RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Our previous case-control study revealed that Japanese living in Japan and Koreans living in Korea can be divided into equol producers who have an ability to metabolize daidzein to equol and non-producers, and that the incidence of prostate cancer is higher in the latter group. In the present study, we examined relationships between type of food intake and the capacity for equol production in Japanese subjects. METHODS: The subjects were the individuals analyzed for the ability to produce equol in our previous study and newly registered cases. From December 2000 to December 2002, 276 hospitalized patients were interviewed face-to-face and blood samples were collected before breakfast. These included 122 patients with prostate cancer and 154 age-matched controls. RESULTS: The frequency of equol producers (0.5 ng/ml or more) among cases and controls was 29% and 45%, respectively (p = 0.004). The consumption of soybeans and green tea were significantly higher in equol producers than in the non-producers (p<0.05). By contrast, the consumption of selenium and fiber was significantly lower in equol producers (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher consumption of soybean and green tea are strongly related to the establishment of a capacity for equol production.
Asunto(s)
Anciano , Dieta , Estrógenos no Esteroides/metabolismo , Humanos , Isoflavonas/biosíntesis , Masculino , Neoplasias de la Próstata/metabolismo , Glycine max , TéRESUMEN
Os fitoestrogênios säo substâncias vegetais näo esteróides, com atividades estrogênicas agonistas e antagonistas. Possuem açäo estrogênica considerada fraca, se comparados aos estrogênios naturais e sintéticos e säo encontrados principalmente na soja e seus derivados. Muitos autores têm avaliado a possibilidade do uso dos fitoestrogênios como opçäo alternativa de terapia de reposiçäo hormonal (TRH), particularmente para os casos de pacientes com contra-indicaçöes para as terapias convencionais. No presente artigo säo revisados aspectos relevantes acerca das propriedades, metabolismo e aplicabilidade dos fitoestrogênios.