Phytoestrogens in postmenopause: the state of the art from a chemical, pharmacological and regulatory perspective.

ABSTRACT: Phytoestrogens represent a diverse group of non-steroidal natural products, which seem to have some oestrogenic effects and are often marketed as food supplements. Population exposed to phytoestrogens is potentially increasing, in part because an unfavourable risk-benefit profile of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for prolonged treatments (e.g., osteoporosis prevention) highlighted by the publication of the Women Health Initiative (WHI) trial in 2002, but also because many post-menopausal women often perceived phytoestrogens in food supplements as a safer alternative than HRT. Despite of increasing preclinical and clinical studies in the past decade, appealing evidence is still lacking to support the overall positive risk-benefit profile of phytoestrogens. Their status as food supplement

SUBMITTER: Poluzzi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3963458 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature