Good health requires balance. Exercise and rest, work and play, "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol ... it all gets a bit overwhelming, especially when the concerns of daily living seem to push your health concerns to the bottom of the list. And if you are a woman, you've probably heard that hormonal balance is yet another important component of your well-being. Estrogen dominance, a common form of hormonal imbalance, is a condition that exists when estrogen overpowers the other hormones in your body. Although many women use phytoestrogens, or plant-based hormones, to address the symptoms of estrogen dominance, these preparations are not approved for treating any medical condition.
Soy
Soy has been the object of intensive research since epidemiologic studies showed that Asians, whose diets are high in soy, have a lower incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer and other estrogen-related disease. A 2009 study in "Breast Cancer Research and Treatment" even discusses the possibility that isoflavones, a subclass of phytoestrogens, may offer protective effects in women who already have breast cancer. Among the isoflavones found in soy, genistein has been the most studied and most widely used in supplements. According to Dr. Duane Townsend, author of "A Maverick of Medicine Speaks to Women," genistein and other phytoestrogens can alleviate many of the symptoms of estrogen dominance, including breast tenderness, heavy menstrual flow, water retention and fatigue. Scientific data regarding the use of soy for treating any condition are inconclusive.
Red Clover
Red clover extracts, which are rich sources of genistein, daidzein, biochanin and other isoflavones, are commonly used to reduce menopausal symptoms in women who cannot tolerate or who wish to avoid prescription hormone replacement therapy. A 2008 study in the journal "Menopause" postulates that red clover isoflavones may not only benefit menopausal women, but they could exert effects that reduce the risk for metabolic syndrome, a precursor of diabetes and a risk factor for heart disease. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of red clover for treating or preventing any disease.
Kudzu
Kudzu, a fast-growing vine that has become an invasive species in some areas, contains at least a dozen different phytoestrogens, including genistein. Kudzu has not been investigated as extensively as soy or red clover, but the authors of a 2005 study in "The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" suggest that kudzu root extract could serve as a replacement for standard hormone replacement therapy. However, its widespread use for any condition cannot be recommended at this time.
References
- PubMed: Dietary Intake of Isoflavones and Breast Cancer Risk by Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Status
- "A Maverick of Medicine Speaks to Women"; Duane Townsend, M.D., and Rita Elkins, M.H.; 2003
- PubMed: Red Clover Extract: A Putative Source for Simultaneous Treatment of Menopausal Disorders and the Metabolic Syndrome
- PubMed: Isoflavones From Vines of Pueraria lobata
- PubMed: Analysis of the Estrogenic Components in Kudzu Root by Bioassay and High Performance Liquid Chromatography
