Methods of treating clinical diseases with isoflavones

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing certain medical conditions with isoflavones. More specifically, the invention provides a method of treating or preventing one or more of the following medical conditions: hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, syndrome X, abnormal platelet function, or abnormal vascular reactivity, with compositions containing isoflavones.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating or reducing the predisposition to a condition selected from the group consisting of hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, syndrome X, abnormal platelet function, or abnormal vascular reactivity, said method comprising administering to a subject having said condition or predisposed to said condition a therapeutically effective amount of at least one isoflavonoid.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoflavonoid is derived from soy bean.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoflavonoid is contained in an isoflavone-enriched fraction of soy protein.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoflavonoid is at least one of genistein, genistin, 6″-0-malonylgenistin, 6″-0-acetylgenistin; daidzein, daidzin, 6″-0-malonyldaidzin, 6″-0-acetylgenistin; glycitein, glycitin, 6″-0-malonylglycitin, 6″-0-acetylglycitin, Biochanin A, or formononetin containing compounds.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoflavonoid is administered in combination with soy protein.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said soy protein is soy protein isolate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said soy protein is soy protein concentrate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said isoflavone-enriched fraction is administered in combination with soy protein.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said soy protein is soy protein isolate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said soy protein is soy protein concentrate.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said isoflavonoid is administered in combination with at least one dietary ingredient or supplement other than soy protein.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said isoflavone-enriched fraction is administered in combination with at least one dietary ingredient or supplement other than soy protein.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said isoflavone-enriched fraction comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a saponin, a lecithin, a phenolic acid, a trypsin inhibitor, a phytosterol, a peptide, and an oligosaccharide.  
     
     
         14 . A method for treating or reducing the predisposition to a condition selected from the group consisting of hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, syndrome X, abnormal platelet function, or abnormal vascular reactivity, said method comprising administering to a subject having said condition or predisposed to said condition a therapeutically effective amount of at least one isoflavone-enriched fraction component selected from the group consisting of a saponin, a lecithin, a phenolic acid, a trypsin inhibitor, a phytosterol, a peptide, and an oligosaccharide.