Brighton Medical Clinic, Brighton, Vic., Australia. Plants contain compounds with oestrogen-like action called phytoestrogens.
Soy contains daidzin, a potent phytoestrogen, and wheat flour contains less potent enterolactones.
Dietary phytoestrogens and their role in hormonally dependent disease. However, there is no direct evidence for the beneficial effects of phytoestrogens in humans. All information is based on consumption of phytoestrogen-rich diets, and the causal relationship and the mechanisms of phytoestrogen action in humans still remain to be demonstrated. In addition, the possible adverse effects of phytoestrogens have not been evaluated. It is plausible that phytoestrogens, as any exogenous hormonally active agent, might also cause adverse effects in the endocrine system, i.e. act as endocrine disrupters.