Phytoestrogens and breast cancer in postmenopausal women: A case control study.

Murkies A, Dalais FS, Briganti EM, Burger HG, Healy DL, Wahlqvist ML, Davis SR.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between isoflavones, androgens, and dietary composition and the risk of breast cancer in Australian postmenopausal women.

Design: Eighteen women with recently diagnosed breast cancer before surgery and 20 controls were recruited over a 12-month period. Both cases and controls were similarly addressed for urinary isoflavones,srum and urinary sex steroids, and dietary intake.

Results: Women with breast cancer had lower 24-h urinary daidzein compared with controls, and there was a trend to lower urinary genistein excretion. Total testosterone was higher in women with breast cancer compared with controls. No significant differences were found for serum sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, estrodiol and progesterone, or in urinary androgen metabolites, or in dietary intake with regard to fat, carbohydrate, protein or fibre consumption between cases and controls.

Conclusions: This preliminary study is the first report of low urinary daidzien and genistein in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. These findings are in keeping with the increasing observational data demonstrating a protective effect from phytoestrogens on breast cancer risk.

Reference: Murkies A, Dalais FS, Briganti EM, Burger HG, Healy DL, Wahlqvist ML, Davis SR. Phytoestrogens and breast cancer in postmenopausal women: A case control study. Menopause 2000;7(5): f1-f8.

Last updated: October 23, 2001.