Phytoestrogens and Health

  • Janet Cade
  • Victoria Burley
  • Sara Kirk
Chapter

Abstract

Phytoestrogens are compounds that are naturally present in almost all plant foods to a varying degree. They include several different classes of chemical compounds known as isoflavones, coumestans and lignans (Fig. 1). These compounds are structurally similar to the human hormone oestradiol, which is the most potent form of oestrogen [1]. Oestrogen is known to be ofkey importance in the maintenance of female reproductive health and bone density and is also believed to have a cardioprotective effect in pre-menopausal women. For these reasons, phytoestrogens are being viewed as potentially important in the development and management of a range of human diseases, including heart disease and some forms of hormone-sensitive cancers.

Keywords

Soya Bean Menopausal Symptom Soya Milk Soya Food Isoflavone Intake 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001

Authors and Affiliations

  • Janet Cade
  • Victoria Burley
  • Sara Kirk

There are no affiliations available

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