s-equol

S-equol is an orally bioavailable, non-steroidal estrogen and a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein produced by certain intestinal bacteria in humans[1][4][5]. It shares structural similarities with estradiol and acts as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), binding preferentially to estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) with much lower affinity for ERα[4]. S-equol exhibits potential chemoprotective effects and has been investigated for alleviating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal irritation, sleep disturbances, and bone loss. Clinical studies suggest additional benefits on cardiovascular health (e.g., lowering LDL cholesterol and arterial stiffness), skin aging reduction, and possible protective effects against osteoporosis[5][6][8]. Only about 25–50% of people naturally produce S-equol after consuming soy due to differences in gut microbiota. As a supplement or investigational agent, it is considered safe based on available data from clinical trials[4][7].

Brand names

Equelle

Other names

equolS-(-)-equol(S)-equol