An interesting history of the discovery of phytoestrogens.
The English word "phytoestrogens" comes from the Greek word and is a hormone that affects female fertility in vertebrates. Phytoestrogens are compounds found in plants that, due to their molecular structure and size, are similar to estrogen, specifically estradiol (17-estradiol, E2), and have estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects.
Phytoestrogens associated with "alfalfa disease" were first reported in the 40s of the 20th century, which appeared in sheep grazing subterranean alfalfa (underground clover) in Australia. "Disease" manifests itself as a symptom of various reproductive disorders. High levels of circulating alfalferl were found in sheep suffering from alfalfa disease as a result of grazing several indigenous alfalfa species containing high concentrations of isoflavones. Estrol has even been found in urinary stones from cattle and sheep.
In 1932, estrol was first isolated from the urine of female horses, and large amounts of estriol were also found in the urine of stallions and non-pregnant mares. In this way, the original hypothesis of the relationship between estrol and high estrogen concentrations in pregnant organisms is overturned. After that, the seasonality of the occurrence of esmolol in horse urine was discovered, because in the autumn, the content of estriol decreased, and in winter, esmolol was not detected in the urine at all. Due to the interconnectedness of information and knowledge at that time, the equol diet was discovered**, which played a major role in causing an imbalance of estrogen balance in sheep. Since then, the occurrence of estrol has been reported in the urine or plasma of many animal species, including pigs, cattle, poultry, primates, laboratory rodents, and dogs. Fifty years later, estrol was also found in human blood, a metabolite of the soy isoflavones daidzein and daidzein.
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring non-steroidal phenolic plant compounds that can be divided into two main groups: flavonoids and non-flavonoids. Flavonoids include isoflavones, coumarins, and isoprenylflavones, while non-flavonoids include lignans.
Isoflavones**.
Isoflavones are among the most estrogenic active compounds. Isoflavones are mainly found in legumes such as soybeans, white clover, red clover, alfalfa, and legumes. The most important food for human isoflavones** is soy-derived products. In soybeans, the isoflavone content (mainly daidzein, genistein and its conjugates) is 12-4.2 mg g dry weight. Red clover contains 10-25 mg of dry weight phytoestrogens, while white clover contains 05-0.6 mg g dry weight. These phytoestrogens are mainly composed of isoflavones, mainly genistein, which has a content of 08-11 mg g dry weight. In alfalfa, the isoflavone content is only 005-0.3 mg g dry weight. The amount of isoflavones depends on the plant part, growth stage, cultivar, growing conditions, and preservation method.
As far as the human diet is concerned, the mainly** isoflavones are soybeans and soy products. The amount of isoflavones in soybeans is about 15mg g, while the amount of isoflavones in soy products is usually lower. Other diets** of isoflavones include chickpeas and legumes, and small amounts of isoflavones are also found in other plant products such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In addition to this, the consumption of milk and dairy products has also been found to be involved in the total intake of isoflavones in Western (mainly American) populations. As a form of isoflavone**, red clover products are also used in the production of dietary supplements for humans to alleviate menopausal symptoms in women.
Isoflavone effect.
The mechanism of action of isoflavones is mainly related to the level of estrogen activity, and after recent decades of research, the following health benefits may be present:
1.There is scientific evidence that isoflavones are beneficial to bone health, and during menopause, bone density decreases, leading to osteoporosis, so isoflavones have a preventive and ** effect on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Although the mechanism of action of isoflavones is not fully understood, it appears that isoflavones not only reduce the rate of bone resorption, but also increase the rate of bone formation.
2.Scientific evidence suggests that isoflavones may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer and cancer, but further research is needed to confirm these results.
3.Menopause is characterized by a decline in estrogen levels, and although isoflavones have become increasingly popular as an alternative to hormone replacement to alleviate menopausal symptoms, be aware of their potential risks.
Due to their hormonal specificity, many areas of isoflavone research need to be further studied in order to be used in the future, in order to deepen our understanding of this extremely complex field of research.
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