Can soy isoflavones improve gut health?

There are multiple potential ways that soy isoflavones could improve gut health. Studies done in mice have found that soy isoflavones can improve gut motility, the secretory function of the intestine, and the integrity of the endothelial barrier.^[1] In in vitro studies, they have been shown to promote the growth of certain types of probiotic microbes.^[2] Other studies found that soy isoflavones did not influence the composition of the gut microbiota.^[3] The potential benefits of soy isoflavones for gut health in humans have not been clearly shown in clinical trials.