In the prostatic epithelium, dietary isoflavones from red clover significantly increase estrogen receptor beta and...

In mice fed a diet supplemented with red clover isoflavones the prostatic epithelium displays a significant increase in the production of estrogen receptor beta and the adhesion protein E-cadherin but a decrease in transforming growth factor beta1. These proteins are estrogenically-induced markers of proliferation, maintenance of histological architecture, preservation of cell phenotype and reduction of the potential for neoplastic and metastatic transformation. This study suggests that red clover isoflavones represent a non-toxic dietary treatment for prostatic hyperplasia and a reduction in the potential for neoplastic transformation.