caa a22 4500 388062754 CHVBK 20180307125125.0 cr unu---uuuuu 161130e199805 xx s 000 0 eng 10.1079/BJN19980068 doi S0007114598000695 pii (NATIONALLICENCE)cambridge-10.1079/BJN19980068 Phyto-oestrogens: where are we now? [Elektronische Daten] Phyto-oestrogens have emerged from their esoteric role in animal husbandry following the hypothesis that the human Western diet is relatively deficient in these substances compared with societies where large amounts of plant foods and legumes are eaten. Evidence is beginning to accrue that they may begin to offer protection against a wide range of human conditions, including breast, bowel, prostate and other cancers, cardiovascular disease, brain function, alcohol abuse, osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. Of the two main classes of these weak oestrogens, the isoflavones are under intensive investigation due to their high levels in soyabean. Like the ‘anti-oestrogen' Tamoxifen, these seem to have oestrogenic effects in human subjects in the cardiovascular system and bone. Although previously only available from food, isoflavones are now being marketed in health-food supplements or drinks, and tablets may soon be available over the counter as ‘natural' hormone-replacement therapy. In cancer, anti-oestrogenic effects are thought to be important, although genistein especially has been shown to induce wide-ranging anti-cancer effects in cell lines independent of any hormone-related influence. There are few indications of harmful effects at present, although possible proliferative effects have been reported. In infants, the effects of high levels in soya milk formulas are uncertain. The second group, lignans, have been less investigated despite their known anti-oestrogenic effects and more widespread occurrence in foods. Investigation of the possible benefits of phyto-oestrogens is hampered by lack of analytical standards and, hence, inadequate methods for the measurement of low levels in most foods. This problem may prove to be a major dilemma for regulatory authorities, clinicians and others wishing to advise the general public on whether these compounds really do have the health benefits attributed to them. Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998 Phyto-oestrogens nationallicence Isoflavones nationallicence Lignans nationallicence Human disease risk nationallicence Bingham S. A. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK Atkinson C. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK Liggins J. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK Bluck L. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK Coward A. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK British Journal of Nutrition Cambridge University Press 79/5(1998-05), 393-406 0007-1145 79:5<393 1998 79 BJN https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19980068 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 review-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19980068 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Bingham S. A. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Atkinson C. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Liggins J. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Bluck L. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Coward A. MRC Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2DH, UK NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- British Journal of Nutrition Cambridge University Press 79/5(1998-05), 393-406 0007-1145 79:5<393 1998 79 BJN CC0 http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0 nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-cambridge