The binding of blood-borne estrogens in normal vegetarian and omnivorous women and the risk of breast cancer.
Serial blood samples were taken at two-hour intervals over a 24-hour period from 25 premenopausal vegetarians (12 vegans and 13 ovolactovegetarians) and from 21 omnivorous controls. All members of the former group had been on a vegetarian diet for a minimum of three years. The mean proportion of estradiol unbound to blood proteins was similar in both vegetarians (1.26%) and meat eaters (1.16%). However, the amount bound to albumin was significantly raised in vegetarians (50.1% vs. 43.1%, p less than 0.009), whereas that bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was correspondingly lower (48.7% vs. 55.8%, p = 0.01). Mean levels of SHBG were similar in vegetarians (59.9 nmole/l) and omnivores (62.0 nmole/l), as was the total amount of free fatty acid (0.42 mmole/l for both). Within the vegetarian group, no differences were detected between vegans and ovolactovegetarians.
Fentiman
I S
IS
ICRF Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Caleffi
M
M
Wang
D Y
DY
Hampson
S J
SJ
Hoare
S A
SA
Clark
G M
GM
Moore
J W
JW
Bruning
P
P
Bonfrer
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004958:Estradiol