title: Variations in plasma phytoestrogen concentrations in European adults.
abstract: Dietary phytoestrogens may play a role in chronic disease occurrence. The aim of our study was to assess the variability of plasma concentrations in European populations. We included 15 geographical regions in 9 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and UK) and a 16th region, Oxford, UK, where participants were recruited from among vegans and vegetarians. All subjects were participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Plasma concentrations of 3 isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, and glycitein), 2 metabolites of daidzein [O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) and equol] and 2 mammalian lignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) were measured in 1414 participants. We computed geometric means for each region and used multivariate regression analysis to assess the influence of region, adjusted for gender, age, BMI, alcohol intake, smoking status, and laboratory batch. Many subjects had concentrations below the detection limit [0.1 microg/L (0.4 nmol/L)] for glycitein (80%), O-DMA (73%) and equol (62%). Excluding subjects from Oxford, UK, the highest concentrations of isoflavones were in subjects from the Netherlands and Cambridge, UK [2-6 microg/L (7-24 nmol/L); P < 0.05], whereas concentrations for lignans were highest in Denmark [8 microg/L (27 nmol/L); P < 0.05]. Isoflavones varied 8- to 13-fold, whereas lignans varied 4-fold. In the vegetarian/vegan cohort of Oxford, concentrations of isoflavones were 5-50 times higher than in nonvegetarian regions. Region was the most important determinant of plasma concentrations for all 7 phytoestrogens. Despite the fact that plasma concentrations of phytoestrogens in Europe were low compared with Asian populations, they varied substantially among subjects from the 16 different regions.
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands. p.h.m.peeters@umcutrecht.nl
authors: Petra H M
authors: PH
authors: Peeters
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Slimani
authors: Yvonne T
authors: YT
authors: van der Schouw
authors: Philip B
authors: PB
authors: Grace
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Navarro
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Tjonneland
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Olsen
authors: Francoise
authors: F
authors: Clavel-Chapelon
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Touillaud
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Boutron-Ruault
authors: Mazda
authors: M
authors: Jenab
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Kaaks
authors: Jakob
authors: J
authors: Linseisen
authors: Antonia
authors: A
authors: Trichopoulou
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Trichopoulos
authors: Vardis
authors: V
authors: Dilis
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Boeing
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Weikert
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Overvad
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Pala
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Palli
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Panico
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Tumino
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Vineis
authors: H Bas
authors: HB
authors: Bueno-de-Mesquita
authors: Carla H
authors: CH
authors: van Gils
authors: Guri
authors: G
authors: Skeie
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Jakszyn
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Hallmans
authors: Goran
authors: G
authors: Berglund
authors: Tim J
authors: TJ
authors: Key
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Travis
authors: Elio
authors: E
authors: Riboli
authors: Sheila A
authors: SA
authors: Bingham
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D017705:Lignans / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D017705:Lignans; D048789:Phytoestrogens; C004742:daidzein