Phytoestrogens: Epidemiology and a possible role in cancer protection

Adlercreutz, H

HERO ID

184458

Reference Type

Journal Article

Subtype

Review

Year

1995

Language

English

PMID

8593855

HERO ID 184458
Material Type Review
In Press No
Year 1995
Title Phytoestrogens: Epidemiology and a possible role in cancer protection
Authors Adlercreutz, H
Journal Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume 103
Issue Suppl 7
Page Numbers 103-112
Abstract Because many diseases of the Western Hemisphere are hormone-dependent cancers, we have postulated that the Western diet, compared to a vegetarian or semivegetarian diet, may alter hormone production, metabolism, or action at the cellular level by some biochemical mechanisms. Recently, our interest has been mainly focused on the cancer-protective role of some hormonelike diphenolic phytoestrogens of dietary origin, the lignans and the isoflavonoids. The precursors of the biologically active compounds originate in soybean products (mainly isoflavonoids), whole grain cereal food, seeds, and probably berries and nuts (mainly lignans). The plant lignan and isoflavonoid glycosides are converted by intestinal bacteria to hormonelike compounds with weak estrogenic but also antioxidative activity; they have now been shown to influence not only sex hormone metabolism and biological activity but also intracellular enzymes, protein synthesis, growth factor action, malignant cell proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis in a way that makes them strong candidates for a role as natural cancer-protective compounds. Epidemiologic investigations strongly support this hypothesis because the highest levels of these compounds in the diet are found in countries or regions with low cancer incidence. This report is a review on recent results suggesting that the diphenolic isoflavonoids and lignans are natural cancer-protective compounds.
Doi 10.2307/3432518
Pmid 8593855
Wosid WOS:A1995TG78200021
Url <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1995TG78200021
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments |WOS:A1995TG78200021
Is Public No
Language Text English
Keyword PHYTOESTROGENS; LIGNANS; ISOFLAVONOIDS; GENISTEIN; DAIDZEIN; BREAST CANCER; PROSTATE CANCER; PREVENTION
Is Peer Review No
Is Qa No
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