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 Depressing
as it may sound, aging processes in women begin as early as in the age of 25, first
slowly and then more intensively. By the age of 30, mimic lines appear, and
another 10 years later, a web of fine wrinkles covers the skin around the eyes,
the skin becomes dry and loses elasticity, and then, during menopause, a number
of unpleasant signs emerge including fragility of bones, cardiovascular disorders
and other symptoms associated with ageing. The older a woman becomes, the less
estrogen her ovaries produce. This is followed by the gradual ovarian failure
and subsequent depression of all body functions in general, with such symptoms
as hot flushes, osteoporosis, heartaches, unstable blood pressure.
In order to
normalize hormonal balance in woman's body and improve her health condition, to
preserve the beauty of her skin, special preparations containing a substance
similar to the estrogen produced by the woman's body are widely used in
medicine and cosmetology. These are special plant extracts called phytoestrogens,
phytochemicals that have properties similar to estrogens. They are
bioflavonoids in the isoflavone family. The isoflavones daidzein and genistein
appear to be the most important phytoestrogens yet discovered. Evidence is
accruing that phytoestrogens may have protective action against diverse health
disorders such as breast, bowel, and other cancers, cardiovascular disease, brain
function disorders, and osteoporosis.
Today, food
supplements contain various phytoestrogens. Moreover, these substances are
included into the formulae of anti-ageing cosmetics products to preserve youthfulness.
In different
countries, doctors and beauticians have different views on the effectiveness
and safety of phytoestrogens. Some scientists believe that these synthetically
produced substances can be a threat to a woman's health. At the same time,
experiments proved that phytoestrogens-based drugs and preparations stimulated
significant improvement in physical and mental condition of many women.
According
to a recent theory, Asian women owe their beauty and longevity to the plant
estrogens which are included in their daily diet. However, phytoestrogens which
are hormonal substances have natural advantages and disadvantages, and their
properties are still not fully researched. Phytoestrogen content varies in
different foods, and may vary significantly within the same group of foods
(e.g. soy beverages, tofu) depending on processing mechanisms and type of soy
bean used. Legumes (in particular soybeans), whole grain cereals, and some
seeds are high in phytoestrogen. A more comprehensive list of foods known to
contain phytoestrogens includes: soy beans, tofu, soy beverages, linseed
(flax), sesame seeds, wheat, berries, oats, barley, dried beans, lentils, yams,
rice, alfalfa, mung beans, apples, carrots, pomegranates, wheat germ, soy
linseed bread, ginseng, bourbon and beer, fennel and anise.
The natural
estrogen found in the human body is a steroid hormone. Phytoestrogens also include
steroid hormones which are called phenolic phytoestrogens, and substances which
have antiestrogenic effect. The latter prevent and inhibit the development of
tumors, which are stimulated by natural estrogens.
Primarily, «phytoestrogens»
meant stearins, lipophilic substances found in vegetable fats. They are not synthesized
in the human body, but their structure and properties are similar to those of the
natural estrogens. Many doctors, biologists and researchers agree that these
substances - steroid phytoestrogens - may stimulate the synthesis of collagen
in the body, thereby preserving youthfulness of the skin.
However, there
is a huge difference between steroid phytoestrogens extracted from plants and
steroid hormones found in humans. The have nearly the same effect at
concentrations of synthetic estrogen in 5000 times higher than is found in
humans. Therefore, in order to achieve the desired effect, cosmetic products
containing phytoestrogens are produced using the methods that help to achieve the
same high concentration of the substance which is very expensive.
Phenolic phytoestrogens
are hydrophilic substances that include flavones, izoflavones, flavonones and
others. They are also found in plants and to achieve the desired effect, various
methods of purification and concentration of these substances are required. Phytoestrogens
of this class have rarely found application in cosmetology.
Unfortunately,
phytoestrogens are understudied, and it may take years of research and
experiments to assert their positive effect on the physical and mental health.
Phytoestrogen-based products can not be used when there is a risk of cancer.
In
conclusion, it is apparent that the study of phytochemicals and their effects
on human health will become an ever-increasing topic in the 21st century. As
our understanding of specific phytochemicals increases, there will undoubtedly
be a multitude of applications that will benefit humans.
Inessa Hyder
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