(Journal of Nutrition. 1999;129:758-767.) © 1999 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences Dietary Isoflavones: Biological Effects and Relevance to Human Health Kenneth D. R. Setchell and Aedin Cassidy* Clinical Mass Spectrometry, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and * School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey GU2 5XH Substantial evidence indicates that diets high in plant-based foods may explain the epidemiologic variance of many hormone-dependent diseases that are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Western populations. There is now an increased awareness that plants contain many phytoprotectants. Lignans and isoflavones represent two of the main classes of phytoestrogens of current interest in clinical nutrition. Although ubiquitous in their occurrence in the plant kingdom, these bioactive nonnutrients are found in particularly high concentrations in flaxseeds and soybeans and have been found to have a wide range of hormonal and nonhormonal activities that serve to provide plausible mechanisms for the potential health benefits of diets rich in phytoestrogens. Data from animal and in vitro studies provide convincing evidence for the potential of phytoestrogens in influencing hormone-dependent states; although the clinical application of diets rich in these estrogen mimics is in its infancy, data from preliminary studies suggest beneficial effects of importance to health. This review focuses on the more recent studies pertinent to this field and includes, where appropriate, the landmark and historical literature that has led to the exponential increase in interest in phytoestrogens from a clinical nutrition perspective. 1 Presented at the symposium Phytochemicals: Biochemistry and Physiology as part of Experimental Biology 96, April 14–18, 1996, Washington, DC. The symposium was sponsored by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences. Published as a supplement to The Journal of Nutrition. Guest editors for the symposium publication were Claire Hassler, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL and Jeffrey Blumberg, Tufts University, Boston, MA J Nutrition J Nutrition See info on pre/post menopausal women Premenopausal Women Postmenopausal Women Men Limited studies referred to References (1-50) References (51-100) References (101-149) Br J Nutr, 6/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.