Tuesday Aug 19, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- According to a recent report in Biochemistry,  soy isoflavones such as genistein may help protect against a wide range of viruses in humans including both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses and both single-stranded and doubles-stranded RNA and DNA viruses.

At 3.7 to 370 muM, flavonoids including genistein, have been known to reduce the infectivity of many viruses infecting humans and animals, including adenovirus,  human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, porcine reproductive virus, porcine respiratory syndrome virus, and rotavirus. 

How soy flavones protect against viruses is not completely understood.  It is believed that isoflavones can affect viral binding, entry, replication, viral protein translation and formation of certain glycoprotein complexes found in certain virus envelopes.  Isoflavones can also affect host cell signaling processes.

Future research is needed to confirm that soy isoflavones can provide the same antiviral effects against a range of viruses.  (david Liu,PHD)

Andres A, Donovan SM, Kuhlenschmidt MS.  Soy isoflavones and virus infections.  J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Aug;20(8):563-9.