New lab evidence suggests preventive effect of herbal supplement in prostate cancer

February 12, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - DHEA is a natural circulating hormone and the body's production of it decreases with age. Men take DHEA as an over-the-counter supplement because it has been suggested that DHEA can reverse aging or have anabolic effects since it can be metabolized in the body to androgens. Increased consumption of dietary isoflavones is associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer. Red clover (Trifolium pretense) is one source of isoflavones. Both supplements may have hormonal effects in the prostate and little is known about the safety of these supplements.

In a recent report in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, researchers report that DHEA levels can be manipulated in cells in the laboratory to understand its effects.

Julia Arnold, Ph.D., a staff scientist at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health, said more research is necessary in an environment where men and women concerned about health problems tend to self-prescribe based on information they find on the Internet.

Towards this end, the NCCAM laboratory is studying signaling between human prostate cancer cells and their supporting stromal cells as they grow together in laboratory culture. "DHEA effects in the prostate tissues may depend on how these two cells types 'talk to each other' and further, it may be potentially harmful in tissues containing inflammation or with early cancer lesions because the cells can induce DHEA to become more androgenic," said Arnold.

Combining DHEA with transforming growth factor beta-1 increased testosterone production in the stromal cells and prostate specific antigen protein secretion two to four-fold and gene expression up to 50-fold in the cancer cells. When these cell cultures were treated with red clover isoflavones, the androgenic effects of DHEA were reversed.

"Something is happening in the prostate tissue microenvironment that is illustrating a potential cancer prevention effect from this supplement," said Arnold.

Red clover isoflavones may modify androgenic effects in the prostate but much more work in the laboratory and clinic is needed to validate these effects.

This sort of laboratory manipulation will allow scientists to understand the basic prostate biology as well as learn cellular and molecular mechanisms of over-the-counter supplements and other botanical or herbal agents. Arnold said NCCAM will continue to study DHEA with other supplements to determine any cancer preventive effects.

American Association for Cancer Research

Isoflavones: Biosynthesis, Occurrence and Health Effects (Biochemistry Research Trends)
by Melanie J. Thompson (Editor)

Isoflavonoids are a valuable group of natural products and are primarily synthesised in leguminous plants, where they play important roles in plant defence. They also have significant health benefits for animals and humans and have been ascribed various estrogenic, antiangiogenic, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, leading to their popularity as dietary supplements. This book gathers and presents topical research data on isoflavones including bioactive isoflavones and their implications in cancer treatment and prevention, soy protein and isoflavones in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the processing techniques on isoflavone profiles.

Isoflavone: Webster's Timeline History, 1949 - 2007
by Icon Group International (Author)

Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Isoflavone," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Isoflavone in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Isoflavone when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences...

Isoflavones: A Race After the Rescue of the Aging Hippocampus (Biochemistry Research Trends)
by Catherine Bennetau-Pelissero (Author), Khalid Jamali (Author), Aline Marighetto (Author)

Isoflavones are naturally occurring molecules present in significant amounts in many leguminous, some of which are edible plants. Isoflavones exhibit similarities in their chemical structure with steroidal estrogens, which allows them to trigger some of the endogenous physiocellular signalisation processes of estrogens that are known to occur naturally within living organisms. In fact, isoflavones mediate numerous health effects mainly related to their estrogenic and/or anti-estrogenic actions. Some of these effects are oestrogen receptor-mediated physiological phenomena such as those linked to the hypothalamo-hypophyso-gonadal axis. This book provides in vitro, animal, and clinical data intending to highlight the impact of isoflavones on the physio-cellular features of the hippocampal...

Novasoy[R] isoflavones for direct compression.(ingredients): An article from: Food Trade Review
by Food Trade Press Ltd. (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from Food Trade Review, published by Food Trade Press Ltd. on November 1, 2003. The length of the article is 336 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Novasoy[R] isoflavones for direct compression.(ingredients)
Publication: Food Trade Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2003
Publisher: Food Trade Press Ltd.
Volume: 73 Page: 695(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Concerns must be addressed when sourcing isoflavones.: An article from: Emerging Food R&D Report
by Food Technology Intelligence, Inc. (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from Emerging Food R&D Report, published by Food Technology Intelligence, Inc. on June 1, 2004. The length of the article is 3491 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Concerns must be addressed when sourcing isoflavones.
Publication: Emerging Food R&D Report (Newsletter)
Date: June 1, 2004
Publisher: Food Technology Intelligence, Inc.
Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Page: NA

Distributed by Thomson...

Soy isoflavones prevent the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated rise in leukocytes in rats.: An article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology
by D.Y. Soung (Author), D.A. Khalil (Author), A.B. Arquitt (Author), B.J. Smith (Author), L.J. Hammond (Author), E.A. Droke (Author), E.A. Lucas (Author), L. Devareddy (Author), B.H. Arjmandi (Author)

This digital document is an article from Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, published by Urban & Fischer Verlag on April 1, 2004. The length of the article is 3467 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Soy isoflavones prevent the ovarian hormone deficiency-associated rise in leukocytes in rats.
Author: D.Y. Soung
Publication: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2004
Publisher: Urban & Fischer Verlag
Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Page: 303(6)

Distributed...

Develop an isoflavone aglycone-enriched soy milk.: An article from: Emerging Food R&D Report
by Food Technology Intelligence, Inc. (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from Emerging Food R&D Report, published by Food Technology Intelligence, Inc. on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 451 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Develop an isoflavone aglycone-enriched soy milk.
Publication: Emerging Food R&D Report (Newsletter)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: Food Technology Intelligence, Inc.
Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Page: NA

Distributed by Thomson...

Isoflavones Derived from Soy Molasses.(product development from DuPont Protein Technologies): An article from: Food Ingredient News
by Business Communications Company, Inc. (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from Food Ingredient News, published by Business Communications Company, Inc. on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 344 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Isoflavones Derived from Soy Molasses.(product development from DuPont Protein Technologies)
Publication: Food Ingredient News (Newsletter)
Date: February 1, 2003
Publisher: Business Communications Company, Inc.
Volume: 11 Issue: 2

Distributed by Thomson...

Novogen awarded United States patent for isoflavones to treat estrogen-dependent disorders.(Brief Article): An article from: BIOTECH Patent News
by Biotech Patent News (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from BIOTECH Patent News, published by Biotech Patent News on August 1, 2003. The length of the article is 592 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Novogen awarded United States patent for isoflavones to treat estrogen-dependent disorders.(Brief Article)
Publication: BIOTECH Patent News (Newsletter)
Date: August 1, 2003
Publisher: Biotech Patent News
Volume: 17 Issue: 8

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson...

Isoflavones Without Off Taste or Color.: An article from: Membrane & Separation Technology News
by Business Communications Company, Inc. (Publisher)

This digital document is an article from Membrane & Separation Technology News, published by Business Communications Company, Inc. on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 802 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Isoflavones Without Off Taste or Color.
Publication: Membrane & Separation Technology News (Newsletter)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: Business Communications Company, Inc.
Volume: 21 Issue: 10

Distributed by Thomson...