Endocrine disrupters and menopausal health.
Chemicals known to disrupt the endocrine system of animal models are assessed for their potential impact on the health of menopausal and postmenopausal women. These "endocrine disrupters" consist of two groups of compounds - man-made and naturally occurring. There is some evidence to suggest that the naturally occurring phytoestrogens, derived from plant material, may have some beneficial effects on menopausal symptoms and the risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Further studies are required to confirm these possibilities. Some man-made environmental pollutants appear to increase the risk of breast cancer, although again the evidence is inconclusive. Mechanistic experiments indicate that these chemicals interact with oestrogen receptors and alter metabolism in a number of different ways, some of which may be important in postmenopausal women. Further investigation of the differences in mode of action between the man-made and the natural endocrine disrupters may lead to important insights into their effects on women's health.
Holmes
Philip
P
MRC Institute for Environment and Health, University of Leicester, 94 Regent Road, Leicester, LE1 7DD, UK.
Rumsby
Paul
P
Harrison
Paul T C
PT
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations