Equol, omega-3s, and artery‑clogging heart disease risk
Official title: Integrative Model of Metabolomics, Equol and Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (IMMEA)
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11166322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether making equol (a soy metabolite), levels of marine omega‑3s, and other blood metabolites link to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $679,916 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169332-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—especially people of Japanese ancestry or those with measured soy and omega‑3 exposure—would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose heart disease is not caused by atherosclerosis or those outside the populations represented in the Japanese cohorts may not benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
They will analyze blood samples and health data from two large Japanese cohorts that include people with and without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The team will determine who is an "equol producer" (a person whose gut makes equol from soy) and measure omega‑3 and other metabolite levels. Using probabilistic graphical models, they will build integrated models to see how equol, omega‑3s, and metabolites relate to ASCVD alongside other risk factors. The goal is to find combinations of blood markers and exposures that help explain lower ASCVD rates seen in Japan.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify blood markers or dietary traits (like equol production and omega‑3 levels) that help personalize ASCVD prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Observational studies in Japan suggest soy-related compounds are cardioprotective while a U.S. randomized trial was negative, so related evidence is mixed and this approach is partly supported but still unresolved.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sekikawa, Akira — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Sekikawa, Akira
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.