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T05028: Dietary and biomarker prospective study of phytoestrogens in breast and prostate cancer

Monday 6 December 2004

This research project will develop a method for the analysis of phytoestrogens in foods enabling investigations into relationships of dietary intake of phytoestrogens and the risk of developing certain cancers.

Study Duration : October 2004 to September 2007

Contractor : Medical Research Council - Dunn Human Nutrition Unit

Background

Previous work has lead to a method for the analysis of phytoestrogens in urine and blood. Similar methods will now be developed for the analysis of phytoestrogens in food. The foods analysed will be added to a database allowing further investigation into relationships between low and high dietary intakes of phytoestrogens and the risk of developing breast, prostate and bowel cancer in western populations.

Research Approach

A rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of phytoestrogens in foods will be developed using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and automated solid phase extraction. Once the method is established, 2,000 foods will be analysed for phytoestrogen content and the values will be incorporated into an established nutritional prospective study data base of diet and cancer started in 1993 called the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC). The relationship to dietary intake of phytoestrogens, and biomarkers of intake in blood, and urine samples, will be compared to risk of breast, prostate and bowel cancer in the EPIC study.

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