http://www.healthsentinel.com/org_news.php?event=org_news_print_list_item&id=059
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