Adlercreutz H, Mazur W
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Meilahti Hospital, Finland.
Ann Med. 1997 Apr;29(2):95-120. doi: 10.3109/07853899709113696.
Incidences of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer are high in the Western world compared to countries in Asia. We have postulated that the Western diet compared to the semivegetarian diet in some Asian countries may alter hormone production, metabolism or action at the cellular level by some biochemical mechanisms. Our interest has been focused on two groups of hormone-like diphenolic phyto-oestrogens of dietary origin, the lignans and isoflavonoids abundant in plasma of subjects living in areas with low cancer incidence. The precursors of the biologically active compounds detected in man are found in soybean products, whole-grain cereal food, seeds, and berries. The plant lignan and isoflavonoid glycosides are converted by intestinal bacteria to hormone-like compounds. The weakly oestrogenic diphenols formed influence sex-hormone production, metabolism and biological activity, intracellular enzymes, protein synthesis, growth factor action, malignant cell proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion and angiogenesis in such a way as to make them strong candidates for a role as natural cancer-protective compounds. Their effect on some of the most important steroid biosynthetic enzymes may result in beneficial modulation of hormone concentrations and action in the cells preventing development of cancer. Owing to their oestrogenic activity they reduce hot flushes and vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women and may to some degree inhibit osteoporosis, but alone they may be insufficient for complete protection. Soy intake prevents oxidation of the low-density lipoproteins in vitro when isolated from soy-treated individuals and affect favourably plasma lipid concentrations. Animal experiments provide evidence suggesting that both lignans and isoflavonoids may prevent the development of cancer as well as atherosclerosis. However, in some of these experiments it has not been possible to separate the phyto-oestrogen effect from the effect of other components in the food. The isoflavonoids and lignans may play a significant inhibitory role in cancer development particularly in the promotional phase of the disease, but recent evidence points also to a role in the initiation stage of carcinogenesis. At present, however, no definite recommendations can be made as to the dietary amounts needed for prevention of disease. This review deals with all the above-mentioned aspects of phyto-oestrogens.
与亚洲国家相比，西方世界乳腺癌、结直肠癌和前列腺癌的发病率较高。我们推测，与一些亚洲国家的半素食饮食相比，西方饮食可能通过某些生化机制改变细胞水平上的激素产生、代谢或作用。我们的兴趣集中在两组源自饮食的类激素双酚类植物雌激素，即木脂素和异黄酮，它们在癌症发病率低的地区居民的血浆中含量丰富。在人体内检测到的生物活性化合物的前体存在于大豆制品、全谷物食品、种子和浆果中。植物木脂素和异黄酮糖苷被肠道细菌转化为类激素化合物。形成的弱雌激素双酚会影响性激素的产生、代谢和生物活性、细胞内酶、蛋白质合成、生长因子作用、恶性细胞增殖、分化、细胞黏附和血管生成，使其成为天然癌症保护化合物的有力候选者。它们对一些最重要的类固醇生物合成酶的作用可能会对激素浓度和细胞内作用产生有益的调节，从而预防癌症的发生。由于它们的雌激素活性，它们可以减少绝经后女性的潮热和阴道干燥，并且在一定程度上可能抑制骨质疏松症，但仅靠它们可能不足以提供完全的保护。从食用大豆的个体中分离出的大豆摄入物在体外可防止低密度脂蛋白氧化，并对血浆脂质浓度产生有利影响。动物实验提供的证据表明，木脂素和异黄酮都可能预防癌症以及动脉粥样硬化的发展。然而，在其中一些实验中，无法将植物雌激素的作用与食物中其他成分的作用区分开来。异黄酮和木脂素可能在癌症发展中，特别是在疾病的促进阶段发挥重要的抑制作用，但最近的证据也表明它们在致癌作用的起始阶段也发挥作用。然而，目前对于预防疾病所需的饮食量还无法给出明确的建议。本综述涉及植物雌激素的上述所有方面。
