Phytoestrogens: Dilute Xenoestrogen-Type Carcinogens

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Sun, 9 Oct 2005 21:00:59 -0700 (PDT)

JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo

Phytoestrogens: Dilute " Xenoestrogen-Type "

Carcinogens

 

Phytoestrogens: Dilute " Xenoestrogen-Type " Carcinogens

JoAnn Guest

Oct 09, 2005 20:54 PDT

--

 

Sharol Tilgner N.D.

 

The term phytoestrogen is used loosely in the herbal

community. There

is

no current agreed upon definition for this term.

Basically the term is

used for any plant that has one or more constituents

with similar

chemical structure to estrogen or is changed into a

similar compound in

vivo or clinically produces effects that the clinician

would expect

from

giving exogenous estrogens.

 

Plants may have compounds that are structurally

similar to human

endogenous estrogens that mimic estrogenic activity or

effect estrogen

metabolism. Some plants may show an estrogenic effect

in laboratory

studies, animal studies or in clinical settings but

the specific

constituent or mode of action has not been identified.

 

 

It is thought that the weaker phytoestrogens can

compete for estrogen

receptors with the more potent endogenous estrogens

thereby decreasing

the overall estrogenic activity when it is deemed to

be too high. When

endogenous estrogens are low and phytoestrogens are

used in large

quantities phytoestrogens have been shown to exert an

estrogenic effect

in animals.

 

The phytoestrogens can take up receptor sites that are

empty due to low

estrogen levels.

 

Most of the identified phytoestrogen constituents

consist of sterols,

coumestans and isoflavones.

 

There are more than 300 plants, which have been

identified as

possessing

estrogenic or uterotropic activity.

 

Phytoestrogens compete with estradiol for " estrogen

binding " sites in

the reproductive tracts of animals in vivo and in

human breast cancer

cells in vitro. 220-2222, 223

 

Phytoestrogens will produce similar results to

estrogens such as growth

and increased weight of the uterus. Research measuring

weight increase

of uteri in mice showed sterols to have the most

activity, followed by

coumestans and then isoflavones. 224, 291

 

Coumestans have a high affinity for the human estrogen

receptor. 283

They are estimated to be 200 times less potent than

estrone and 3000

times less potent than diethylstilbestrol, and 30-100

times more potent

than isoflavones.

 

Animal studies have shown coumestans can reduce

follicle-stimulating

hormone and lutenizing hormone levels.

 

Coumestans produce uterine growth in rats at natural

dietary levels and

competitively inhibit binding to the estrogen

receptors.

 

Not all isoflavones have estrogenic effects, but many

of them do.

 

Some of them need to be converted by gut bacteria to

other compounds to

be effective.

 

If a person is using antibiotics or ingesting other

substances that

destroy gut flora, there would be decreased isoflavone

conversion in

the

gut, and the herb would not work as expected.

 

The isoflavone, Genistein, has shown

" antiproliferative effects "

against

estrogen-dependent and independent human breast

carcinoma cell lines.

 

 

Phytoestrogens can act as anti-estrogens to compete

with estradiol for

cytoplasmic receptors in estrogen-sensitive tissues.

 

Soybeans, which also contain estrogenic isoflavones,

have been

implicated as being responsible for the low incidence

of breast and

other female reproductive cancers in Japanese woman

who consume large

amounts of soybean products.

 

Studies show a " correlation " between high levels of

urninary lignans

and isoflavonoid phytoestrogens, specifically

genistein, and a " low

incidence " of hormone-dependent cancers such as breast

and prostate

cancer.

 

In vitro studies show genistein and daidzein inhibit

growth of both

estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen

receptor-negative human breast

cancer cell lines (IC50=24-44um).

 

Dietary phytoestrogenes " dilute " *xenoestrogen-type*

" carcinogens " by

binding at the receptor sites and acting as

antiestrogens. 433

 

The phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein tend towards

normalizing

estrogen and progesterone levels. 434 Lignans are

phenolic compounds

with weak estrogenic activity. They have been linked

to a lowered

incidence of breast cancer. 287, 294 The highest

concentrations of

estrogenically-active lignans are in the defatted

portion of flax

seeds.

 

 

They are converted by gut bacteria to mammalian

lignans, the primary

ones being enterolactone and enterodiol. They are

structurally similar

to estrogen and bind with low affinity to estrogen

receptors. They also

increase sex hormone binding protein. 294

 

The most potent phytoestrogens are the phytosterols.

Common foods,

which

contain phytosterols, are chestnuts, sesame,

safflower, sunflower and

pumpkin seeds.

 

Phytosterols are most common in organic whole grains,

nuts, seeds and

legumes. The sterol, beta-sitosterol has phytoestrogen

activity as well

as anti-inflammatory activity and antipyretic

activity. 228229

 

It can be found in Achillea millefolium, Anemone

pratensis, Angelica

sinensis, Calendula officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra,

Hypericum

perforatum, Larrea spp., Panax spp., Piscidia

erythrina, Plantago

psyllium, Serenoa repens, Symphytum spp., Taraxacum

officinale,

Trifolium pratense, Turnera spp., Tussilago farfara,

Valeriana

officinalis, Viburnum prunifolium. 289, 290 A fat

soluble extract of

Humulus lupus was found to contain small amounts of

estradiol. 225

Water-soluble glycoproteins from Hops strobiles are

antigonadotropic

and

suppress progesterone production by luteal cells in

rats. 226,227

 

Dioscorea species contain the steroidal sapogenin

called diosgenin.

Diosgenin is manipulated chemically in laboratories to

create estrone,

testosterone, and progesterone as well as

adrenocortical hormones. In

current research on animals, it appears that diosgenin

usually turns

into smilagenin due to action on it by gut flora 230

Both animals and

humans poorly absorb diosgenin itself. 231 When

diosgenin was given

orally to female rats they had an increase in uterine

weight, vaginal

opening and vaginal cornification. 232 When injected

into

ovariectomized

mice there was a growth of mammary epithelium. 233

Chamaelirium and

Aletris both contain diosgenin and have produced

estrogenic activity in

rats. 234 Cimicifuga (Black cohosh) contains the

isoflavone

formononetin

and two other unidentified endocrine-active compounds,

which appear to

have estrogenic activity via competition for estrogen

receptors. 235

 

Black cohosh has been shown to suppress luteinizing

hormone secretion

in

menopausal woman and competes in vitro with

17-beta-estradiol for

estrogen receptor binding sites. 37

 

Black Cohosh has an inhibitory activity in vitro and

in vivo on bone

resorption in ovariectomized rats as well as rats on

low calcium diets.

265, 266 The active constituents in black cohosh are

thought to be 1.)

Triterpene glycosides, principally actein,

27-deoxyactein,

cimicifugoside and cimigenol

3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside and related

aglycones, 2.) Isoflavones including formonoetin,

 

3.) Aromatic acids including isoferulic acid, ferulic

acid, and

salicylic acid.

 

Legumes are a good source of edible phytoestrogens.

 

Soybeans are one of the most highly researched source

of

phytoestrogens.

They are currently thought to be one of the best

sources of edible

phytoestrogens.

 

Additionally, soybean sprouts have the highest

concentration of

isoflavones.

 

Research has shown that women consuming high amounts

of phytoestrogens

in their diet have had a decreased incidence of breast

cancer rates.

292, 293, 294

 

Practitioners should be cautious giving phytoestrogens

to patients on

tamoxifen or other anti-estrogenic drugs since the

phytoestrogens could

(theory, not known) interfere with " drug therapy " .

 

Sharol Tilgner (Author of Herbal Medicine: From the

Heart of the

Earth:)

 

 

--

Phytoestrogens Offer Women Drug-Free Support

--

 

 

Phyto- is from the Greek phyton meaning plant.

A phytoestrogen is a naturally-occurring plant

nutrient that exerts an

estrogen-like action on the body.

 

Scientists have discovered hundreds of phytoestrogens

including dried

unprocessed beans, whole grain organic grains, seeds

and their cold

pressed unrefined oils, nuts (especially walnuts) and

many other herbs

as well.

 

 

In a study conducted at the Bowman Gray School of

Medicine in

Winston-Salem, researchers found a significant

" reduction " in

female problems when women supplemented their diets

with cooked dried

unprocessed beans.

 

 

When presenting their findings at the American Heart

Association's

annual scientific sessions, a spokesperson for the

research group

noted that Japanese women, who consume relatively high

amounts of

soybeans, report only one-eighth as many " female

symptoms " as American

women. (United Press, Nov. 10, 1996)

 

The major phytonutrients that have been studied for

their

estrogen-like activity are two classes of nutrients

known as

isoflavonoids (most notably genistein and daidzien,

from beans)

and lignans (from nuts and seeds.) These nutrients are

converted

by the flora, the " beneficial bacteria " of the

digestive tract, into

compounds that have estrogen-like actions.

