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Phytoestrogens and breast cancer.
1Institute for Preventive Medicine, Nutrition, and Cancer, Folkhälsan Research Center, and Division of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, PL 60, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland. herman.adlercreutz@helsinki.fi
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
|March 26, 2003
Summary
Consuming soy foods may offer slight breast cancer protection for adult women, especially if eaten before puberty. A diet low in lignans, found in whole grains, increases breast cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Phytoestrogens, like isoflavones in soy and lignans in whole grains, are plant compounds studied for their potential health benefits.
- Dietary patterns rich in phytoestrogens have been investigated for their role in cancer prevention, particularly breast cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on the role of phytoestrogens, specifically soy isoflavones and whole grain lignans, in breast cancer prevention.
- To evaluate the evidence regarding the impact of soy consumption and lignan intake on breast cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological and case-control studies.
- Analysis of the relationship between dietary phytoestrogen intake and breast cancer incidence.
- Examination of factors influencing enterolactone levels, a biomarker for lignan intake.
Main Results:
- Soy consumption in adult women shows minimal to no protective effect against breast cancer.
- Early-life soy intake (pre-puberty/adolescence) may be beneficial for breast cancer prevention.
- Low lignan intake, indicated by low plasma enterolactone, is associated with increased breast cancer risk.
- Enterolactone levels are influenced by diverse dietary factors (whole grains, vegetables, berries) varying by country.
Conclusions:
- Dietary soy may have a limited role in breast cancer prevention for adults but could be beneficial when consumed during early life stages.
- Low lignan intake is a potential risk factor for breast cancer, though further research is needed to clarify the role of phytoestrogens as direct protective agents versus biomarkers of a healthy diet.