Phytoestrogen

Withdrawal from anaboHc steroid treatment is not required before slaughter because residue levels in edible tissues are negligible, and are significantly lower than other sources of estradiol such as the normal endogenous production in humans and the phytoestrogens consumed in plant food sources (1). 

In assay sytems, many of these phytoestrogens are able to bind more avidly to the estrogen receptor than estrogen itself. Why plant products should possess such avid estrogenic compounds is unclear, but it has been suggested that consumption of phytoestrogens by insects may result in alterations in the sex... 

Phytoestrogens Isoflavones genistein ER/1, ERa" 3 Agonist Induces vitellogenin expression,... 

There is some evidence from a number of animal species that phytoestrogen consumption can interfere with reproductive development and function. ... 

Figure 1 Comparison of structure of the principal phytoestrogens and 17/ -oestradiol...

There is compelling evidence that both short- and long-term differences in diet result in alterations in the levels of phytoestrogens present in humans. Analysis of... 

Environment on phytoestrogens. Food Surveillance Paper No. 57, MAFF, London, 1996, pp. 59-81. 

This review briefly summarises the available evidence on the relative potency of the phytoestrogens, and discusses the evidence that beneficial effects on human diseases may potentially arise from consumption of foodstuffs containing these compounds, with particular regard to those effects that have been suggested as possibly being related to the hormone-receptor mediated activities of the phytoestrogens. Certain causes for concern regarding these compounds are also addressed. 

Table 1 Summary of relative poteneies of phytoestrogens (as % of 17/ -oestradiol value) ...

Prostate Cancer. Evidence that phytoestrogens can influence the incidence of male-speciflc diseases is restricted to prostate cancer, and is largely of an observational nature. In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common hormone-related cancer in men. However, like breast cancer in women, it is comparatively rare as a clinically evident disease in men living in Asian countries. 

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