Methods of cholesterol reduction using isoflavones

Abstract

This invention relates to natural products containing phyto-oestrogens, or phyto-oestrogen analogues, which have various beneficial physiological effects in man, and which have a variety of uses, such as to promote good health and as a dietary additive, for example. The invention describes a method of improving the health of a human by administering to the human a health supplementing amount of a phyto-oestrogen selected from genistein, daidzein formononentin and/or biochanin A. A health supplement comprising a health supplementary amount of a phyto-oestrogen selected from genisten daidzein formononentin and/or biochanin A, is also described. Preferably, the supplement also comprises at least one dietary suitable excipient, diluent, carrier or food, and may be in the form of a tablet or capsule, for example. Ideally, the phyto-oestrogen is extracted from red clover or from soya, although any source rich in isoflavones may also be used. The supplement can be used to prevent or ameliorate such conditions as breast cancer, benign breast disease, pre-menstrual syndrome, or symptoms associated with menopause in women, or various types of cancer, and especially for high blood cholesterol levels in all humans, for instance.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating or reducing elevated blood cholesterol, said method comprising administering to a subject having or predisposed to elevated blood cholesterol a therapeutically effective amount of a health supplement composition comprising an aqueous organic extract from  Trifolium  clover, wherein the composition is administered in an amount of from about 20 mg to 200 mg per day. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said extract is from red clover  T. pratense.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said extract is from subterranean clover  T. subterraneum.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said composition consists essentially of a) genistein and b) daidzein component, wherein component a) optionally contains biochanin A, and component b) optionally contains formononetin, and the ratio of a):b) is about 1:2 to 2:1. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the composition is administered in an amount of from about 20 mg to 200 mg per day. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , whereby the composition is administered at least daily, over a period of at least a month. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the extract comprises any two or more phytoestrogens of the group Genistein, Daidzein, Biochanin A, Formononetin or the natural glycosides of any of said phyto-estrogens.