HORMONAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF SOY ON MALE AND FEMALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether consumption of soybeans are harmful or useful on reproductive hormones; bone health; serum insulin, glucose; pituitary thyroid axis; pituitary adrenal axis and lipid profile. Male and female Wister albino rats 120 gm average body weight were used in the present study. Each sex was randomly divided into 4 groups (n= 12 per group). Control group fed on the basal diet (AIN93 G) and three treated groups given 30; 60 and 90 gm cooked soybeans/70 kg human body weight (b.w.) for three months. Each rat was given its meal of soybean individually then was left on AIN93 G and water adlibitum. At the end of the experimental period the results showed that compared to the control group soybean significantly decreased free estradiol hormone (E2); progesterone hormone; follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); luteinizing hormone (LH); ovary weight and significantly increased total E2; sex hormone binding proteins (SHBP) and uterus weight in female rats. Also in male rats soybean significantly decreased free testosterone hormone; LH and FSH meanwhile total testosterone hormone, SHBP and testes weights were significantly increased.