Usual consumption of plant foods containing phytoestrogens and sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women in Wisconsin.
Consumption of phytoestrogens may reduce hormone-dependent cancer risk through alterations in the actions or metabolism of steroid hormones. Studies in humans of phytoestrogen-hormone interactions have been limited and inconsistent. Relations between the consumption of phytoestrogen-containing foods and serum sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin were studied in a population-based sample of postmenopausal women who participated in the Nutritional Factors in Eye Disease Study of the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Information on phytoestrogen-containing foods (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chili, dark bread, peas, and dried beans) was collected by interviewer-administered food-frequency questionnaires. Estrone, sex hormone-binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and total and free testosterone were measured. Analyses included 246 postmenopausal women not taking hormone replacements. Partial correlations between hormones and intake of phytoestrogen-containing foods were computed, with adjustment for age, body mass index, years since menopause, and total energy intake. Number of standard servings per week of whole-grain products from the dark bread group was inversely associated with total testosterone (r = -0.20, p = 0.002). Although not statistically significant, other hormones displayed similar inverse associations with dark bread consistent with a common metabolic pathway. Although the magnitude of association was small, the data are consistent with the possibility that consumption of some phytoestrogen-containing foods may affect levels of testosterone in postmenopausal women.
Shoff
S M
SM
University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison 53706, USA.
Newcomb
P A
PA
Mares-Perlman
J A
JA
Klein
B E
BE
Haffner
S M
SM
Storer
B E
BE
Klein
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017698:Postmenopause; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D014922:Wisconsin; D016387:Women's Health
D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations