Ipriflavone

Ipriflavone, or 7-isopropoxyisoflavone, is synthetically derived from the naturally occurring isoflavone. Isoflavones are flavonoid compounds found in soybeans (called daidzein) and other plants. Ipriflavones have the same effects as estrogen, the female hormone in the body.

Health Benefits

For some years, ipriflavone has been used by women in Japan to strengthen the bones. Ipriflavone is said to promote calcium intake and increase the rate at which calcium is incorporated into the bone. In addition, this synthetic flavonoid substance can also inhibit bone breakdown, making it excellent in combating the bone-thinning disease common in women, osteoporosis.

Ipriflavone and Osteoporosis

Clinical studies, including numerous double-blind trials, have examined how ipriflavone works to prevent osteoporosis. The results have clearly shown that long-term treatment with this synthetic flavonoid substance along with 1,000 mg supplemental calcium per day is both safe and effective in halting bone loss. The findings further stated that ipriflavone especially works against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women or women who have had their ovaries removed. It can improve bone density and bone mass.

 Another study has demonstrated the effects of ipriflavone in preventing bone loss. In this study, the scientists used 56 recently post-menopausal women with low bone density as their subject matter. The women were separated into groups and they were assigned to receive either ipriflavone (200 mg three times a day) or a placebo for two years. The results were consistent with other studies conducted previously.

The women who took bone calcium supplements experienced a vertebral (spine) bone density decline by 4.9% after two years. In contrast, the women who took ipriflavone supplementation experienced no change in their respective bone densities.

Additional studies were made to support the positive effects of ipriflavone against osteoporosis. One significant study was performed in elderly women with a history of vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. In this case, ipriflavone was found to have stopped bone loss, increased bone density, and eliminated or improved vertebral fractures and bone pain.

One notable study however failed to confirm the beneficial effect of ipriflavone. In that study, the group who took placebo experienced no more bone density loss than the group who took the synthetic flavonoid substance. Based on these results, the ones who conducted the study were able to conclude that ipriflavone is no more effective than placebo in preventing bone density loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

It should be noted however that this study used older women with average of 63.3 years and with relatively severe osteoporosis. Previous studies that resulted in positive effects of the synthetic flavonoid substance used younger subjects. This might be the reason why the study resulted in the negative. It is possible that ipriflavone only works in younger women or in those with less severe osteoporosis.

Buying Information

Ipriflavone occurs naturally in foods but only in trace amounts. You can find them mostly in soy where they are in flavonoid forms called daidzein. Mostly, this synthetic flavonoid is available as a nutritional supplement.

The recommended dosage for this synthetic flavonoid substance is around 200 mg taken three times a day. You can also take 300 mg twice daily instead. It has been reported that both these dosages are effective.