Phytoestrogens decrease lung cancer risk

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Roman Bystrianyk, "Phytoestrogens decrease lung cancer risk", Health Sentinel, October 25, 2005,

According to the American Cancer Society over 163,000 Americans will die in 2005 from lung cancer, which accounts for 28% of all cancer deaths. Each year more Americans die from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. Smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer with roughly 87% of all lung cancer cases in the U.S. being smoking-related. However, more than 50% of newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer each year are former or non-smokers.

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds with a weak estrogen-like activity. Isoflavones are the most extensively investigated type of phytoestrogens. The two major forms of isoflavones are genistein and diadzein, which are found in soybeans, soy products, chickpeas, and red clover. Other types of phytoestrogens are found in rye grains, flax seed, carrots, spinach, broccoli, beans, sprouts, tea, and other food items.

Previous studies have shown soy protected against cancer in men as well as reduced risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. Reduced risk of lung cancer has also been reported in several studies from China as well as in a Finish study that found the same reduction in risk.

Unfortunately, consumption of these cancer-protective compounds is generally low in the United States. It has been estimated that postmenopausal women consume less than 1 milligram per day of isoflavones, whereas in Asian women intake is estimated to be between 25 to 40 mg per day.

A September 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), examined over 1,600 cases with lung cancer against a group of matched healthy controls. They examined the amount of phytoestrogens from foods and controlled for other confounding factors such as smoking.

The study authors found a significant decrease in lung cancer risk with the consumption of phytoestrogens. “The highest quartile of phytoestrogens from food sources was associated with an overall 46% reduction in risk, with substantial protective effects for both men and women, and with statistically significant trends for decreasing risk with increasing intake.”

SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), September 2005