Isoflavones

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Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology Michael Friedman, ND See book keywords and concepts

Since isoflavones are being touted as cancer preventatives, especially for breast and prostate cancers, their addition to non-soya foods may create further thyroid challenges. isoflavones already available in soya foods may depress thyroid function through TPO inhibition. Another challenge to thyroid function is the situation with rT3 (reverse T3). It is not reversed at all but instead is produced when the 5'iodine on the interior benzene ring is removed by 5-deiodinase, instead of the 5' iodine on the exterior site. rT3 is nearly inert, and especially so as a thyroid hormone.

PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition Thomson Healthcare, Inc. See book keywords and concepts

In contrast, a systematic literature search of randomized, controlled trials studies to assess the evidence for oral supplements containing Red Clover isoflavones in reducing the frequency of hot flushes in menopausal women identified 17 potentially relevant clinical trials, a meta-analysis of which revealed a marginally significant effect of the extract for hot flush reduction. With Red Clover supplementation over the course of 12 to 16 weeks, the average of 5 to 9 hot flushes daily were reduced by approximately 1 flush daily.

While isolated isoflavones from Red Clover enriched in biochanin (a geni-stein precursor) significantly lowered LDL-C, it only did so in men. The formononetin-enriched isoflavone (daidzein precursor) was ineffective in lowering LDL-C in both men and women, however (Nestel 2004). Mammographic Breast Density A clinical study was designed to determine the effects of a Red Clover-derived isoflavone supplement taken daily for 1 year on mammographic breast density.

Daily supplementation of 60 g of Soy, containing 45 mg of isoflavones, during the following month, caused a significant increase of follicular phase length (p<0.01), plasma estradiol concentrations during the follicular phase and cholesterol concentrations (9.6%), a significant suppression of midcycle surges of luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone, and delayed menstruation. These effects may be due to nonsteroidal estrogens of the isoflavone class, which may possess partial estrogen agonistic and antagonistic effects.

The Science of Flavonoids Erich Grotewold See book keywords and concepts

The in vivo antioxidant activity of soybean isoflavones in human subjects, Nutr Res 23: 479-487. Gelpi, E., 2002, Interfaces for coupled liquid-phase separation/mass spectrometry techniques. An update on recent developments, J Mass Spectrom 37: 241-253. Graham, T. L., 1991a, A rapid, high-resolution high performance liquid chromatography profiling procedure for plant and microbial aromatic secondary metabolites, Plant Physiol 95: 584-593. Graham, T. L.

Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology Michael Friedman, ND See book keywords and concepts

Since isoflavones are being touted as cancer preventatives, especially for breast and prostate cancers, their addition to non-soya foods may create further thyroid challenges. isoflavones already available in soya foods may depress thyroid function through TPO inhibition. Another challenge to thyroid function is the situation with rT3 (reverse T3). It is not reversed at all but instead is produced when the 5'iodine on the interior benzene ring is removed by 5-deiodinase, instead of the 5' iodine on the exterior site. rT3 is nearly inert, and especially so as a thyroid hormone.

Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness Tori Hudson, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Red Clover Standardized extract of 40 mg total isoflavones, 1 tablet 1-2 times per day or Dry herb capsule (500 mg): 1 per day Nonphytoestrogen Herbs Black Cohosh {Cimicifuga Racemosri). Black cohosh, Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa, is a member of the buttercup family and is used for a variety of women's health conditions. In the last 25 years, it has emerged as the most studied of the herbal alternatives to hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms.

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron See book keywords and concepts

The good news is that research has shown that soy and its components, when taken orally in supplement form (particularly the antioxidants genistein and other isoflavones), have protective properties, such as shielding skin from UV light-induced damage and reducing inflammation (Sources: Carcinogenesis, March 7, 2006; and Archiv der Pharmazie, December 2005, pages 598-601).

Superfoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients Wendy Bazilian, DRPH, MA, RD, Steven Pratt, MD, Kathy Matthews See book keywords and concepts

Two of these isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, act as both antioxidants and estrogens that when consumed in foods may help contribute to reducing the risk of coronary heart disease as well as protecting against breast or prostate cancer as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Adding soy to your diet, as suggested in The SuperFoodsRx Diet, usually is a health plus if only because it provides a protein source—and a complete protein at that—that has a lower and healthier fat content than meat, the protein it usually replaces.

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! David W. Grotto, RD, LDN See book keywords and concepts

Dietary intakes of flavonols, flavones and isoflavones by Japanese women and the inverse correlation between quercetin intake and plasma LDL cholesterol concentration. / Nutr. 2000 Sep;130(9):2243-2250. Chu YF, Sun J, Wu X, Liu RH. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of common vegetables. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Nov 6;50(23):6910-6916. Craig WJ. Phytochemicals: Guardians of our health. / Am Diet Assoc. 1997;97: S199-S204. Dole Nutrition Institute. "Onions Boost Bone Health." 2005. Available at: www.dolenutrition.com. Accessed 5/18/06. Grant WB.

