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Listen to this siteWednesday 22 October 2003
This research project aims to investigate the possible effects of phytoestrogen consumption on the development of breast and prostate cancer.
Study Duration : April 2000 to July 2003
Contractor : MRC Dunn Human Nutrition Unit
Hormones such as oestrogen may influence the development of certain types of cancer (eg. breast and prostate cancer). It is possible that phytoestrogens may protect against these cancers by affecting the activity of oestrogen.
Part of the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC) study involves a group of 25,630 healthy men and women aged 45-75 years. The volunteers complete food diaries, provide blood samples and are monitored over a number of years to determine the incidence of cancer.
Between 1992 and 2002, approximately 200 cases of breast and prostate cancer have occurred in this group of people. This project aims to analyse the samples and data collected from the EPIC study to investigate the possible effects of phytoestrogen consumption on the development of breast and prostate cancer and any possible genetic / hormonal factors that may influence cancer development.
In this study, the blood samples and food diary information from approximately 200 cancer patients and 200 healthy matched controls will be compared. The food diaries and blood samples will be analysed to determine phytoestrogen blood levels and intake. This information will be used to investigate whether the incidence of breast and prostate cancer is correlated with the intake or blood levels of phytoestrogens. The blood samples will also be analysed to determine if genetic and hormonal factors affect the incidence of these cancers.
This study has developed accurate methods for measuring low exposure levels of phytoestrogens in urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and in plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). There were high correlations between phytoestrogens measured in spot urine samples and phytoestrogens in plasma.
The results indicated that increased phytoestrogen intake was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, although this was only statistically significant for daidzein and equol.
The cohort was too small to confirm whether this is a real association or a chance finding and, therefore, a larger study is being conducted to investigate this further.
Phytoestrogen intake did not appear to affect the risk of prostate cancer.
The final report is available from the Agency's Information Centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email:
infocentre@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
)
Contact
: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email:
science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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