Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer, Assembly of Life Sciences National Research Council
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 Lack of mutagenicity of some phytoestrogens in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome assay. Mutat. Res. 78:317-321.
Becci, P. J., F. G. Hess, W. D. Johnson, M. A. Gallo, J. G. Babish, G. E. Cox, R. E. Dailey, and R. A. Parent. 1981. Long-term carcinogenicity and toxicity studies of patulin in the rat. J. Appl. Toxicol. 1:256-261.
Becci, P. J., G. E. Cox, J. M. Taylor, and R. A. Parent. In press. Long term carcinogenicity and toxicity studies of zearalenone in the rat. J. Appl. Toxicol.
Becroft, D. M. 0., and D. R. Webster. 1972. Letter to the Editor: Aflatoxins and Rey's disease. Br. Med. J. |
Robert Hass, M.S.
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 Isoflavones and other phytoestrogens are abundant in soybeans and soy products, peanuts, dried beans, split peas, lentils, green beans, and garbanzo beans.
Epidemiological studies (studies of the factors leading to the occurrence of disease among free-living populations) reinforce these findings and suggest soy may help reduce rates of other cancers in addition to those of the breast. And these studies suggest that soy is an important factor in the healthfulness of traditional Asian diets. |
Gale Maleskey
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 Lignans are phytoestrogens, meaning that they are similar to but weaker than the estrogen that a woman's body produces naturally. Therefore, they may also help alleviate menopausal discomforts such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. They are also antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.
Flaxseed also appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. One way that ALA helps the heart is by decreasing the ability of platelets to clump together, a reaction involved in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), says Dr. Janson. |
| There's a lot we don't know about phytoestrogens, but we do know that they have a regulatory kind of effect. That fits with how black cohosh has been used traditionally by women," she says.
Besides replacing estrogen, black cohosh also eases the symptoms of menopause by inhibiting the production of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH levels tend to increase in the body at the same time that estrogen levels plummet. Hot flashes may be linked to high levels of this hormone.
The results of one clinical study seem to reinforce black cohosh's effectiveness in menopause. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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 Irvine CHG, Fitzpatrick MG, Alexander SL. phytoestrogens in soy-based infant foods: concentrations, daily intake, and possible biological effects. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1998; 217: 247-253.
293. Rolland A, Fleurentin J, Lanahers MC et al. Behavioural effects of the American traditional plant Eschscholzia californica: sedative and anxiolytic properties. Planta Medica 1991; 57: 212-216.
294. Schafer HL, Schafer H, Schneider W et al. Sedative action of extract combinations of Eschscholtzia californica and Corydalis cava. |
| Stephens F. phytoestrogens and prostate cancer: possible preventive role. Medical Journal of Australia 1997; 167: 138-140.
284. Peterson G. Evaluation of the biochemical targets of genistein in tumor cells. Journal of Nutrition 1995; 125: 784S-789S.
285. Barnes S. The chemopreventive properties of soy isoflavonoids in animal models of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 1997; 46:169-179.
286. Barnes S. Effect of genistein on in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. Journal of Nutrition 1995; 125: 777S^783S.
287. Fotsis T, Pepper M, Adlercreutz H et al. |
| The potential of soybean phytoestrogens for postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1998; 217: 365-368.
279. Herman C, Adlercreutz T, Goldin BR et al. Soybean phytoestrogen intake and cancer risk. Journal of Nutrition 1995; 125: 757S-770S.
280. Verma SP, Goldin BR. Effect of soy-derived isoflavonoids on the induced growth of MCF-7 cells by estrogenic environmental chemicals. Nutrition and Cancer 1998; 30 (3): 232-239.
281. Hsieh CY, Santell RC, Haslam SZ et al. |
| Knight DC, Eden JA. phytoestrogens - a short review. Maturitas 1995; 22:167-175.
274. Murkies AL, Lombard C, Strauss BJG et al. Dietary flour supplementation decreases post-menopausal hot flushes: effect of soy and wheat. Maturitas 1995; 21:189-195.
275. Albertazzi P. Effect of dietary soy supplementation on hot flushes. Obstetrics and Gynecology 1998; 91: 6-11.
276. Yamaguchi M, Gao YH. Anabolic effect of genistein and genistin on bone metabolism in the femoral-metaphyseal tissues of elderly rats: the genistein effect is enhanced by zinc. |
National Women's Health Network
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 We're not sure whether they contain phytoestrogens, which are naturally occurring plant estrogens.
