Each capsule contains: 300 mg of ipriflavone   Recommended Dosage: 2 capsules per day in the morning.   Ipriflavone is chemically 7-isopropoxyisoflavone and is derived from soya. It occurs naturally in propolis. It has anabolic activity, which can help build up muscle and bone tissue, but hardly any hormonal activity. The structure of isoflavones is quite similar to that of estrogen, yet they have 0.001 the hormonal activity of estrogen. Ipriflavone is absorbed in the small intestine and metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine in less than 10 hours. It was first registered in Japan as a drug in 1988.   Caution: Although no side-effects have been demonstrated, ipriflavone may temporarily slow down liver detoxification, which may result in higher serum levels of some prescription drugs, such as theophylline (used for treating asthma). Osteoporosis Some 60 studies have been conducted on the protective effect of ipriflavone on osteoporosis. Ipriflavone has been shown to increase bone density. Studies on cells and bone cultures have demonstrated that ipriflavone has inhibitory action on osteoclastic activity (osteoclasts are the cells that break bone down) and decreases bone resorption (or breakdown). Further, ipriflavone increases both peripheral and vertebral bone mass in post-menopausal women. In one study, 600 mg per day of ipriflavone increased bone density by 2% and 5.8% after 6 and 12 months. The average increase in bone density after 6 months of use is 1.4 to 2% and after 12 months, 5.8%.  In two studies conducted in the early 1990’s, there was a significant reduction in vertebral fractures after 2 years of treatment in osteoporosis patients.  Further, ipriflavone has been shown to decrease pain caused by osteoporosis by on average 45% at six months and 62% at twelve months.   Compared to calcitonin, ipriflavone was better able to inhibit osteoclasts and bone resorption and stimulate the formation of osteoblasts.   Ipriflavone has the advantage of not having the negative side-effects produced by estrogens, which are used in preventing osteoporosis.   In Paget’s disease, which causes excessive bone loss, ipriflavone was able to decrease bone loss and pain. Whilst the use of progesterone cream in women may help prevent osteoporosis, it is not effective for men. Muscle Weight Increase Ipriflavone increases muscle weight by 7 to 20%. Some body builders have used 1000 – 1500 mg per day, but this is not recommended. Increase in Endurance Rats given 3g of ipriflavone per 100 g of load increased their swimming endurance by 39% compared to controls, which had an average increase of 18%. Cholesterol Ipriflavone decreases total cholesterol blood levels – in particular LDL cholesterol. However, it causes an increase in HDL cholesterol.   References Y. Kakai et al, Effects of Ipriflavone and Estrogen on the Differentiation and Proliferation of Osteoclast Cells, Calcified Tissue International, 1992, Springer-Verlag, NY K. Notoya et al, Inhibitory Effect of Ipriflavone on Pit Formation in Mouse Unfractionated Bone Cells, Calcified Tissue International, 1992, Springer-Verlag, NY M. Valente et al, Effects of 1-Year Treatment with Ipriflavone on Bone in Postmenopausal Women with Low Bone Mass, Calcified Tissue International, 1994, Springer-Verlag, NY M. Petilli et al, Interactions between Ipriflavone and Estrogen Receptors, Calcified Bone International, 1995, Springer-Verlag, NY A. L. Almada, Ipriflavone: The New Bone Builder, Nutrition Science News, Apr. 1998(3), No.4 (198-200) E. Bonnucci, et al, Cytological and Ultrastructural Investigation on Osteoblast and Preosteoblast Cells grown in the Presence of Ipriflavone, Bone and Mineral, 19 (Suppl.), 1992