title: Effects of diet supplementation with wheat bran on serum estrogen levels in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
abstract: There is both epidemiologic and experimental support for the hypothesis that a high-fiber diet can reduce breast cancer risk; this may be due, at least in part, to a reduction in circulating estrogens. This study examined the effects of three levels of wheat bran supplementation (5, 10, and 20 g/d for 2 mo) on the major serum estrogens during both the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. The 10- and 20-g supplements, which increased the total dietary fiber intakes to approximately 20 and 32 g/d, respectively, resulted in significant decreases in the luteal serum estrone (P < 0.05 and < 0.02, respectively). The serum estradiol was significantly reduced in the 10-g wheat bran group after 2 mo (P < 0.05); the 20-g supplemented group showed a significant decrease in estradiol at 1 mo (P < 0.02), but not at 2 mo. No changes occurred in the estrone sulfate concentrations. During the follicular phase, the 10-g wheat bran group exhibited a significant reduction in the serum estrone (P < 0.02). Only the serum estrone sulfate showed any reduction with the 20-g supplement, and this just failed to achieve significance (P = 0.07). Serum sex hormone-binding globulin levels were unaffected by wheat bran. When of long duration, these effects may be sufficient to favorably influence breast cancer risk in Western women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition and Endocrinology, American Health Foundation, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lubin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004967:Estrogens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C017296:estrone sulfate