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1.
The Effects and Action Mechanisms of Phytoestrogens on Vasomotor Symptoms During Menopausal Transition: Thermoregulatory Mechanism.
Hairi, HA, Shuid, AN, Ibrahim, N', Jamal, JA, Mohamed, N, Mohamed, IN
Current drug targets. 2019;(2):192-200
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phytoestrogens have recently been claimed to positively influence menopausal discomforts, including hot flashes. However, little is known about the influence of phytoestrogens on core body temperature during oestrogen fluctuation at menopause. OBJECTIVE Previously published findings showed that phytoestrogens could relieve menopausal complaints, thus, the present review was aimed at assessing the effects of phytoestrogens on thermoregulatory mechanism during menopausal transition. RESULTS The molecular mechanisms underlying hot flashes are complex. Oestrogen fluctuations cause hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre dysfunction, which leads to hot flashes during menopause. The phytoestrogens of interest, in relation to human health, include isoflavones, lignans, coumestans, and stilbenes, which are widely distributed in nature. The phytoestrogens are capable of reducing hot flashes via their oestrogen-like hormone actions. The potential effects of phytoestrogens on hot flashes and their molecular mechanisms of action on thermoregulatory centre are discussed in this review. CONCLUSION The effects of phytoestrogens on these mechanisms may help explain their beneficial effects in alleviating hot flashes and other menopausal discomforts.
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2.
Isoflavones and bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Lambert, MNT, Jeppesen, PB
Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care. 2018;(6):475-480
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Isoflavones exert estrogenic activity distinct from estrogen, they have the potential to treat diseases and symptoms related to estrogen deficiency with minimal side effects and risks. Isoflavone supplementation, in general, is shown to exert beneficial effects against estrogen-deficient bone loss in women, however, some clinical trials still produce conflicting findings. The purpose of this review is to highlight and summarize the most recent and up-to-date research in the field and to bring attention to factors that play a major role in the outcomes of clinical trials that investigate phytoestrogens. Here, we also discuss the latest and most relevant data regarding the clinical safety of these substances. RECENT FINDINGS Isoflavones are naturally occurring secondary metabolites found in the Fabacaea plant family. Clinical data from isoflavone interventions support that aglycones (abundant in fermented products) exert enhanced beneficial effects against estrogen-deficient bone loss in women compared with isoflavone glycosides. Studies that employ methods to determine isoflavone content and form of treatments are more likely detect beneficial effects on bone. EFSA have confirmed the safety of isoflavones for women in the most comprehensive report to date. SUMMARY Isoflavone aglycones exert greater effects against bone loss than glycosides. Isoflavones show promise as a first-line prophylactic/treatment for bone loss in women.
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3.
[Research progress in phytoestrogens of traditional Chinese medicine].
Zhao, Y, Zheng, HX, Xu, Y, Lin, N
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica. 2017;(18):3474-3487
Abstract
Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds, which have a similarity in structure with human endogenous estrogen 17-β-estradiol. Structural likeness enables phytoestrogens to interact with estrogen receptors, not simply mimicking the effects of human steroidal estrogen but also exhibiting similar and divergent actions. The global literature relating to phytoestrogen in recent years was systematically summarized in this paper. Chemical compositions of phytoestrogens were mainly flavonoids, coumarins, lignans, terpenoids, steroids, etc., with a character of prevention and treatment of perimenopausal syndrome, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, cancer, regulation of brain function and other pharmacological effects. The mechanisms of action mainly included classical estrogen receptor pathway, epigenetic effect, activation of 5'-adenosyl-phospho-activated protein kinase, inhibition of kinase, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, regulation of apoptosis-related proteins, inhibition of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway and so on. According to their efficacy classification, phytoestrogens were mainly distributed in the tonifying medicines, blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicines and heat-clearing medicines. The classical prescriptions with estrogen activity included tonifying formula, Qi-regulating formula and harmonizing formula, etc. This review was aimed at providing a certain reference for the further study of phytoestrogens by researchers and clinicians.
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4.
Review of Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms.
Moore, TR, Franks, RB, Fox, C
Journal of midwifery & women's health. 2017;(3):286-297
Abstract
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments have been used for thousands of years around the world. There has been increased interest in utilizing CAM for menopausal symptoms since the release of results of the Women's Health Initiative elucidated long-term adverse effects associated with hormone therapy. Women looking for more natural or safer means to treat hot flushes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms often turn to CAM such as yoga, phytoestrogens, or black cohosh. Yet there have been few well-conducted studies looking at the efficacy of these treatments. This review examines randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating the effectiveness of commonly used CAM for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
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5.
[PHYTOESTROGENS: MECHANISMS OF CORRECTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF CLIMACTERIC SYNDROME.].
Plotnikoval, TM, Anishchenko, AM, Plotnikov, MB
Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia. 2017;(1):39-44
Abstract
The pharmacodynamics of phytoestrogens representing nonsteroidal compounds of plant origin with variable affinity to estrogen receptor subtypes has been studied. Clinical and experimental data on the mechanisms of action of phytoestrogens of the isoflavone and lignan classes are presented and their effects ca- pable of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease development in women with climacteric syndrome and in experimental hypoestrogenemia are considered.
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6.
