More research is necessary to understand if phytoestrogens have any sex-specific effects for males. However, researchers conducting a 2020 review concluded that the research to date shows no effect of phytoestrogens on semen quality or infertility risk. The researchers found no evidence that either soy or isoflavones affected testosterone or estrogen levels in males. Additionally, phytoestrogens may not be appropriate for all types of cancer. Thus, estradiol is the most important estrogen in non-pregnant females who are between the menarche and menopause stages of life. Once inside the cell, they bind to and activate estrogen receptors (ERs) which in turn modulate the expression of many genes. From routine pelvic exams to high-risk pregnancies, Cleveland Clinic’s Ob/Gyns are here for you at any point in life. Isoflavones, a common group of phytoestrogens, don’t seem to cause fertility problems in men. A few studies suggest that a high intake of isoflavones from soy-based infant formulas may suppress thyroid function when iodine intake is poor (21, 22). In fact, phytoestrogens are classified as endocrine disruptors. None of the studies referenced above reported that the phytoestrogen supplements they tested had any serious side effects. Several studies show that phytoestrogen supplements may provide health benefits. The following two sections discuss the possible benefits and drawbacks of phytoestrogens. With the years, American English adapted the spelling of estrogen to fit with its phonetic pronunciation. In 1929, Adolf Butenandt and Edward Adelbert Doisy independently isolated and purified estrone, the first estrogen to be discovered. In addition, estradiol is dehydrogenated by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase into the much less potent estrogen estrone. Estrogens are metabolized via hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 enzymes such as CYP1A1 and CYP3A4 and via conjugation by estrogen sulfotransferases (sulfation) and UDP-glucuronyltransferases (glucuronidation). Estrogens are plasma protein bound to albumin and/or sex hormone-binding globulin in the circulation. Understanding this distinction is crucial for evaluating soy’s potential health effects. However, these isoflavones are not estrogen, and they don’t undergo a direct conversion within the body. It stems from the fact that soy contains isoflavones, which have a chemical structure similar to estrogen. No, soy does not directly convert to estrogen in the human body. In addition, they created a comprehensive database from thousands of scientific studies on how different substances interact with hormones. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and validate integrated, high throughput testing strategies to detect substances that could disrupt endocrine functions by interacting with the hormones estrogen and androgen. This work began with studies on the endocrine-disrupting effects of the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). Still, they need some estrogen for their reproductive health and overall health. Low estrogen can affect your body in various ways, depending on where you are in terms of your sexual development. Having estrogen levels that are consistently low is different. Risk of developing clinical hypothyroidism was increased in the higher phytoestrogen group (no effect in the lower phytoestrogen group). Thus, the possibility has been raised that eating soy foods might help prevent age-related memory loss or decline in thinking skills. The authors discussed limitations of the review including the small number of participants, the short duration of studies (less than one year), and variation in dosages and types of soy given. There were no adverse effects reported with soy supplementation.
