Regulation of soy isoflavones on weight gain and fat percentage: evaluation in a Chinese Guangxi minipig model

This study was conducted to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on changes in body and tissue weight and on insulin-like factor I (IGF-I) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) gene and protein expression in muscle and adipose tissues in Chinese Guangxi minipig, as a model for studying human nutrition. A total of 72 male Chinese Guangxi minipigs were fed basal diet (control, Con), low dose of soy isoflavones and high dose of soy isoflavones (HSI). The results showed that HSI increased the body weight (BW) gain and fat percentage of minipigs (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum concentrations of IGF-I and interleukin-6 were increased by high levels of soy isoflavones (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a diet containing soy isoflavones enhanced IGF-I mRNA expression levels in longissimus muscle, but decreased these levels in perirenal fat. However, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue were both increased when compared with the Con. The data indicated that soy isoflavones regulated the BW gain and fat percentage of Chinese Guangxi minipigs, which also showed changes in IGF-I system and PPARγ. However, further research is required to clarify the causative relationship.