A diet higher in plant-derived compounds known as phytoestrogens is linked with a lower lung cancer risk, according to a new study by University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived nonsteroidal compounds found in soy products, grains, carrots, spinach, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables, according to background information in the article. They have weak estrogen-like activity. The three main classes of phytoestrogens are isoflavones, lignans, and cumestrans. A fourth group of plant-derived steroidal compounds believed to have estrogenic properties are the phytosterols.

Phytoestrogens have been shown to have a protective effect against some solid tumors, but there has been little epidemiologic research focused on dietary intake of phytoestrogens and lung cancer risk.

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Matthew B. Schabath, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, analyzed data from an ongoing case-control study to examine the relationship between dietary intake of phytoestrogens and the risk of lung cancer.

“Our main findings were that patients with lung cancer tended to consume lower amounts of phytoestrogens... and that the apparent benefits were evident in both never and current smokers but less so in former smokers,” the authors report.

Reduction in lung cancer risk tended to increase with increasing phytoestrogen intake.

“The highest quartiles of total phytosterols, isoflavones, lignans, and phytoestrogens were each associated with reductions in risk of lung cancer ranging from 21 percent for phytosterols to 46 percent for total phytoestrogens from food sources only,” the authors write.

The apparent benefits of high phytoestrogen intake were evident in both current smokers and those who had never smoked, but less apparent in former smokers.

In women, statistically significant joint effects were evident between hormone therapy use and phytoestrogen intake.

Doctors insist that patients should be informed that they may further reduce their risk of developing cancer by adopting a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Source: American Medical Association 

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