Almost a quarter of middle-aged women in the United States use natural estrogen supplements to treat premenstrual or menopausal symptoms or to decrease the risk of breast cancer. Women who choose to make use of natural supplements should do so guardedly, as the quality of these supplements fluctuates, and their safety, especially with long-term use, is in doubt.
Pros and Cons of Phytoestrogens
Research has shown that estrogen-like compounds from plants, called phytoestrogens, could possibly block the effect of estrogen in the body and conceivably decrease breast cancer risk, according to a November 2010 article in the "International Journal of Women's Health." Phytoestrogens occur in numerous dietary supplements and are promoted as a natural alternative to estrogen replacement therapy. However, current clinical studies have shown that women on diets high in phytoestrogens experience greater cell multiplication in the breast, according to a March 2010 article by H.B. Patisaul in "Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology." This effect could be a preliminary step in cancer formation by directing growth of latent cancer cells. A litany of health benefits, including a lowered risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer and menopausal symptoms, is frequently attributed to phytoestrogens, but many are also considered endocrine disruptors, indicating that they have the potential to cause adverse health effects as well, according to a June 2003 article in the "Journal of Nutrition." Consequently, the question of whether phytoestrogens are valuable or detrimental to human health remains unresolved.
Sources of Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens occur in a wide variety of plants, most notably soy, yams and sarsaparilla, and in herbs such as chasteberry, black cohosh and dong quai.
Dietary Sources
The main phytoestrogen in soybeans, genistein, is only 1/1000 as effective as the variety that occurs naturally in the body. For women who produce enough estrogen, genistein can in fact reduce overall activity by competing with that naturally produced for positions on estrogen receptor sites of target cells, thereby diminishing the effects, as reported by Patisaul. The real benefit could be in lowering the body's effective estrogen level, thereby reducing development of breast cancer.
Wild yam is often used to produce natural estrogen cream. It has been used to help avert miscarriage and thwart pain during childbirth. Discovery of wild yam's active ingredient, diosgenin, eventually led to the development of the birth control pill. Detrimental effects of wild yam are unknown. Make an informed decision as to whether or not to risk trying the supplement.
Sarsaparilla produces precursors to the hormone progesterone. It is frequently employed with ginseng to alleviate fatigue in menopausal women, according to an August 2006 article in "Social Science and Medicine." It is particularly useful at the end of the menstrual cycle when progesterone is more abundant than estrogen. Sarsaparilla consumed repeatedly and in large amounts could irritate the stomach.
Herbal Sources
Chasteberry, also known as vitex, has progesterone-like actions within the body. It is helpful for a number of menstrual symptoms. Chasteberry can improve ill symptoms of the menstrual cycle, as it manipulates pituitary hormone production, as reported in a June 2009 article in "Biomedcentral Medical Research Methodology." It defends against intense bleeding, fluid retention and breast tenderness. Long-term usage has been linked to liver damage and even death.
Black cohosh supplies elements necessary to produce the body's own estrogen. It is frequently used to relieve menstrual cramps. Clinical studies have shown that black cohosh can also alleviate hot flashes, depression and vaginal dryness, according to a September 2007 study published in "Biomedcentral Pharmacology." There are no known detrimental effects with this herb.
Dong Quai, a popular Chinese herb, can offer numerous benefits for women experiencing menopausal symptoms by providing relief from hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and menopause-related stress. Several varieties of dong quai have been widely investigated for phototoxic effects; however, only Angelica gigas (Korean angelica) has been verified to induce photodermatitis.
Considerations for Supplemental Therapy
Some plants indisputably offer significant amounts of phytoestrogens and can measurably impact human physiology; however, they don't require Food and Drug Administration approval and thus aren't subject to thorough testing before being stocked on the shelves. Women should select only high-quality products from reputable suppliers and inform their health-care providers about their use, as herbal supplements may adversely interact with other medications.
References
- "International Journal of Women's Health"; Soy use and vasomotor symptoms: Soy Estrogen Alternative follow-up study; MZ Vitolins; November 2010
- "Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology"; The pros and cons of phytoestrogens; HB Patisaul; March 2010
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Phytoestrogen supplement use by women; MS Kurzer; June 2003
- "Social Science and Medicine"; Symptoms, Attitudes and Treatment Choices Surrounding Menopause among the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala; JL Michel; August 2006.
- "Biomedcentral Medical Research Methodology ", Are we drawing the right conclusions from randomised placebo-controlled trials? A post-hoc analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial; M D van Die; June 2009
- "Biomedcentral Pharmacology"; Gene expression profiling reveals effects of Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) NUTT. (black cohosh) on the estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7; G Friedemann; September 2007
