Dietary Supplementation With Soy Isoflavones in Asthma

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2007-04-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

An epidemiologic study of patients with asthma has shown that increased intake of soy isoflavones correlates with less severe asthma. In experimental animals, treatment with the soy isoflavone genistein reduces airways inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. In vitro studies performed by us have shows that genistein reduces release of inflammatory compounds by human blood eosinophils. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether dietary supplementation with soy isoflavones has effects in patients with asthma. 20 patients with asthma will supplement their diet with a soy isoflavone capsule for 4 weeks. Before and after the supplementation period, we will measure lung function, exhaled nitric oxide (a marker for airway inflammation), collect exhaled breath condensate to measure levels of inflammatory mediators in the airways, and isolate peripheral blood eosinophils to assess the impact of soy isoflavones on their function. We hypothesize that dietary supplementation with soy isoflavones will reduce exhaled nitric oxide level, reduce the inflammatory mediators in the exhaled breath condensate, and reduce the ability of eosinophils to release inflammatory molecules. Identifying if these hypothesized effects of soy isoflavones exist in asthma will provide a justification for further clinical studies.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-50, males and females

• Physician diagnosis of asthma; requires daily asthma medication

• Moderate persistent disease (NAEPP guidelines)

• FEV1 65 to 90% of predicted

• At least 12% increase in FEV1 15-30 minutes after inhaling 2-4 puffs of albuterol or positive methacholine challenge (20% fall in FEV1 at less than 8 mg/ml) - either of these can available from the previous 2 years

• Generally good health

Exclusion Criteria:

• Oral corticosteroid use within the past 3 months

• Use of high dose inhaled corticosteroids (greater than 500 mcg of fluticasone per day or greater)

• Current or former smoker (quit less than 6 months prior to study enrollment or greater than 10 pack years)

• Recent asthma exacerbation (within 6 weeks)

• Current consumption of soy isoflavone supplements

• Known adverse reaction to genistein, other phytoestrogens, or soy products

• Pregnant

• Unintentional weight loss of more than 10 pounds within the year

• Major or unstable medical condition

• Use of an investigational drug in the previous 30 days