A number of non-steroidal estrogenic substances are common naturally-occurring constituents of human foods. Concern over dietary estrogens has focused largely on the consumption of trace amounts of diethylstilbestrol (DES) from tissues of cattle fed the compound as a growth stimulant. Human exposure to naturally-occurring fungal and phytoestrogens in foods is, however, substantially larger than exposure to DES in animal tissues. Occurrence, potency and toxicity of the estrogenic isoflavones, coumestans and resorcylic acid lactones are reviewed.
A number of nonsteroidal estrogens, which are common naturally occurring substances in human foods, were examined for competitive binding to estrogen receptor proteins. These compounds bound competitively to estrogen receptor proteins in rat uterine cytosol, in tissue from 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumors, and in human mammary tumor tissue. The relative affinity of these estrogens for rat uterine cytosol receptors paralleled closely the affinities reported for other receptors. Oral administration of coumestrol did not appear to support the growth of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors, nor did coumestrol act as an antiestrogen when administered orally in combination with 17 beta-estradiol. Coumestrol administered sc might, however, be able to support the growth of these tumors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.