Review

Equol: Generation, Biological Functions and Its Application

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  • State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China Ministry of Agriculture, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China

Received date: 2014-05-13

  Online published: 2014-11-17

Abstract

Equol is one of metabolites of soy isoflavones in the animal's intestines under the action of microbial flora. It is reported that equol has higher biological activity than soy isoflavones. Expect for its hormone-like effect, equol also has antioxidative, immune regulatory and healthcare functions. Some studies showed that equol could improve meat quality and ease the effects of oxidative stress. This review mainly summarized latest development in the following aspects: its physical and chemical properties, production and metabolism, its generate influencing factors, biological functions and potential application, aiming at providing scientific basement for its application in livestock and poultry.

Cite this article

LI Yan, JIANG Shouqun, CHEN Wei . Equol: Generation, Biological Functions and Its Application[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2014 , 26(11) : 3236 -3244 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2014.11.008

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