What is osteopenia?
Osteopenia is a physiological precursor to osteoporosis, which occurs in healthy individuals. It is identified by a slight decalcification of the bones, which is defined by a low bone mineral density. Bone mineral density is measured by a so-called T-score. The WHO defines osteopenia as the precursor to osteoporosis (Kanis, 2007). In osteoporosis, which is a disease, the T-score is below -2.5, in contrast to osteopenia where the T-score is between -1 and -2.5. Osteopenia is defined as a deficiency condition in healthy people.
The main reason that women are three times more likely to develop osteopenia than men is that women’s oestrogen production decreases during and after menopause.
How can REGOROS, fermented red clover help preserve bone mass?
Red clover contains isoflavones. Isoflavones are plant substances that are structurally reminiscent of the female hormone oestrogen.
Isoflavones are also a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). This means that, like the female hormone, the plant substance prefers to bind to specific receptors. The oestrogen receptors are located in the tissue that requires oestrogen stimulation to function optimally. Oestrogen receptor alpha is mainly found in the tissue around the breasts and uterus, while oestrogen receptor beta primarily sits in the tissue around bones, kidneys, lungs, and intestines. However, while oestrogen prefers to bind to oestrogen receptor alpha, isoflavones bind up to 1,000 times more strongly to beta. Isoflavones can thus support the regulatory function that oestrogen would otherwise have in the body, but by binding elsewhere in the body.
Isoflavones are naturally bound to sugar molecules. However, in order to be absorbed into the body and pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, the sugar molecules have to be broken down. The isoflavones thus take on an aglycone form. Fermentation of isoflavones results in the release of the sugar molecules, leaving an isoflavone aglycone, which can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
The fermented version of the plant substances isoflavones (Biochanin A + Formononetin) can be used for dietary preservation of bone mass
Kanis JA on behalf of the World Health Organization Scientific Group. (2007): “Assessment of osteoporosis at the primary health-care level”. World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone DiseasesSources