Three studies showed improvement in menopausal symptoms in women who took black cohosh.1' 2' 3 The studies made use of the Kupperman Menopausal Symptom Index, a long-used but inadequate scale of menopausal symptoms. Two obvious examples of its inadequacy: It does not include vaginal dryness, but it
Unfortunately, clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of these herbs are lacking, even though some of them have powerful hormonelike effects. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 Estrogen means all natural forms (estriol, estradiol, and estrone), synthetic forms (Premarin, oral contraceptives), phytoestrogens (black cohosh, sage, pennyroyal), and environmental estrogens (e.g., pesticides). Estrogen dominance can result from excess of any of these forms; some produce dominance faster than others. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Also, dong quai, a Chinese herb, is a rich source of phytoestrogens and a smooth-muscle relaxant; it may relieve cramps from fibroids (500 to 1000 mg/day).
S. Lark, "Fending Off Fibroids," Vegetarian Times 193 (September 1993): 100.
Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is an astringent anti-hemorrhagic and a general toner and strengthener of uterine tissues. |
| Soy foods are rich in phytoestrogens called bioflavonoids; they normalize estrogen levels in the body. Citrus fruits and berries are also helpful. They're rich in vitamin C, which helps normalize estrogen levels. Another nutritional factor in this problem may be vitamin A. A study showed that women with excessive menstrual bleeding, a common symptom with fibroids, had low levels of A, and that supplementation is effective in returning bleeding patterns to normal. Beta carotene sources include sweet potatoes, carrots, and romaine lettuce.
S. |
| Isoflavones and phytoestrogens found in soybeans, soy products, and lima beans protect against cancer. The low incidence of breast cancer among Japanese women is largely attributed to the widespread use of soybeans. Flax. The omega-3 fatty acids in flax seeds and oil protects against breast cancer.
Fish. Fish high in omega-3 include salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and herring.
Cruciferous vegetables. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain cancer-fighting substances. Mushrooms. Reiki, shiitake, and maitake mushrooms have strong anticancer properties. |
Robyn Landis
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 The fact that soy contains phytoestrogens makes it especially significant to women, and even more so at menopause. Plant estrogens can fill in naturally to some degree for the body's decrease in estrogen production. This may help prevent some kinds of cancer, improve the odds against heart disease and/or osteoporosis without the increased risks linked to those hormones, and reduce or eliminate some of the characteristic discomforts of menopause.
Isoflavones are the phytochemicals in soy that have received the most attention. |
David Brownstein
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 In Asian countries, where the intake of fermented soy products* is very high, women suffer virtually no adverse symptoms of menopause. phytoestrogens contain compounds that have no propensity to increase the risk of breast cancer, and many studies show that they may reduce the risk for cancer. Eliminate caffeine and drink adequate amounts of pure water per day. Eat iodine-containing foods including seafood and Celtic Sea Salt to satisfy the iodine requirements of the ovaries. Also the following supplements are helpful: Vitamin C 3000mg/day, Vitamin D 400 I.U. |
Robyn Landis
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| Note: Most foods or herbs with phytoestrogens are normalizing in either direction. If levels in the body are low, the phytosterols can be precursor substances out of which the body can make its own hormones. If levels are already high in the body, the plant hormone can bind the receptor cells, so that receptors are not responsive to the high levels in the body. Thus "estrogenic" plant substances do not necessarily contain estrogen or increase estrogen production, but can assist in a number of different ways. |
Stephanie Beling
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 Components in whole grains are protective and diverse and include dietary fiber, antioxidants, phenolic compounds and the phytoestrogens with potential hormonal effects. Clearly the range of protective substances in whole grains is impressive, and the advice to consume additional whole grains is justifiable.
?DR. JOANNE SLAVIN
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, ST. PAUL
, - rains were the first cultivated food, the enablers of settlement and civilization, and they remain today the main food of both humans and domestic animals. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 Soy is rich in natural estrogens called phytoestrogens, compounds that are 100 times weaker than synthetic estrogens, so they don't harm your body. But they do bind to estrogen receptor sites, preventing harmful synthetic estrogens from damaging your system, says Elias.
MAGNESIUM: Nourishment for the Muscle
A deficiency of the mineral magnesium is common among Americans, and it often creates stagnation in muscle tissue, such as the walls of the uterus, Elias says. Adequate amounts of the mineral relax muscle tissue, allowing a fresh flow of blood into the area. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 In addition, phytoestrogens may reduce the effects of estrogens on the body by stimulating the production of SHBG so that the estrogen is bound and subsequently less potent.8 Soy, as well as other legumes, nuts, and seeds, is also a good source of phytosterols (plant compounds similar in structure to human hormones) which may aid in the manufacturer of steroid hormones, including testosterone.
