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[Complementary medicine: phytotherapy and soyaisoflavones as phytoestrogens]
J Melzer1, R Brignoli, R Saller
1Universitätsspital Zürich, Departement Innere Medizin, Abteilung Naturheilkunde, Zürich, Schweiz. joerg.melzer@usz.ch
Zentralblatt Fur Gynakologie
|July 6, 2004
Summary
Soy isoflavones, found in food, appear health protective, potentially preventing cancer and menopausal issues. However, isolated soy isoflavone supplements lack proven additional health benefits compared to whole foods.
Area of Science:
- Phytotherapy and Naturopathy
- Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals
Context:
- Naturopathy has a 150-year tradition in German-speaking countries.
- Complementary medicine, a broader term, encompasses diverse global medical traditions.
- Phytotherapy, the use of herbal drugs, is a well-established area within complementary medicine.
Purpose:
- To provide an overview of soy isoflavones as phytoestrogens.
- To differentiate between multicompound phytotherapy and single-substance nutraceuticals using soy isoflavones as an example.
- To review scientific data on soy isoflavones for disease prevention.
Summary:
- Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens with potential health benefits.
- Phytotherapy utilizes complex herbal compounds, distinct from isolated dietary supplements.
- Review of experimental and clinical data on soy isoflavones for cancer, menopause, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases.
Impact:
- Consumption of phytoestrogen-rich foods shows health-protective effects.
- The added health benefits of supplementing with single phytoestrogens remain unproven.
- Highlights the importance of whole-food sources over isolated compounds for health.