Phytoestrogens and human health effects: weighing up the current evidence

ABSTRACT. Mycotoxins constitute toxic substances produced by certain species of fungi. Among other mycotoxins, aflatoxins are considered to be really dangerous, since they are characterized as carcinogenic for animals and humans. The consumption of aflatoxins through feeds or foods could lead to deleterious effects on animals' or humans' health. Research on animals has shown that the general body condition as well as some of the blood parameters, mainly those of the liver could be negatively affected with aflatoxin administration. Regarding the reproductive system, although not extensively studied, some investigators support the negative effects of aflatoxins either on females or on males. More specifically, in male, the size and weight of the genital organs, the spermatogenesis, the number, the motility and the morphology of sperm cells as well as hormones' concentrations could be affected after exposure of the animals to aflatoxins, making infertility problems more frequent. Most studies refer to laboratory and less to productive animals, while only two studies refer to the possible problems of infertility on men due to aflatoxins. Since reproduction consists one of the most important sectors of animal husbandry, special attention should be paid to nutrition so that the possibility of the aflatoxin consumption by animals would be eliminated, the animal health especially regarding the reproductive system would be protected and economic losses would be ameliorated.

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“…fungi and can be detected in foods or feeds. Thus has been classified as a phytoestrogen acting as an endocrine disruptor (Humfrey, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of aflatoxins on male reproductive system: A review

Kourousekos¹,

Theodosiadou

2018

J Hellenic Vet Med Soc

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“…A few studies demonstrated that isoflavonoids, plant phenolic compounds found in soybeans and other legumes, could inhibit (Whitten et al, 1994;Ruh et al, 1995) or mimic the effect of E 2 (Miksicek, 1993;Benassayag et al, 2002). Therefore possible health risks or benefits of these compounds (Baker, 1998;Humfrey, 1998;Setchell, 2001) are worthy of further studies.…”

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confidence: 99%

Influence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phytoestrogens on prostaglandin F<sub>2α</sub> and E<sub>2</sub>secretion from bovine endometrial cells at a postovulatory stage of the estrous cycle

Wróbel¹,

Kotwica²

2005

Vet. Med. - Czech

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phytoestrogens were found to affect contractions of bovine uterus. Prostaglandins (PG) F 2α and E 2 are also involved in the uterine contractility. Hence the aim of these studies was to investigate the effect of PCBs and some phytoestrogens on PG secretion from endometrial cells obtained on days 1-5 of the oestrous cycle. Cells were incubated in aerated atmosphere at 38°C for 24 h, separately with the mixture of PCBs -Aroclor 1248 (10 ng/ml), with individual congeners -77, -126 or -153 (each at the dose 100 g/ml), coumestrol, daidzein or genistein (each at the dose 10 -6 M) or jointly each PCB with each of the phytoestrogens. Using the TOX1-kit neither Aroclor 1248 (Ar 1248) nor individual congeners were found to affect the viability of cells compared to the control (P > 0.05). All used PCBs markedly increased the metabolite of PGF 2α (PGFM) concentrations (P < 0.05) but not PGE 2 (P > 0.05). Hence the ratio of PGF 2α to PGE 2 was also increased by PCBs. However, when these cells were incubated with each of the phytoestrogens, there was a decrease in both PGF 2α and PGE 2 secretion compared to the control (P < 0.05) but without altering the PGF 2α : PGE 2 ratio. Moreover, phytoestrogens could clearly reduce the concentrations of PGFM elicited by PCBs, and they reduced PGE 2 secretion compared to that evoked by PCB-126 and -153 only. Thus phytoestrogens can restore the proper ratio of PGF 2α : PGE 2 secreted by the bovine endometrium.

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“…However, such strategies are still classified as an alternative to HRT. Healthy climacteric women need to know through empirical testing whether a natural estrogen mimic could be an effective replacement treatment [9]. Isoflavone is one of the best and widespread potential HRT alternatives [10], because soy contains very high isoflavone concentration [11], and soy flour supplementation reduces hot flushes and menopausal symptom scores [12] and positively affects vaginal epithelial maturation in postmenopausal women [13].…”

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confidence: 99%

Evidence of Estrogenic Effect by the Three-Month-Intervention of Isoflavone on Vaginal Maturation and Bone Metabolism in Early Postmenopausal Women

Uesugi¹,

Toda²,

Okuhira³

et al. 2003

Endocr J

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Abstract. Objective of the present study is to determine the estrogenic effect of isoflavone on vaginal epithelia and bone metabolism in early postmenopausal women. Twenty-two postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to either a group that was given isoflavone extract (61.8 mg) for three months or a control group that was given placebo. We measured the L2-4 bone mineral density (BMD) before and 3 months after treatment by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood and urine samples were obtained from the women before and 3 months after treatment. We measured FSH using radioimmunoassay and, urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline levels by HPLC. For endocrine cytology, vaginal smears were collected before and 3 months after the treatment. Three months after the treatment, the serum FSH levels and the BMD values did not significantly differ between the two groups. Urinary excretion of isoflavone was significantly higher in the group given isoflavone compared with that given placebo (p<0.03). Numbers of parabasal and intermediate types of cells were significantly decreased (58.2 ± 12.4% to 25.0 ± 10.7%; p<0.05) and increased (24.1 ± 8.7% to 63.7 ± 10.7%; p<0.05), respectively in the isoflavone group, but remained unchanged in the control group. Urinary pyridinoline excretion was significantly decreased (49.6% vs. before, p<0.01 by paired t-test) in the isoflavone group. The intake of 60 mg of isoflavone daily for 3 months produced maturational changes of vaginal epithelia without affecting serum FSH levels, and could possibly slow down bone turnover rates as judged by decreased urinary pyridinoline excretion.

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Phytoestrogens and human health effects: weighing up the current evidence

Cited by 87 publications

References 53 publications

Effects of aflatoxins on male reproductive system: A review

Effects of aflatoxins on male reproductive system: A review

Influence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phytoestrogens on prostaglandin F<sub>2α</sub> and E<sub>2</sub>secretion from bovine endometrial cells at a postovulatory stage of the estrous cycle

Evidence of Estrogenic Effect by the Three-Month-Intervention of Isoflavone on Vaginal Maturation and Bone Metabolism in Early Postmenopausal Women

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