Abstract
Phytoestrogens represent a diverse group of non-steroidal natural products, which seem to have some oestrogenic effects and are often marketed as food supplements. Population exposed to phytoestrogens is potentially increasing, in part because an unfavourable risk-benefit profile of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for prolonged treatments (e.g., osteoporosis prevention) highlighted by the publication of the Women Health Initiative (WHI) trial in 2002, but also because many post-menopausal women often perceived phytoestrogens in food supplements as a safer alternative than HRT. Despite of increasing preclinical and clinical studies in the past decade, appealing evidence is still lacking to support the overall positive risk-benefit profile of phytoestrogens. Their status as food supplements seems to discourage studies to obtain new evidence, and the chance to buy them by user’s initiative make it difficult to survey their prevalence and pattern of use. The aim of the present review is to: (a) outline the clinical scenario underlying the increased interest on phytoestrogens, by overviewing the evolution of the evidence on HRT and its main therapeutic goals (e.g., menopausal symptoms relief, chemoprevention, osteoporosis prevention); (b) address the chemical and pharmacological features (e.g. chemical structure, botanical sources, mechanism of action) of the main compounds (e.g., isoflavones, lignans, coumestans); (c) describe the clinical evidence on potential therapeutic applications; (d) put available evidence on their riskbenefit profile in a regulatory perspective, in light of the recent regulation on health claims of food supplements.
Keywords: Cardio-metabolic disorders, food supplements, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, phytoestrogens, vasomotor symptoms.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Phytoestrogens in Postmenopause: The State of the Art from a Chemical, Pharmacological and Regulatory Perspective
Volume: 21 Issue: 4
Author(s): Elisabetta Poluzzi, Carlo Piccinni, Emanuel Raschi, Angela Rampa, Maurizio Recanatini and Fabrizio De Ponti
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cardio-metabolic disorders, food supplements, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, phytoestrogens, vasomotor symptoms.
Abstract: Phytoestrogens represent a diverse group of non-steroidal natural products, which seem to have some oestrogenic effects and are often marketed as food supplements. Population exposed to phytoestrogens is potentially increasing, in part because an unfavourable risk-benefit profile of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for prolonged treatments (e.g., osteoporosis prevention) highlighted by the publication of the Women Health Initiative (WHI) trial in 2002, but also because many post-menopausal women often perceived phytoestrogens in food supplements as a safer alternative than HRT. Despite of increasing preclinical and clinical studies in the past decade, appealing evidence is still lacking to support the overall positive risk-benefit profile of phytoestrogens. Their status as food supplements seems to discourage studies to obtain new evidence, and the chance to buy them by user’s initiative make it difficult to survey their prevalence and pattern of use. The aim of the present review is to: (a) outline the clinical scenario underlying the increased interest on phytoestrogens, by overviewing the evolution of the evidence on HRT and its main therapeutic goals (e.g., menopausal symptoms relief, chemoprevention, osteoporosis prevention); (b) address the chemical and pharmacological features (e.g. chemical structure, botanical sources, mechanism of action) of the main compounds (e.g., isoflavones, lignans, coumestans); (c) describe the clinical evidence on potential therapeutic applications; (d) put available evidence on their riskbenefit profile in a regulatory perspective, in light of the recent regulation on health claims of food supplements.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Poluzzi Elisabetta, Piccinni Carlo, Raschi Emanuel, Rampa Angela, Recanatini Maurizio and Ponti De Fabrizio, Phytoestrogens in Postmenopause: The State of the Art from a Chemical, Pharmacological and Regulatory Perspective, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2014; 21 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/09298673113206660297
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/09298673113206660297 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Strategies for Integral Metabolism Profile of Multiple Compounds in Herbal Medicines: Pharmacokinetics, Metabolites Characterization and Metabolic Interactions
Current Drug Metabolism Adipose Tissue as a Regulator of Energy Balance
Current Drug Targets On the Relationship Between the Light/Dark Cycle, Melatonin and Oxidative Stress
Current Pharmaceutical Design Red Blood Cells as Modulators of T Cell Growth and Survival
Current Pharmaceutical Design Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells: A Novel Regulator of Vascular Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews Vascular Pleiosynergy - Does It Really Work?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Metabolic Activation of Herbal and Dietary Constituents and Its Clinical and Toxicological Implications: An Update
Current Drug Metabolism Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Children
Current Cardiology Reviews Statins May Prevent Atherosclerotic Disease in OSA Patients without Co-Morbidities?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Involvement of the Serotonergic System in Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease
Current Psychiatry Reviews Herb-Drug Interactions and Mechanistic and Clinical Considerations
Current Drug Metabolism Pleiotropic Effects of Rimonabant: Clinical Implications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Plant Polyphenols: Natural and Potent UV-Protective Agents for the Prevention and Treatment of Skin Disorders
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Transseptal Access to the Left Atrium: Tips and Tricks to Keep it Safe Derived from Single Operator Experience and Review of the Literature
Current Cardiology Reviews Clinical Observation of Liver Chemistry Abnormalities in Asthmatics
Current Drug Safety Caregiver Burden in Fragile X Families
Current Psychiatry Reviews Antioxidant Vitamins and Cardiovascular Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Vasopressin Receptor Antagonists in Heart Failure
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Understanding Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection to Improve Treatment and Immunity
Current Molecular Medicine Atherogenic Versus Non-atherogenic Lipoprotein Profiles in Healthy Individuals. Is There a Need to Change Our Approach to Diagnosing Dyslipidemia?
Current Medicinal Chemistry