, which lessens their soy intake, they also become susceptible to MPB. So wouldn't it make sense that equol production would work in an opposite fashion as well? For example, if I as a 30 year old Caucasian male, who has been raised on a western diet, suddenly adopted a pure Asian diet of soy, seaweed, fish and vegetables, I wouldn’t be surprised if I too produced equol a few years down the road. I doubt there are too many studies on a topic of this nature, but if young men in their late teens or early twenties who have a family history of MPB suddenly adopted and then adamantly adhered to a soy heavy Asian diet, I would bet they can induce their bodies into equol production by their late 20’s/early 30’s possibly warding off hair loss. I would be curious to see any research out there about the conversion capabilities of non-producers to producers.

big mike - With regards to equol production there is a study that confirms that a non producer can eventually produce equol with a constant soy intake over time. The study used soy isoflavones and converted 2 of the 10 non producers into producers with a steady intake of soy. If I can find the study I shall post it.

Here is the study

http://www.nature.com/pcan/journal/v12/n3/pdf/pcan200910a.pdf

I was reading the MPB Research website on the "Soy Isoflavone Supplements Lower DHT and Stimulate Equol Production" section. There is very little information, but there was something about Sea Vegetables along with isoflavones helped equol non producers become equol producers. I just don't know which sea vegetables he's talking about.

There was some information about having a steady diet of meat as well as isoflavone is supposed help with equol.

http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateEquol7-09.html
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/135/6/1400

Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2009;12(3):247-52.
Isoflavone supplements stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum dihydrotestosterone levels in healthy male volunteers.

Tanaka M, Fujimoto K, Chihara Y, Torimoto K, Yoneda T, Tanaka N, Hirayama A, Miyanaga N, Akaza H, Hirao Y.

Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan. masa-t@naramed-u.ac.jp

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing healthy men with soy isoflavones on the serum levels of sex hormones implicated in prostate cancer development. A total of 28 Japanese healthy volunteers (18 equol producers and 10 equol non-producers) between 30 and 59 years of age were given soy isoflavones (60 mg daily) supplements for 3 months, and the changes in their sex hormone levels were investigated at the baseline and after administration. The serum and urine concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and the levels of equol in the fasting blood samples and 24-h stored urine samples were also measured. All 28 volunteers completed the 3-month supplementation with isoflavone. No changes in the serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone were detected after 3-month supplementation. The serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin significantly increased, and the serum levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreased significantly after 3-month supplementation. Among the 10 equol non-producers, equol became detectable in the serum of two healthy volunteers after 3-month supplementation. This study revealed that short-term administration of soy isoflavones stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum DHT level in Japanese healthy volunteers. These results suggest the possibility of converting equol non-producers to producers by prolonged and consistent soy isoflavones consumption.

Hey CS.

wonder if this would be worth a try..The page seems to be acting funky though


http://www.bearbiotech.com/about/overview/

Swimmy-

Which probiotic do they use? Is the Lactobacillus paracasei that was used in the study for dandruff?

Not sure..The site is a mess. Half the links aren't working..

CausticSymmetry wrote:Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2009;12(3):247-52.
Isoflavone supplements stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum dihydrotestosterone levels in healthy male volunteers.

Tanaka M, Fujimoto K, Chihara Y, Torimoto K, Yoneda T, Tanaka N, Hirayama A, Miyanaga N, Akaza H, Hirao Y.

Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan. masa-t@naramed-u.ac.jp

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing healthy men with soy isoflavones on the serum levels of sex hormones implicated in prostate cancer development. A total of 28 Japanese healthy volunteers (18 equol producers and 10 equol non-producers) between 30 and 59 years of age were given soy isoflavones (60 mg daily) supplements for 3 months, and the changes in their sex hormone levels were investigated at the baseline and after administration. The serum and urine concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and the levels of equol in the fasting blood samples and 24-h stored urine samples were also measured. All 28 volunteers completed the 3-month supplementation with isoflavone. No changes in the serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone were detected after 3-month supplementation. The serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin significantly increased, and the serum levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreased significantly after 3-month supplementation. Among the 10 equol non-producers, equol became detectable in the serum of two healthy volunteers after 3-month supplementation. This study revealed that short-term administration of soy isoflavones stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum DHT level in Japanese healthy volunteers. These results suggest the possibility of converting equol non-producers to producers by prolonged and consistent soy isoflavones consumption.