 

To derive the most benefit from these phytonutrients

the flora of the

intestinal tract must be in a " healthy balance " .

Unfortunately, the intestinal flora is killed

off by many drugs that women commonly use, especially

antibiotics.

(See article on yeast infections.)

 

 

Herbalists have discovered that many of the herbs

traditionally used by women for the health concerns

unique to women

contain some of the highest amounts of these

beneficial

phytonutrients.

 

The list includes Vitex (chasteberry), red clover

(Trifolium pratense),

alfalfa (Medicago sativa), licorice (Glycyrrhiza

glabra),

Kudzu root (Puerariae lobata), and others.

 

Mexican wild yam

(Dioscorea villosa) is not a phytoestrogen but

contains a

phytonutrient that is a precursor for *progesterone*,

which is also

important for balancing a women's *glandular* system.

 

New Dietary Guidelines Include Soy:

The 5th edition of the " Dietary Guidelines for

Americans " , released

this

year by the United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and

Human Services

(DHHS), includes organic non-gmo soybean-based foods

as a means to meet

the dietary

recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid.

 

The guidelines provide recommendations based on

current scientific

knowledge about how diet

may improve health and reduce risks for major chronic

diseases. The

2000 Guidelines recognize one cup of a calcium-rich

soy-based

beverage as equal to one serving from the dairy group,

and 1/2 cup of

non-gmo tofu as equal to a serving in the meat and

beans group.

 

http://www.edenfoods.com

 

 

 

Phytoestrogens Reduce Cancer Risk

 

 

In a study published in Environmental Health

Perspectives

(103;Suppl 7:103-112;1995), researchers reported that,

in addition to

their benefits for the glandular system,

phytoestrogens have been

shown to have " antioxidant activity " and can influence

intracellular

enzymes, protein synthesis, growth factor action, and

cell

proliferation in a way that makes them " strong

candidates " for a role

as natural " cancer-protective " compounds. "

 

The authors point out that countries or regions that

consume the

highest

amounts of phytoestrogens tend to have the lowest

cancer rates.

 

In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology

(Sept.

97) foods high in phytoestrogens were found to have a

protective

effect against endometrial cancer.

In this nine-year study involving

over 800 women, those who ate a diet rich in

phytoestrogens showed a

54 percent reduction in the incidence of this cancer.

 

---

Phytoestrogens Reduce Risk for Stroke

 

 

Stroke is the third most common cause of death for

middle-aged and

older women. A 50-year-old women has about a one in

five chance of

suffering a stroke in her remaining lifetime. One of

the most common

causes of stroke is blockage due to atherosclerosis of

the carotid

arteries in the neck—the arteries responsible for a

major portion of

the blood flow to the brain.

 

--

Estrogen Replacement Therapy commonly prescribed for

Menopause.

 

Unfortunately, doctors prescribing ERT

usually rely on drugs such as Premarin. The good news

for women who

are looking for a more natural way is that a team of

medical

researchers has reported to the American Heart

Association's Annual

Conference of Cardiovascular Disease that the

phytoestrogens in soy

protein provide just as much protection from

atherosclerosis as ERT

drugs, and without the harmful side-effects associated

with such

drugs.

 

 

Menopause

Menopause refers to the time in a woman's life marked

by the

permanent cessation of menstrual activity. It can

occur between 25

and 58 years of life. The menses may stop suddenly,

but usually there

is a gradual decrease each month until final cessation

occurs; or in

many cases the interval between periods gradually

becomes longer

until complete cessation occurs.

Natural menopause occurs in 25% of women by age 47, in

50% by age

50, 75% by age 52 and 95% by age 55. Menopause due to

surgical

removal of the ovaries occurs in almost 30% of U.S.

women past the

age of 50.

 

Menopause may be accompanied by hot and cold flashes,

feelings of

weakness, irritability, and in some cases mental

depression. These

changes are brought about by a natural decline in the

secretion of

hormones by the woman's body. Hormone replacement

therapy (HRT) is

the medical treatment for these symptoms. However,

most doctors

routinely prescribe powerful synthetic hormones such

as Premarin that

lead to many undesirable side effects. About nine

million women now

use Premarin for hormone (estrogen) replacement. The

women experience

problems, and all

experience an increased risk for certain types of

cancer.

 

Premarin is derived from the urine of pregnant mares.

