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Phytoestrogens and Health

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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.

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Authors
  1. Janet Cade
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  2. Victoria Burley
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  3. Sara Kirk
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health Nutrition Unit Trinity and All Saints, College of the University of Leeds, Leeds, LS18 5HD, UK

    Joan K. Ransley  & Judith K. Donnelly  & 

  2. The Centre for Integrated Medicine Institute for General Practice and Primary Care, University of Sheffield Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK

    Nicholas W. Read

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cade, J., Burley, V., Kirk, S. (2001). Phytoestrogens and Health. In: Ransley, J.K., Donnelly, J.K., Read, N.W. (eds) Food and Nutritional Supplements. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56623-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56623-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62598-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56623-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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