Heavy Metals
Sperm are also particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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| Along with the decrease of progesterone production, causes of estrogen dominance include an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and the ingestion of estrogens—from estrogen drugs (as in hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills), environmental estrogens, or phytoestrogens (plant-derived estrogens such as black cohosh). |
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
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 Studies of women in China and Japan indicate that those who consume high amounts of phytoestrogens from soy products suffer relatively fewer menopausal side effects. If you are allergic to soy or have difficulty digesting it, other high-protein, nonmeat foods include yogurt, cottage cheese, almonds, mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, and grains like millet and basmati rice.
Ingestion of moderate amounts of low-fat or nonfat dairy products can be helpful, but people in most developed countries tend to overemphasize their value. |
Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine
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 Diets rich in soy phytoestrogens can reduce circulating ovarian steroids and adrenal androgens, an effect that may account, at least in part, for the decreased risk of breast cancer in women whose diets are rich in legumes.155
Isoflavonoid glycosides found in soy, as well as in other legumes, are converted by intestinal bacteria to hormonelike compounds. These compounds can inhibit cancer through several pathways. |
| These plant compounds, sometimes referred to as phytoestrogens, can also inhibit the aromatase enzyme, which can decrease the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Both saw palmetto and nettle root extracts have been shown to inhibit aromatase. Inhibition of aromatase is very important in the prevention and treatment of both breast and prostate cancers. When aromatase is inhibited, it leads to the deactivation of cancer-driving hormones (such as sex-hormone-binding globulin, a hormone that increases as we age), which would otherwise bind to receptor sites. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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| I do not believe that any woman needs to take additional estrogen because, along with that produced in your body, you ingest it through phytoestrogens (plant-derived estrogen) in your diet and through exposure to or ingestion of pesticides, which mimic estrogen in the body. However, if you do choose ERT, you should take natural (not synthetic) progesterone along with it to afford some measure of protection from estrogen's carcinogenic effects. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Phytochemicals—A general term referring to thousands of compounds naturally occurring in plant foods including vitamins, minerals, and phytoestrogens (hormonelike substances), which have been shown to have a protective effect against certain common diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and infection. Some better known phytochemicals include:
• Carotenoids. More than six hundred compounds found in green leafy vegetables, or orange fruits and vegetables, foods such as broccoli, cantaloupe, pumpkin, mangoes, and peaches. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| But study after study shows that phytoestrogens don't increase the risk of breast cancer or accelerate the disease. In fact, genistein does just the opposite by slowing cancer growth, says Dr. Quillin. He recommends that women with breast cancer either take a genistein supplement of 6 milligrams daily or eat more soy.
COENZYME Q10: To Help Stop Tumor Growth
This supplement helps generate the cellular energy that makes your body work. When you are young and healthy, your body usually manufactures the coenzyme Q10 (coQ10) that it needs. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Laboratory experiments show that phytoestrogens are effective in preventing tumors of the breast tissue.
• Nosebleed. Alfalfa contains vitamin K, which helps blood clot normally. The level of vitamin K in alfalfa is not so high as to interfere with normal circulation.
• Osteoporosis. Clinical studies in Japan have found that vitamin K2, found in alfalfa and in green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, can partially prevent bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. The vitamin interacts with vitamin D to increase the formation of new bone. |
Earl Mindell and Hester Mundis
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 Roundup Ready soybeans, which make up half of the soybean crop in the United States, have shown as much as a 20 percent drop in valuable phytoestrogens, beneficial in fighting osteoporosis and heart disease.)
?If genes from another organism are inserted into a plant, consumers will no longer be able to recognize allergy-causing foods.
?The prevalence of pesticides in the environment and the food chain exposes our ecosystem to irreversible pollution.
?There is no way to know for certain what the long-term effect of GE foods will have on humans or the environment.
? |
Jonathan Goodman ND
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 More important, lignans belong to a group of compounds called phytoestrogens. These are plant-based molecules that are similar in structure to human estrogen. Studies suggest that lignans may partially block the effects of estrogen in the bloodstream, which may reduce the risk of some breast cancers. We'll talk more about the link between EFAs, lignans, and cancer in chapter 9. |
| Over the years, alternative-minded physicians have tried a lot of approaches for dysmenorrhea, including identifying and eliminating allergy-causing foods from the diet; reducing or eliminating meats or other animal products; and encouraging women to eat more tofu or other soy foods, which contain hormone-balancing compounds called phytoestrogens. They've also encouraged women to use EFAs, with mixed results.
In the early 1990s, scientists looked at the diets of 181 healthy Danish women ages 20 to 45. |
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