Posted on 03. Dec, 2009 by Kerry D Friesen, M.D. in Nutritional Therapy, Women's Health
Hot flashes can be hard to handle...
Resveratrol To The Rescue!
Of all the phytoestrogens (plant compounds with weak estrogen-like activity), resveratrol, is now considered the safest and most effective alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Resveratrol you’ll remember is an extract of red wine and grape skins and now, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, may represent a safer alternative to hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and could help prevent breast cancer.
Does Diet Help?
While the benefits of other phytoestrogens on breast cancer prevention are still considered controversial, population studies suggest that a diet high in fat may increase the risk for breast cancer in susceptible individuals, while a diet rich in polyphenols (such as resveratrol), may decrease risk. The role of soy in the prevention of breast cancer remains clouded at best, with no scientific consensus.
What Do We Know?
In the study, three compounds were carefully compared for phytoestrogen and anti-tumor properties—resveratrol, geistein and glycitein (both phytoestrogens found in soy). Resveratrol exerted the most dominant estrogen-like activity and little to no potential for tumor growth.
In fact, resveratrol seemed to inhibit cell growth, confirming it’s anti-tumor activity.
If true, resveratrol will both relieve the symptoms of menopause and decrease risk for breast cancer—a true “win—win” situation.
Source: Journal of Nutritional BiochemistryPublished online ahead of print: doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2009.06.010
Title: Effects of diverse dietary phytoestrogens on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis in estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer cells
Authors: T Sakamoto, H Horiguchi, E Oguma, F Kayama
Tags: breast cancer prevention, chemoprevention, daidzein, estrogen, genistein, menopause, phytoestrogens, progestin, resveratrol