There are

over 50 horse estrogens in Premarin—not one of which

is naturally

found in a woman's body. To manufacture the drug,

between 75,000 and

85,000 mares are kept on some 500 farms in North

Dakota and Canada.

 

 

To collect their urine, these mares are confined in

stalls throughout

the duration of their pregnancy. Water is restricted

because a

concentrated urine is desired. Exercise is also

denied. As soon as

they give birth, they are immediately impregnated

again.

 

Premarin production is bad news for the mares that

" donate " it.

Many women, particularly those who have experienced

its undesirable

side effects, have concluded that it may not be the

best choice for

them either.

 

Some of the potential side-effects of HRT with drugs

such as Premarin are:

 

a.. Depression

 

b.. Headaches or Migraines

 

c.. Breast tenderness

 

d.. Hair loss

 

e.. Nausea or vomiting

 

f.. Unusual vaginal bleeding

 

g.. Jaundice

 

a.. Candidiasis (systemic yeast infections)

 

b.. Weight gain

 

c.. Loss of libido (sexual drive)

 

d.. Blood clots

 

e.. Increased risk of gall bladder disease

 

f.. Increased risk of uterine and breast cancer

--

 

Phytoestrogens Offer Alternatives to Drugs Like

Premarin!

 

 

Many women have discovered a better way, using a

natural

nutritional approach for the changes that accompany

menopause.

Several of the herbs that have proven to be the most

useful are

discussed below:

 

 

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is probably the

most widely-

used herb for female concerns—from dysmenorrhea or

difficult

menstruation to menopause—and with good reason for the

research

supporting the benefits of this herb is substantial.

Black Cohosh is

native to Eastern North America and has been valued by

Native

Americans and American colonists alike for the

nutritional support of

the female reproductive system, particularly to

relieve menstrual

cramps, and to aid amenorrhea.

 

It was also used for fever,

sore throat, bronchitis, hysteria, itch, lumbago,

malaria, nervous

disorders, snakebite, uterine disorders, St. Vitus'

dance (chorea)

and yellow fever.

 

The German Commission E (the German equivalent of the

FDA) approved

black cohosh for dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation.

The herb is

widely used in Europe for the treatment of PMS and for

juvenile

menstrual problems and even as a support for women who

have had a

hysterectomy.

 

Black cohosh is considered an emmenogogue, or a

substance that promotes menstrual flow, but it is also

successfully

used by women with excessive menstrual flow, since it

has a *balancing*

effect on a woman's glandular system.

 

No adverse drug interactions have been identified with

black

cohosh.

 

The herb has even been used in conjunction with

conventional

estrogen replacement therapy without any problems. In

fact, studies

indicate that black cohosh may actually reduce some of

the negative

side effects associated with conventional drug

estrogen replacement

therapy.

 

The constituents of black cohosh do not enter into

breast milk.

There are no contraindications for lactation nor any

problems found

for nursing children.

 

Effects on the nervous system: Black cohosh binds to

serotonin

receptors in the brain which may be helpful for

individuals suffering

from depression.

 

One study of over 900 peri-, pre- and post-

menopausal women with mood disorders found a

synergistic effect

between black cohosh and St. John's Wort (Hypericum

perforatum), the

herb most commonly used by individuals suffering from

mild

depression. (Liske et al. 1997)

 

==================================================================

Wild Yam - known to nourish the female reproductive

system.

==================================================================

 

 

Not to be confused with tuberous sweet potato yam,

wild yam is widely

used in the world today to supply nutrients essential

for optimal

glandular function. It nutritionally benefits the

urinary, nervous

and respiratory systems as well.

 

Wild yam was commonly called Colic root and Rheumatism

root a hundred

years ago in America. It is also

used in Chinese herbal medicine. It has traditionally

been used for

hot flashes, irritability, depression, insomnia, and

for other

symptoms of menopause.

 

 

Conclusion:

In this short article we have obviously only scratched

the surface

on the subject of phytoestrogens. Many other herbs and

foods could also

have been mentioned.

It is important to note that many of our natural

foods, i.e. organic

whole grains and nuts, also contain small amounts of

these

beneficial nutrients, and a healthy *plant*-based diet

(along

with a healthy balance of intestinal flora) goes a

long way in

helping women maintain a healthy and balanced

glandular system.

 

Your doctor does not know what is taking place inside

your body. In the

final analysis you are the best judge of this. I

encourage you to

listen

to your body, to learn about more

natural alternatives, and to find the approach that

works best for

you.

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html