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Breast cancer is considered to be a hormone
regulated disease with the female sex hormone estrogen known
to increase breast cancer risk. Thus, anti-estrogens are
a commonly used approach in secondary prevention of the disease.
The lignan metabolite enterolactone binds weakly to the
estrogen receptors, and as a weak estrogen appears to block
overt estrogen activity in selected tissues. On the other
hand, enterolactone by stimulating the synthesis and circulating
levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), appears to
reduce the free, bio-available pool of circulating estrogen,
thereby reducing estrogen penetration in tissues and diminishing
risk for adverse estrogen balance. In addition, there is
evidence that enterolactone may also inhibit biosynthesis
of estrogen by blocking aromatase, a key enzyme in biosynthesis
of estradiol. Collectively, lignans appear, with multiple
mechanisms, to positively influence optimal estrogen balance
in the body.
In line with the above biological/pharmacological profile
of enterolactone, epidemiological studies support the hypothesis
that low bodily enterolactone levels are associated with
higher incidence of breast cancer. |
