Vasiadi, Magdalini, Newman, Jennifer, Theoharides, Theoharis C · Journal of neuroinflammation · 2014 · DOI
This study tested whether isoflavones (plant compounds found in soy) could reduce inflammation and fatigue-like symptoms in mice exposed to immune triggers and stress. Mice given a high-isoflavone diet showed less activity loss and lower inflammation markers in their blood, brain, and skin compared to mice on regular diet. The findings suggest isoflavones might help reduce some ME/CFS symptoms by calming the body's immune response.
ME/CFS involves aberrant immune activation and mast cell dysfunction that current treatments do not adequately address. This study identifies a potential natural mechanism—isoflavone-mediated suppression of stress-induced mast cell activation and inflammatory cascades—that could inform new therapeutic strategies for reducing fatigue and associated symptoms like pain and skin hypersensitivity.
This animal study does not prove isoflavones will treat or cure ME/CFS in humans; acute poly(I:C) challenge in mice does not fully replicate the chronic, multisystem dysregulation of ME/CFS. Findings regarding mast cell activation are inferred from gene expression and serum markers rather than directly demonstrated, and the study does not establish causality between isoflavone administration and clinical improvement in fatigue.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Vasiadi, Magdalini, Newman, Jennifer, & Theoharides, Theoharis C (2014). Isoflavones inhibit poly(I:C)-induced serum, brain, and skin inflammatory mediators - relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome.. Journal of neuroinflammation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-014-0168-5
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-vasiadi-2014-isoflavones-inhibit,
author = {Vasiadi, Magdalini and Newman, Jennifer and Theoharides, Theoharis C},
title = {Isoflavones inhibit poly(I:C)-induced serum, brain, and skin inflammatory mediators - relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of neuroinflammation},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1186/s12974-014-0168-5},
note = {PubMed: 25359293},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vasiadi-2014-isoflavones-inhibit},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vasiadi-2014-isoflavones-inhibit
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.