Effect of diet on excretion of estrogens in pre- and postmenopausal women.
Fecal, urinary, and plasma estrogens and plasma androgens were studied in healthy pre- and postmenopausal vegetarian and omnivorous women. Dietary histories of the subjects revealed that omnivores consumed a higher percentage of total protein and fat from animal sources. The total 72-hr fecal excretion as measured by dry weight was higher for vegetarians. Preliminary results indicate that vegetarian women excrete 2 to 3 times more estrogens in feces than do omnivores and that omnivores have about 50% higher mean plasma level of unconjugated estrone and estradiol than vegetarians. Estriol-3-glucuronide, a compound that is formed upon reabsorption of free estriol from the intestine, is found in lower concentrations in the urine of vegetarians. These data suggest that in vegetarians a greater amount of the biliary estrogens escape reabsorption and are excreted with the feces. The differences in estrogen metabolism may explain the lower incidence of breast cancer in vegetarian women.
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D014675:Vegetables
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens