ArticleScientific reports2025
Inverted U-shape association between urine equol levels and cancer: a national population-based cross-sectional study.
Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Urinary phytoestrogen metabolites are associated with a reduced risk of hyperuricemia.Clinical rheumatology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Equol, a naturally occurring phytoestrogen derived from the fermentation of soy and soy-based products by gut bacteria, is recognized for its diverse health benefits. While there is speculation about its association with cancer prevention, the scientific community has yet to reach a consensus due to the variability in research findings. Our study aims to shed light on this topic by examining the correlation between urine equol concentrations and the cancer risk among the American population. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a national survey of U.S. civilians in which cancer participants are enrolled in a database by a sample questionnaire. This study included 2797 Americans aged 40 years and older in the NHANES database (2005-2010). The relationship between urine equol concentration and cancer was analysed using weighted logistic regression models, stratified analysis, smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were also performed. Among the 2797 participants in our study, 390 individuals received a cancer diagnosis. Our findings indicate a positive correlation between urine equol levels and the risk of cancer. Notably, individuals in the highest quartile of equol excretion exhibited a significantly elevated risk of cancer, with a 25.4% increase compared to those in the lowest quartile (POR = 1.254, 95% CI: 1.252, 1.256), after fully adjusting for confounders. Similar results were observed in other adjusted models. A non-linear relationship in the shape of an inverted U-shape can be observed by smoothed curve fitting, and the inflection point is 25.5. Urinary equol concentrations below 25.5 ng/ml were positively associated with cancer risk, while equol concentrations above 25.5 ng/ml showed a slight negative trend in cancer risk. However, further prospective studies are needed to provide more robust evidence and confirmed in large clinical trials.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.