However, the role of soy for those diagnosed with breast cancer remains controversial because data from in vitro and animal studies suggest that isoflavones found in soy, especially genistein, may stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive tumors. Unfortunately there are limited human data that directly confirm this concern. Most soy and health experts agree that moderate soy intake is safe for the general population. If you have breast cancer, consult with your doctor or registered dietitian to see if soy can fit into your diet.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that edamame had a fair amount of both soy isoflavones and carotenoids. Cooked edamame have a sweet, nutty flavor and are traditionally eaten as a vegetable in stir-fries in China and Korea. As a snack, the seeds are usually squeezed directly into the mouth with the fingers. Fermented Soy (tempeh and miso) Two soy products I do like for their health benefits are tempeh and miso. Tempeh is actually a traditional Indonesian food, made from the controlled fermentation of cooked whole soybeans.

There are more than 4,000 of these compounds, and they fall into many classes and subclasses, including flavonoids, anthrocyanins, and isoflavones. Polyphenols, like other antioxidants, help protect cells from the normal, but damaging, physiological process known as "oxidative stress." Although oxygen is vital to life, it's also incorporated into reactive substances called free radicals. These can damage the cells in our body, and they have been implicated in the slow chain reaction of damage leading to heart disease and cancer.

Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness Tori Hudson, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

In one study on the effects of phytoestrogens in sheep, it was noted that both coumestans and isoflavones produce changes in the typical stimulation with steroidal hormones such as estradiol in all of the target organs.40 Among these changes was an increase in uterine weight. Other investigators have examined the binding of phytoestrogens to the uterus and vagina. Coumestrol has temporarily enhanced the uptake of estradiol by the uterus and vagina only one hour after being injected into mice.

From a review of those diets, it appears that this amount is somewhere between 50 to 150 mg of isoflavones per day for adults. The isoflavone content of soy foods varies with the form. A listing of the isoflavone content of some of these soy foods will offer some help in calculating your daily intake (see Table 12.1). There have been some controversies about soy, and based on the actual research, these neg- Table 12.

You Don't Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore Bill Sardi See book keywords and concepts

The three major classes of phytoestrogens are isoflavones, which are concentrated in soybeans and soy products but are also found in other legumes; lignans, which are distributed in seeds, whole grains, berries, fruit, vegetables, and nuts; and coumestans, which are found in broccoli and sprouts. These three classes of phytoestrogens, individually or in combination, are most likely the primary types of plant estrogens that deliver health benefits since other components are not provided in plant food diets in high amounts.

Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith See book keywords and concepts

Analyzed were documents of rape (glucosinolates, phytate), maize (phytate), tomato (tomatine, solanine, chaconine, lectins, oxalate), potato (solanine, chaco-nine, protease-inhibitors, phenols) and soybean (protease-inhibitors, lectins, isoflavones, phytate). In several documents used for notifications no declarations even on essential inherent plant toxins and antinutrients could be found____Consistent guidelines, specifying data of relevant compounds, which have to be provided for notification documents of specific organisms have to be established.

Researchers have already shown that some Roundup Ready soy varieties contain 12%-14% less of the cancer-fighting isoflavones touted by the USDA. The levels in GM soy were also more variable.101 A study in Science in December 2002 described that "food molecules act like hormones, regulating body functioning and triggering cell division. The molecules can cause mental imbalances ranging from attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder to serious mental illness."102 Preliminary evidence of changed behavior in GM-fed animals was presented in section 1.14 and 1.19.

Food Synergy: Unleash Hundreds of Powerful Healing Food Combinations to Fight Disease and Live Well Elaine Magee See book keywords and concepts

Conceivably, isoflavones and soy protein work cooperatively to reduce cholesterol," he says. If you require further convincing, here's one more reason to eat your soy in close to whole form: Soy contains "inactive" components along with the "active" ones we've just discussed. It's possible that some of these inactive components are required for the active ones to be useful. Plus, dietary soy has been shown to improve blood pressure by preventing blood vessels from constricting in the presence of two hormones (angiotensin II and phenylephrine). More mood-enhancing than hot flash-banishing?

Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith See book keywords and concepts

GM soybeans, for example, produce less cancer-fighting isoflavones. 4. Most GM-induced changes in these natural products go undetected. Changes in proteins can alter thousands of natural chemicals in plants, increasing toxins or reducing phytonutrients Most plants "make a unique mixture of chemicals" 84 called natural products (also known as secondary metabolites). About 100,000 natural products have been identified and researchers say there may be more than half a million.85 A single plant can produce more than 5,000.

Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness Tori Hudson, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Other researchers have noted that coumestans and isoflavones compete with estradiol for uterine receptor sites but have less affinity for them than estradiol.42 Coumestrol has been found to increase uterine weight at a 100 meg dose when given to rats at a certain time in the development of glands.43 It appears that the weak estrogenic effect of phytoestrogens is variable and can even be weakly antiestrogenic. Variability is based on dose, target tissue, the woman's hormonal environment, and more. Higher does of phytoestrogens have stimulated some concern.

Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation: Unleash The Natural Healing Power That Lies Dormant Within You Andreas Moritz See book keywords and concepts

It is thought that the isoflavones prevent the proliferation of cancer cells and that they may even destroy cancer cells. Sheep Sorrel is a rich source of oxalic acid, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, beta carotene, and vitamin C. This native Ojibwa tea ingredient is a mild diuretic, mild antiseptic, and a mild laxative. Slippery Elm Bark has been used as a poultice for cuts and bruises, and also for aching joints due to gout or other causes. Besides being a native tea ingredient, this herb is also used to alleviate sore throats.

Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness Tori Hudson, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Sixty grams of soy protein containing 45 mg of isoflavones (a phytoestrogen compound found in high amounts in soy; see Table 1.1) was given daily for one month in a study lasting nine months. A significant increase in the length of the follicular phase (first half of the menstrual cycle) by an average of 2.5 days and/or delayed menstruation was observed in the six women who consumed the soy protein. Again, as with Table 1.

For now, I'd like to pass on the results of two systematic reviews of isoflavones and menopausal symptoms and one consensus opinion from the North American Menopause Society that offer a good summary of the research. The first systematic study was a review of the literature for the randomized controlled clinical trials on soy and perimenopausal symptoms.29 Ten trials were evaluated, and only four were positive and showed benefit for perimenopausal symptoms. There were no serious safety concerns with soy products for the treatment periods, which were up to six months.

Health Begins in the Colon Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN See book keywords and concepts

Unfermented soy products in America are not only deficient in isoflavones, but they are full of natural toxins that can block essential enzymes needed for protein digestion. Dr. Joseph Mercola notes "Soybeans are high in phytic acid, present in the bran or hulls of all seeds. It's a substance that can block the uptake of essential minerals - calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and especially zinc - in the intestinal tract."28 He adds that a large percentage of soy is also genetically modified and/or contaminated by pesticides. How to Eliminate Toxins from Soy • Do not drink soymilk.

The Science of Flavonoids Erich Grotewold See book keywords and concepts

Soy protein, isoflavones and cardiovascular disease risk, J Nutr, 128: 1589- 1592. Lin, A, and Karin, M, 2003, NF-kappaB in cancer: a marked target, Semin Cancer Biol, 13: 107-114. Lin, J. K, 2002, Cancer chemoprevention by tea polyphenols through modulating signal transduction pathways, Arch Pharm Res 25: 561-571. Lin, J. K., Chen, P. C, Ho, C. T., and Lin-Shiau, S. Y., 2000, Inhibition of xanthine oxidase and suppression of intracellular reactive oxygen species in HL-60 cells by theaflavin-3,3'-digallate, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and propyl gallate, J Agric Food Chem, 48: 2736-2743.

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

Endometrial cancer: Hormonal factors, the perimenopausal "window of risk," and isoflavones. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87, 3-15. 214. Kaaks, R., Lukanova, A., and Kurzer, M. S. (2002). Obesity, endogenous hormones, and endometrial cancer risk: A synthetic review. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 11, 1531-1543. 215. Affenito, S., Lambert-Lagace, L., Kerstetter, J., and Demark-Wahnefried, W. (2004). Nutrition and women's health: Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada. Can. J. Diet. Pract. Res. 65, 85-89. 216. Calle, E. E., Rodriguez, C, Walker-Thurmond, K.

The Science of Flavonoids Erich Grotewold See book keywords and concepts

S„ 1999, isoflavones inhibit intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in vitro, Br J Cancer, 80: 1550-1557. Bors, W., and Saran, M., 1987, Radical scavenging by flavonoid antioxidants, Free Radic Res Commun, 2: 289-294. Boulton, T. G, Nye, S. H., Robbins, D. J., Ip, N. Y., Radziejewska, E., Morgenbesser, S. D., DePinho, R.A., Panayotatos, N., Cobb, M.H., Yancopoulos, G.D., 1991, ERKs: a family of proteinserine/threonine kinases that are activated and tyrosine phosphorylated in response to insulin and NGF, Cell, 65: 663-675. Caltagirone, S, Rossi, C, Poggi, A.

Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 Bottom Line Health See book keywords and concepts

Some soy products, such as soy sauce and soy oil, contain soy but are not good sources of isoflavones. Thai Tofu Kebabs This recipe, from the Soyfoods Association of North America (www.soyfoods.org), is a great way to incorporate soy into your diet.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are currently allotting significant resources—approximately $10 million—for studies to determine whether isoflavones play a role in bone health. •Breast cancer. Asian studies indicate that women who eat soy foods three or more times weekly have a reduced risk of breast cancer. However, some researchers believe that soy may raise the risk of breast cancer. Most breast tumors are stimulated by estrogen.

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