| Vegan Health News | November 3 2005 |
Phyto-oestrogens reduce cancer risk
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Phyto-oestrogens are weak chemicals which come from plants and imitate some of the effects of the female hormone they're named after. They can be found in soy, chickpeas, some grains and seeds, several vegetables and even tea and coffee have related compounds in them.
There's been a question about whether phyto-oestrogens can reduce cancer risk through effects on how cells multiply. For instance, in some populations with high phyto-oestrogen intake, cancer rates are low and studies in the laboratory have suggested a benefit in lung cancer.
To investigate this in real life a study compared around 1600 people with lung cancer to a similar number without the disease - and most importantly who had similar rates of smoking. Dietary analysis showed that the phyto-oestrogen intake was significantly higher in the people without lung cancer - allowing for other risk factors.
And when they considered a high intake of phyto-oestrogens from food sources rather than from stuff in say tea and coffee, the chances of lung cancer were nearly halved.
It wasn't an ideal study but does give more evidence for the benefits of certain vegies in your diet.
Schabath MB et al. Dietary phyto-oestrogens and lung cancer risk.
Journal of the American Medical Association 2005;294:1493-1504
Dacey LJ and Johnstone DW. Reducing the risk of lung cancer.
Journal of the American Medical Association 2005;294:1550-1551
Reference: ABC Health News.
