July 2011 FMU part 3 featuring Edwin Lephart

We just had a recent paper come out on specifically soy diets and then also supplementing with equal in relationship to depression in animal models. And so we examined the rat model that uses the Poor Salt 4 Swim Test as an indicator index of depression. And we found that when we supplemented animals that have naturally gone through ovarian failure in rats, that takes place about 300 days of age. And then if we supplement equal on animals that are consuming a soy free diet, we could actually enhance serotonin levels and improve the performance in this poor salt for swim test that's indicator of depression in this animal model. And so again, the concept was equal is binding estrogen receptor beta. That's very important in different brain sites for depression. But due to its polyphenolic biochemistry and ability to bind estrogen receptor beta, it also improves possibly the transport and the synthesis of serotonin, which is a very important neurotransmitter associated with depression. And so, at least in this animal model, for this particular hormonal status of natural ovarian failure, it seems to be a very promising application for brain health.