Lower your risk for breast cancer and heart disease.

Lower your risk for breast cancer and heart disease.

Lower your risk for breast cancer and heart disease.

Many alternatives to hormone therapy for postmenopausal women , especially in light of the recent Women 's Health Initiative Search research on the risks of combined estrogen and progestin therapy . Of particular interest are phytoestrogens, which have gained popularity due to their "natural " state , alleged health claims, and availability in a wide range of food and supplements.What are phytoestrogens ? Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that have some similarities with estradiol , the strongest naturally occurring estrogen. However, phytoestrogens tend to weaker effects than most estrogens , are not stored in the body and can be easily dismantled and eliminated.


Observational studies have shown a lower prevalence of breast cancer , heart disease and hip fracture rates among people living in places like Southeast Asia, where diets are typically high in phytoestrogens. In North America, the knowledge of these effects on the health reports great interest in the health benefits of phytoestrogens stimulated. According to the Food and Drug Administration, has sales of soy products , an important source of phytoestrogens , there are Phytoestrogens increased in recent decade.Dietary sources from more than 20 connections and can be used in more than 300 plants are found as herbs , grains and fruits.

The three main classes of dietary phytoestrogens are isoflavones , lignans and coumestans :

 1 Isoflavones ( genistein, daidzein, glycitein and equol ) are primarily found in soybeans and soy products , chickpeas and other legumes .

2 Lignans ( enterolactone and enterodiol ) found in seeds (especially flaxseed ) , cereal bran , legumes, and alcohol (beer and bourbon ) .

3 Coumestans ( coumestrol ) are found in alfalfa and clover. Most food sources that contain these compounds typically more than one class of phytoestrogens . The effects on the skeleton of the PhytoestrogensMuch the evidence on the potential role of phytoestrogens in bone health is based on animal experiments. In fact , soy protein, soy isoflavones, genistein, daidzein and coumestrol have all shown a protective effect on bone in animals whose ovaries had been surgically removed.In people have the proof , however , is contradictory. Compared to Caucasian populations are documented hip fracture are lower in countries such as Hong Kong, China and Japan where dietary phytoestrogen intake is high. Yet reports suggest that Japanese women at a greater risk for maintaining a vertebral fracture than Caucasian women.Several studies the effects of soy isoflavones on bone health have been investigated, but the results were mixed , ranging from a modest impact to no have effect . Most of these studies have serious limitations , including its short duration and small sample size , making it difficult to fully evaluate the effects of these compounds on bone health.Ipriflavone SupplementsIpriflavone , a synthetic isoflavone , has shown some promise in its ability to , bone protect postmenopausal women.

Lower your risk for breast cancer and heart disease.

Ipriflavone has also been shown to have a protective effect on bone density in premenopausal women , the gonadotropin -releasing hormone (GnRH ), a drug used to treat endometriosis , bone loss.However a final three -year study of more than 400 postmenopausal women triggered have concluded that ipriflavone does not prevent bone loss. In addition, the connection is connected lymphocytopenia ( reducing lymphocytes) in a significant number of subjects. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that the body is fighting infection.Risks and the benefits unclear Some studies suggest that , unlike estrogen, phytoestrogens do not seem to help breast or uterine tissue specific . This suggests that they act more as SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators such as raloxifene and tamoxifen ) than actual estrogens. However, in other studies high isoflavone levels have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.Clearly , additional research is needed to further evaluate the effects of phytoestrogens before judgments regarding their safety and usefulness can made.

Key to information , these are point -based time, it is useful to make the following conclusions about phytoestrogens and bone health in postmenopausal women :

1 Moderate amounts of foods that phytoestrogens can be safely included in the diet , but do not expect it to help bones. Stick to the basic rule - eat the least processed forms.

2 . Due to a lack of evidence and concerns about safety, supplementation with synthetic isoflavones ( ipriflavone ) in question .

3 Postmenopausal women are asked to see proof of phytoestrogens and bone health as contradictory and incomplete. For women who are estrogen dominant increasing their phytoestrogen intake may not improve their position bone