Cardiac glycosides and breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
Karasneh, RA, Murray, LJ, Cardwell, CR
International journal of cancer. 2017;(5):1035-1041
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Abstract
Cardiac glycosides are phytoestrogens and have been linked to the risk of estrogen sensitive cancers such as uterus cancer. However, the association between use of cardiac glycosides and risk of breast cancer remains unclear. We investigated the association between cardiac glycosides use and the risk of breast cancer by systematically reviewing the published literature and performing meta-analyses. A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and SCOPUS to identify all relevant articles published up to November 2015. Risk estimates, and accompanying standard errors, for the association between cardiac glycoside use and breast cancer were extracted from identified studies. Meta-analysis models were used to calculate a combined hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI), and to investigate heterogeneity between studies. In total, nine studies were identified investigating cardiac glycosides use and risk of developing breast cancer. Overall, there was evidence to suggest an association between cardiac glycosides use and breast cancer risk (HR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.25, 1.44; p < 0.001) with little variation in the association between studies (I2 = 16%, p for heterogeneity = 0.30). Results were little altered when analysis was restricted to studies with high quality scores or cohort studies. Overall, there was a 34% increase in breast risk with use of cardiac glycosides but it is unclear whether this association reflects confounding or is causal. Further observational studies are required to examine this association particularly for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and to explore the role of potential confounding variables.
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Does phytoestrogen supplementation improve cognition in humans? A systematic review.
Thaung Zaw, JJ, Howe, PRC, Wong, RHX
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2017;(1):150-163
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that resveratrol, a phytoestrogen, can improve cognitive function in postmenopausal women by enhancing cerebral vasodilator responsiveness. We examine the effects of phytoestrogen supplementation on cognition and compare resveratrol with other phytoestrogens. Databases were searched for reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) containing terms describing phytoestrogens together with terms relating to cognition. Effect sizes were determined for changes in cognition. We identified 23 RCTs, 15 with isoflavone and eight with resveratrol or grape formulations. Six soy isoflavone studies showed positive cognitive effects of medium size. Greater benefits were seen in women who were <10 years postmenopausal and supplemented for <6 months. Small-to-medium effect-size cognitive benefits of resveratrol were seen in four studies of older adults of mixed gender and in postmenopausal women who took 150-200 mg resveratrol daily for at least 14 weeks. No benefits were seen in three studies using red clover or grape formulations. Supplementation with either soy isoflavone or resveratrol improved executive function and memory domains of cognitively normal older adults in half of the included studies, mostly with medium effect sizes. The cognitive benefit of resveratrol was related to improved cerebral perfusion.
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8.
Phytoestrogens and risk of prostate cancer: an updated meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies.
Zhang, Q, Feng, H, Qluwakemi, B, Wang, J, Yao, S, Cheng, G, Xu, H, Qiu, H, Zhu, L, Yuan, M
International journal of food sciences and nutrition. 2017;(1):28-42
Abstract
This updated meta-analysis was performed to clarify the relationship between phytoestrogens and prostate cancer risk. Twenty one case-control and two cohort studies were finally selected for this meta-analysis, totaling 11,346 cases and 140,177 controls. Analytical results showed that daidzein (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.96), genistein (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78-0.98), and glycitein (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81-0.98) were associated with a reduction of prostate cancer risk, but total isoflavones (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.84-1.04), equol (OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.66-1.14), total lignans (OROgna.05; 95% CI: 0.54-2.04), secoisolariciresinol (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.83-1.24), matairesinol (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.75-1.11), enterolactone (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.73-1.20), and coumestrol (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.76-1.06) were not. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses demonstrated that the pooled estimates were stable and reliable. The results support the notion that some phytoestrogens may have a role in decreasing the risk of prostate cancer. Additional large and well-designed cohort studies are needed to confirm these relationships.
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9.
Phytoestrogens and Related Food Components in the Prevention of Cancer.
Qadir, MI, Cheema, BN
Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression. 2017;(2):99-112
Abstract
Great progress has been made in the fight against disease in many different fields of medicine, especially in the field of natural medicine. Phytoestrogens and related compounds play a major role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Chemoprevention, a narrative approach for controlling cancer, involves the use of specific natural products or synthetic chemical agents to overturn, repress, or prevent pre-malignancy before the development of invasive cancer. Several natural products confer protective effects against a wide range of cancers; examples include grains, nuts, cereals, spices, fruits, vegetables, beverages, medicinal plants, herbs, and their various phytochemical constituents including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and nitrogen-containing and organosulfur compounds. Phytoestrogens and related compounds act by different mechanisms that ultimately provide benefit with minimum or no side effects and protect and treat different types of cancer, including liver, lung, colon, breast, prostate, esophagus, oral, intestinal, and many other carcinomas.
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10.
Probiotic Bacteria for Healthier Aging: Immunomodulation and Metabolism of Phytoestrogens.
Landete, JM, Gaya, P, Rodríguez, E, Langa, S, Peirotén, Á, Medina, M, Arqués, JL
BioMed research international. 2017;:5939818
Abstract
Age-related degeneration gives rise to a number of pathologies, many of them associated with imbalances of the microbiota and the gut-associated immune system. Thus, the intestine is considered a key target organ to improve the quality of life in senescence. Gut microbiota can have a powerful impact in the deterioration linked to aging by its nutritional and immunomodulatory activity. Reduced numbers of beneficial species and low microbial biodiversity in the elderly have been linked with pathogenesis of many diseases. A healthy lifestyle with an elderly customized diet including probiotics can contribute to reducing the chronic proinflammatory status and other age-related pathologies. Beneficial effects of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria to alleviate some of these disorders based on their immunomodulatory properties as well as their capacity to produce bioactive metabolites from dietary phytoestrogens are summarized. On one hand, the preservation of gut barrier integrity and an increased ability to fight infections are the main reported immune benefits of probiotics. On the other hand, the intake of a diet rich in phytoestrogens along with the presence of selected probiotic bacteria may lead to the production of equol, enterolignans, and urolithins, which are considered protective against chronic diseases related to aging.