Why is this not a top priority in most people's regiment? A natural way of possibly inducing your body to create equol and fight hair loss....am I missing something??

I've been taking this Greens+ Wild Berry Burst for a few months now, and it seems to have all the big hitters. Including Soy Isoflavone and the B vitamin complex.

Kind of expensive at ~$30/bottle = 1 months supply but I just toss it in my protein shakes post gym.

http://greensplus.com/product_info.php/products_id/130

Proprietary Superfood and Herbal Blend
Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica 1,356mg *
Organic High Pectin Apple Fiber 1,350mg *
GMO-Free Soy Lecithin [26% phosphatidylcholine] 1,139mg *
Organic Barley Grass Powder 650mg *
Organic Wheat Grass Powder 350mg *
Japanese Chlorella 350mg *
Organic Soy Sprouts 350mg *
Brown Rice Bran 350mg *
Sprouted Barley Malt 350mg *
Alfalfa Grass Powder 300mg *
Royal Jelly Powder 150mg *
Montana Bee Pollen 150mg *
Natural Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol-succinate) 118iu †
Licorice Root Powder 60mg *
Organic Red Beet Juice Powder 50mg *
Dunaliella Salina Algae 40mg *
Organic Nova Scotia Dulse (Palmeria plamata) 20mg *
Dairy-Free Probiotic Cultures[2.5 billion] 200mg *
L. Acidophilus, L. Casei, L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus,
B. Breve and B. Longum with Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Standardized Herbal Extracts Per Serving
Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum marianium) 60mg *
Echinacea Root (Echinacea angustifolia) 60mg *
Siberian Eleuthero Root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) 60mg *
Astragalus Root (Astragalus membranaceus) 60mg *
Organic Japanese Green Tea Leaf (Camellia sinesis) 20mg *
Organic Ginkgo Biloba Leaf 20mg *
High-ORAC‡ Antioxidant Fruit Extracts Per Serving
Organic Acerola Berry (Malpighia glabra)
[17% Natural Vitamin C] 115mg *
Wild Berries (Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Acai, Goji) 50mg *
Full Spectrum Grape Skin and Seed (Vitis vinifera) 20mg *
Organic European Bilberry (Vaccinum myrtillus) 10mg *
Pomegranate Fruit (Punica granatum) 10mg *

I've been researching equol pretty heavily since 2004, and based on the research that Densiti product seems interesting. Green tea consumption is correlated with higher probability of equol production. So far there have been a few strains of bacteria identified that can metabolize soy isoflavones into equol, however so far they have not been commercially available.

I wonder what strains of bacteria this product contains.

http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/75/10/3062

This is a good read on equol, showing that they are finding the bacterium that metabolizes isoflavones into equol. So who knows maybe these people at Densiti have found the right bacterium that can help people make equol. I believe it is because of soy that people who live in asian countries with a high soy intake will not develop mpb like people who live in the west. I drink 2-3 glasses of soy milk a day, not the biggest tofu or soy bean fan. Hopefully with time I can metabolize equol which I think is a key player in a lot of different health conditions including mpb.

I'm probably gonna give this product a go at the end of the month. If I can figure out how to buy it!

CausticSymmetry wrote:I've been researching equol pretty heavily since 2004, and based on the research that Densiti product seems interesting. Green tea consumption is correlated with higher probability of equol production. So far there have been a few strains of bacteria identified that can metabolize soy isoflavones into equol, however so far they have not been commercially available.

I wonder what strains of bacteria this product contains.

