A new preparation process of isoflavanoid formulations was recently patented by the US Patent & Trade Office.

The preparation consists of first providing a mixture containing an isoflavanoid and a solvent; then removing a sugar portion from the isoflavanoid to produce an isoflavanoid aglycone; then concentrating the aglycone to at least 10 wt per cent in the mixture; and finally coupling the aglycone with an amphiphilic carrier to produce micelles having an average diameter of less than about 1000 nm.

This finding provides formulations of nutritional supplements that contain an isoflavanoid aglycone coupled with an amphiphilic carrier, and methods of producing the same.

The formulations are manufactured from an extract of a natural isoflavanoid source, preferably soybean or red clover. The isoflavanoids employed are preferably genistein or a genistein derivative, and have phyto-oestrogen activity.

"Estrogens and phytoestrogens have overlapping, but not coextensive, effects on different tissues in the body," the patent states. "Estrogens are reported to have a pronounced effect on both oestrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) predominantly expressed in breast and uterine tissue, and on oestrogen receptor beta (ER beta), which is predominantly expressed in endothelial cells of blood vessels, and osteoclasts and osteoblasts of bone. In contrast, phyto-oestrogens have only a relatively small effect on ER alpha, but a relatively great effect on ER beta."

In view of these findings, long-term nutritional supplementation with isoflavanoids, and in particular with phyto-oestrogens, has great potential. Moreover, while such supplementation has an especially important effect in women, the fact that ER beta is also present in male endothelial cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts, leads to the conclusion that such compounds can also be useful in protecting men as well against arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis.

Source: US Patent & Trade Office