Dietary Genistein Induces Sex-Dependent Effects on Murine Body Weight, Serum Profiles, and Vascular Function of Thoracic Aortae

Abstract Background The influence on, or interaction of, sex and dietary genistein on serum markers of cardiovascular health and cardiovascular function remain unclear. Objectives Our purpose was to examine the effects of a genistein-containing diet (600 mg/kg food) (600G) and a genistein-free diet (0G), on cardiovascular risk parameters of male and female mice. Methods C57BL/6J mice were fed the diets for 1 month, after which time blood pressure, serum markers, and in vitro vascular reactivity was measured. Results Males fed the 600G diet gained significantly less weight than males fed the 0G diet (by 1.71 g); diet had no effect on female weight gain. Males fed the 600G diet also exhibited significantly elevated serum insulin (2.9 [0.5] vs 1.8 [0.4] ng/dL), and decreased serum glucose (0.15 [0.01] vs 0.24 [0.02] ng/dL) levels, resulting in a significant increase in the ratio of insulin to glucose; insulin and glucose levels were not changed by dietary genistein in females. Arterial pressure measurements from 0G-fed males were lower than other groups. However, basal vascular reactivity of isolated aortic rings was significantly increased by the 600G diet in both males (from 0.55 [0.03] to 0.94 [0.18] g) and females (from 0.45 [0.04] to 0.78 [0.09] g). Aortic wall thickness was not affected by diet. Norepinephrine-mediated contractility was also greater in aortic rings of male and female mice fed the 600G diet, and differences from the 0G diet persisted in the presence of L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester but were completely accounted for by increased basal reactivity. Conclusion Our data indicate that 1 month of a 600G or 0G diet significantly alters vascular function independent of sex. In contrast, sex-dependent differences exist in well-established serum markers of cardiovascular health and disease.