IH- From your sayings I understand you believe that supplementing w soy isoflavones would probably be useless as the body can not properly utilize them ,unless the right bacteria strains are present .Though the study you posted above suggests the opposite.
Have you tried supplementing w soy isoflavones long term? Nothing worth mentioning?

edony - I agree that if one supplements with soy long enough, they will probably become an equol producer. One study I looked at suggested it would take a little over 2 years for most non-producers to become equol producers. The amount of isoflavones to take is at least 30 milligrams of diadzein per day.

I've pretty much lost interest in trying to become an equol producer because hair loss has already been beat, now it's just a matter of robust hair growth, which has little to do with DHT.

However, it helps to take green tea. The only soy products I would feel comfortable consuming would be fermented soy, although that's another topic. Also, was hoping that by now, we would have a commercially available equol supplement.

I saw one of them, however wasn't sure about it. TK (thelibrarian) has tried it can it did not seem to be that great.

CausticSymmetry wrote:
I've pretty much lost interest in trying to become an equol producer because hair loss has already been beat, now it's just a matter of robust hair growth, which has little to do with DHT.

Hey CausticSymmetry,

I think your one of only a few in this world that could accomplish this but If you ever have an opportunity I really believe you should create a flow chart or an outline similiar to this in relation to hair loss

http://www.msgtruth.com/NEWUNIFIEDTHEORY.pdf

That way, it would preserve all your information and would be easier for people to follow what each area covers.

While I have a "very" basic idea, a flow chart or an outline would be awesome.

jdp710 - That's an outstanding idea. I've been a little bit behind on updating some important info.

Plus all the info you've provided on diet is fantastic and compressive. Perhaps a simplified chart similar to unified theory of autism, which includes diet, environmental factors and nutrition deficiencies would make it a nice and easy "snapshot" of hair loss causes.

specifically diadzein or 30mg total isoflavones?

The only product that seems to be appropriate is this one on iherb
http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Soy-Isoflavones-Plus-Genistein-120-Vcaps/13788?at=0

Any other suggestions?

I'm asking you cos unfortunately for me hairloss is a monster that can't be beat so I'm considering anything possible that can offer some help

I/m speaking about something much cheaper of course

edony - This will do the trick: Yes diadzein at 30mg.

http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Genistein-Soy-Complex-1000-mg-120-Tablets/1193?at=0

any possible side effects from isoflavones i.e. finasteride-like side effects ?

In order to get this right, IF I could get any results by soy, I shouldn't expect anything to happen for a long time,or perhaps I could notice anything positive in less than 2 years?

Thanks for the link! It says 34 mg diadzein in 2 capsules.Would 2 caps/daily suffice or one should get double the dose ,68mg diadzein daily?

edony - Let's hope it works. Just capsules per day. Side-effects, I'm not sure, because unfortunately, there's a bit of mixed results in the scientific literature. If you can find a fermented soy source, you maybe better off.

Maybe there's something else that is compromising your results.

Have you seen this thread?

https://immortalhair.forumotion.com/natural-hair-regrowth-forum-f1/a-question-for-all-do-you-have-any-dental-fillings-of-any-kind-t2423-60.htm

CausticSymmetry wrote:edony - Let's hope it works. Just capsules per day.

IH- you missed the nr. of capsules!LOL
You meant to write 2 capsules?

CausticSymmetry wrote:jdp710 - That's an outstanding idea. I've been a little bit behind on updating some important info.

Plus all the info you've provided on diet is fantastic and compressive. Perhaps a simplified chart similar to unified theory of autism, which includes diet, environmental factors and nutrition deficiencies would make it a nice and easy "snapshot" of hair loss causes.

That'd be awesome CausticSymmetry! I know it would help everyone here immensely as well as myself.

And as you've mentioned before and which I also agree with, "the hair loss puzzle has been solved." All the pieces of he puzzle have been found ... or at the least, enough pieces have been found where most everyone doesn't have to worry about losing hair anymore. The only problem now seems to be how to relay all this information to the common person so they can understand.

edony - You're right, sorry 2 capsules.

jdp710 - I started working on a chart, and will try adding a little each day until it's finished. I'm pretty sure I'll miss a lot of things, so with your input and everyone Else's I can try to make it simple and complete.