Phytoestrogens are plant compounds with effects similar to those of estrogen, although somewhat weaker. The best-researched phytoestrogens are isoflavones, which are commonly found in soy and red clover. The uses for these isoflavones are just like that of soy, simply because isoflavones are found in soy. However, so are many other compounds so its not easy to say what exactly isoflavones account for. Soy has shown useful in myriad ways such as the reduction of menopausal symptoms. Estrogens (also oestrogens) are a group of steroid compounds that function as the primary female sex hormone. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... Binomial name Trifolium pratense L. Flower close-up Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae, that is, pea family. ...
Phytoestrogens are a group of compounds found in plants that influence our own estrogen activity.
When the phytoestrogens are successful, they decrease overall estrogenic activity because their effect on the target tissues is less than if estradiol had been allowed to bind.
Much of the early research on phytoestrogens was done with animals and interest was likely sparked by the observation that sheep that grazed too much on clover became temporarily infertile.
Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal plant molecules whose structure differs from gonadal hormones, but with an estrogen-type activity: they are capable of interacting with estrogen receptors, showing both agonist and antagonist methods of action.
The beneficial effects of various classes of phytoestrogens present in nature are now known, but the main isoflavone present in soy, genistein, appears to be particularly effective.
Although phytoestrogens have not yet been used in long-term trials to evaluate their ability to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the evidence thus far suggests that they have a protective effect against the growth of prostate tumors.
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