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Male Factor Infertility

Male Factor Infertility: This Exchange is intended to help couples faced with ... more

Last Reply:

phytoestrogens and affects on Estrogen and Testosterone

jbb239 posted:

Hi All,

Recently I have heard a lot of conflicting news on phytoestrogens and men's hormone levels. I was wondering if you could tell me if phytoestrogens from sources such as Ginseng,Soy, and Flax seeds raise levels of estrogen in men or decrease levels of testosterone in men. I am somewhat concerned because most of the re-search on this subject is controversial or subject to opinnon.

Thanks for all your help on this matter.

3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:phytoestrogens and affects on Estrogen and TestosteroneHi All, Recently I have heard a lot of conflicting news on phytoestrogens and men's hormone levels. I was wondering if you could tell me if phytoestrogens from sources such as Ginseng,Soy, and Flax seeds raise levels of estrogen in men or decrease levels of testosterone in men. I am somewhat concerned because most of the re-search on this subject is controversial or subject to opinnon. Thanks for all your help on this matter.

AmyAALC responded:

Literally hundreds of research papers on these topics with strong indications of the estrogen effects from food can have a negative impact on male reproductive tissues responsible to the production of Testosterone.

Here's a recent article from February:

"The results also imply that changes in adipose tissue metabolism occasioned by exposure to dietary estrogens, and perhaps other estrogenic agents, possibly contribute to deficiencies in reproductive capacity attributed to these compounds."Toxicol Lett. 2012 Feb 25;209(1):78-85. Epub 2011 Dec 3.Regulation of adiponectin secretion by soy isoflavones has implication for endocrine function of the testis.Pfaehler A , Nanjappa MK , Coleman ES , Mansour M , Wanders D , Plaisance EP , Judd RL , Akingbemi BT .SourceDepartment of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.

Amy Perkins, MS, TS (ABB)
Laboratory Supervisor
Arizona Andrology Laboratory & Cryobank
International Center for Vasectomy Reversal

Report This| Share this:phytoestrogens and affects on Estrogen and TestosteroneLiterally hundreds of research papers on these topics with strong indications of the estrogen effects from food can have a negative impact on male reproductive tissues responsible to the production of Testosterone. Here's a recent article from February: "The results also imply that changes in adipose tissue metabolism occasioned by exposure to dietary estrogens, and perhaps other estrogenic agents, possibly contribute to deficiencies in reproductive capacity attributed to these compounds."<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22155228#">Toxicol Lett.</a> 2012 Feb 25;209(1):78-85. Epub 2011 Dec 3.Regulation of adiponectin secretion by soy isoflavones has implication for endocrine function of the testis.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Pfaehler%20A%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Pfaehler A</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Nanjappa%20MK%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Nanjappa MK</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Coleman%20ES%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Coleman ES</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Mansour%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Mansour M</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Wanders%20D%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Wanders D</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Plaisance%20EP%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Plaisance EP</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Judd%20RL%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Judd RL</a> , <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Akingbemi%20BT%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=22155228">Akingbemi BT</a> .SourceDepartment of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. Amy Perkins, MS, TS (ABB) Laboratory Supervisor Arizona Andrology Laboratory & Cryobank International Center for Vasectomy Reversal

jbb239 replied to AmyAALC's response:

Thank you very much for the response. Are there any websites where I can get some guidance on what foods to avoid? I have noticed that Ginseng is commonly thought to enhance sperm motility and function but it contains a high amount of phytoestrogens. Are there studies that speak to Ginseng's effect on testosterone and estrogen?

I can't thank you enough for all of your help on this matter. Its refreshing to receive an answer.

Report This| Share this:phytoestrogens and affects on Estrogen and TestosteroneThank you very much for the response. Are there any websites where I can get some guidance on what foods to avoid? I have noticed that Ginseng is commonly thought to enhance sperm motility and function but it contains a high amount of phytoestrogens. Are there studies that speak to Ginseng's effect on testosterone and estrogen? I can't thank you enough for all of your help on this matter. Its refreshing to receive an answer.

AmyAALC replied to jbb239's response:

The main one to limit intake of is soy. The key is moderation. Ginseng must act on the body in a different manner or processed different compared to soy since studies have supported it's benefit on sperm.

PubMed is a government site that you can search for peer reviewed research papers.

Amy

Report This| Share this:phytoestrogens and affects on Estrogen and TestosteroneThe main one to limit intake of is soy. The key is moderation. Ginseng must act on the body in a different manner or processed different compared to soy since studies have supported it's benefit on sperm. PubMed is a government site that you can search for peer reviewed research papers. Amy

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