Abstract: A composition for use in making commercial food and skin products comprising R-equol. The composition can be used to make articles of commerce such as food supplements, pharmaceuticals, and medicaments. The compositions are useful in a method of delivering R-equol to a mammal to prevent or treat a disease or associated condition, including hormone-dependent diseases or conditions such as cardiovascular disease, lipid disorder, osteopenia, osteoporosis, liver disease, and acute ovarian estrogen deficiency. The R-equol enantiomer can be produced by chiral-phase column separation from a racemic mixture of equol.