The role of phytoestrogens in prevention of breast cancer

Introduction & Aim: Phytoestrogens are natural plant substances. The three main classes are isoflavones, coumestans, and lignans. Phytoestrogens have anticarcinogenic potential, they have also significant estrogenic properties. For an evaluation of the effect of phytoestrogens on breast cancer risk we reviewed the analytical epidemiological data.Material & Methods: This research is a review study that was down by referring to medical databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, IranMedex and etc. Then information regarding for the effect of Phytoestrogens and breast cancer from 1992 to present were collected.Results: So far, many studies, the direct relation between the individual dietary intake of soy products and the risk of breast cancer have assessed. Overall, results do not show protective effects, with the exception maybe for women who consume phytoestrogens at adolescence or at very high doses. Only in the results of the few article, phytoestrogens on the prevention of breast cancer effective were known.Conclusion: There are contradictory results on the effectiveness of phytoestrogens on the prevention of breast cancer. Despite numerous investigations, the mechanisms of phytoestrogen action in breast cancer have yet to be elucidated. It remains uncertain whether these plant compounds are chemoprotective or whether they may produce adverse outcomes related to breast carcinogenesis. In conclusion, few prospective studies were done to assess the effects of phytoestrogens on breast cancer risk. None of them found protective effects. However, these prospective studies did not focus on ‘age at consumption’, which seems to be important based finding for further studies.

Keywords:

Phytoestrogen , breast cancer