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01-09-2009 | Epidemiology

Breast cancer survivors who use estrogenic botanical supplements have lower serum estrogen levels than non users

Authors: Sharon J. Wayne, Marian L. Neuhouser, Carol Koprowski, Cornelia M. Ulrich, Charles Wiggins, Frank Gilliland, Kathy B. Baumgartner, Richard N. Baumgartner, Anne McTiernan, Leslie Bernstein, Rachel Ballard-Barbash

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 1/2009

Abstract

To measure the association between use of estrogenic botanical supplements and serum sex hormones in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, a total 502 postmenopausal women were queried 2–3 years after breast cancer diagnosis about their use of botanical supplements, and supplements were categorized according to their estrogenic properties. Concurrently, a fasting blood sample was obtained for assay of estrone, estradiol, free estradiol, testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and sex hormone-binding globulin. Adjusted means of the serum hormones were calculated by use of estrogenic supplements. Women reporting use of any estrogenic botanical supplement had significantly lower levels of estrone (20.8 vs. 23.6 pg/ml), estradiol (12.8 vs. 14.7 pg/ml), free estradiol (0.29 vs. 0.35 pg/ml), and DHEAS (47.7 vs. 56.2 µg/dl) compared to women reporting no use. Data from this cross-sectional study suggest the use of estrogenic botanical supplements may be associated with sex hormone concentrations in breast cancer survivors. Considering the high use of these supplements among breast cancer patients, further research is needed to clarify the relative estrogenicity/antiestrogenicity of these compounds and their relation with prognosis.

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Title: Breast cancer survivors who use estrogenic botanical supplements have lower serum estrogen levels than non users
Authors: Sharon J. Wayne
Marian L. Neuhouser
Carol Koprowski
Cornelia M. Ulrich
Charles Wiggins
Frank Gilliland
Kathy B. Baumgartner
Richard N. Baumgartner
Anne McTiernan
Leslie Bernstein
Rachel Ballard-Barbash
Publication date: 01-09-2009
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 1/2009
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-008-0224-x

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