(Also posted under Greek Diet thread to keep items together but I felt it was of sufficient interest to post separately)
This is a useful and thought provoking article on those looking at their hormone levels in relation to BC and asking what else has an impact on hormone levels.
As ever please discuss dietary changes with your advisors.
"Recent prospective studies have provided strong evidence that the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women is increased by high serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, and, hence, high circulating levels of free steroid sex hormones (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) . Evidence is accumulating that Western dietary habits contribute this high-risk hormonal profile, but the efficacy of changes in diet in reducing the availability of sex hormones has not been sufficiently investigated."
The trial looks at the impact of some dietary changes on hormone levels.
RB
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/1/25
(FULL ARTICLE LINK)
Reducing Bioavailable Sex Hormones through a Comprehensive Change in Diet: the Diet and Androgens (DIANA) Randomized Trial1
Franco Berrino2, Cristina Bellati, Giorgio Secreto, Edgarda Camerini, Valeria Pala, Salvatore Panico, Giovanni Allegro and Rudolf Kaaks
Unit of Epidemiology (F. B., C. B.,V. P.), Unit of Nuclear Medicine (G. S.), Unit of Laboratory Medicine (E. C.), Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, 80131 Naples, Italy (S. P.); Association Le Cinque Stagioni, 10018 Ivrea, Italy (G. A.); and Nutrition and Cancer Unit, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 69372 Lyon, France (R. K.)
Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Subjects and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
High serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, the bioavailability of which may be increased by Western dietary habits, seem to be important risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. We hypothesized that an ad libitum diet low in animal fat and refined carbohydrates and rich in low-glycemic-index foods, monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phytoestrogens, might favorably modify the hormonal profile of postmenopausal women. One hundred and four postmenopausal women selected from 312 healthy volunteers on the basis of high serum testosterone levels were randomized to dietary intervention or control. The intervention included intensive dietary counseling and specially prepared group meals twice a week over 4.5 months. Changes in serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin were the main outcome measures. In the intervention group, sex hormone-binding globulin increased significantly (from 36.0 to 45.1 nmol/liter) compared with the control group (25 versus 4%,; P < 0.0001) and serum testosterone decreased (from 0.41 to 0.33 ng/ml; -20 versus -7% in control group; P = 0.0038). Serum estradiol also decreased, but the change was not significant. The dietary intervention group also significantly decreased body weight (4.06 kg versus 0.54 kg in the control group), waist:hip ratio, total cholesterol, fasting glucose level, and area under insulin curve after oral glucose tolerance test. A radical modification in diet designed to reduce insulin resistance and also involving increased phytoestrogen intake decreases the bioavailability of serum sex hormones in hyperandrogenic postmenopausal women. Additional studies are needed to determine whether such effects can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.......................MORE
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