Volume 32, Issue 2 p. 122-128

Lignans and isoflavonoids in plasma and prostatic fluid in men: Samples from Portugal, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom

M.S. Morton

Corresponding Author

M.S. Morton

Department of Mass Spectometry, Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Department of Mass Spectrometry, Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine, Tenovus Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XX, UK.Search for more papers by this author
P.S.F. Chan

P.S.F. Chan

Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kond

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C. Cheng

C. Cheng

Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kond

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N. Blacklock

N. Blacklock

Department of Urology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

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A. Matos-Ferreira

A. Matos-Ferreira

Department of Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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L. Abranches-Monteiro

L. Abranches-Monteiro

Department of Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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R. Correia

R. Correia

Department of Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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S. Llyod

S. Llyod

Department of Urology, Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling, United Kingdom

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K. Griffiths

K. Griffiths

Department of Mass Spectometry, Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Chinese men have lower incidences of prostate cancer compared to men from Europe and North America. Asians consume large quantities of soya, a rich source of isoflavanoids phyto-oestrogens and have high plasma and urinary levels of these compounds. The mammalian lignans, enterolactone and enterodiol, are another group of weak plant oestrogens and are derived from seeds, cereals and grains. Vegetarians have high plasma and urinary concentrations of lignans.

METHODS

The concentrations lignans and isoflavonic phyto-oestrogens were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in plasma and prostatic fluid from Portuguese, Chinese and British men consuming their traditional diets.

RESULTS

In prostatic fluid the mean concentrations of enterolactone wer 31, 162 and 20.3ng/ml for Hong Kong, Portugal and Britain respectively. Very high levels of enterolactone (〉600ng/ml) were observed in the prostatic fluid of some of the men fromPortugal. High concentrations of equol (3270 ng/ml) and daidzein (532 ng/ml) were found in a sample of prostatic fluid from Hong Kong. Higher mean levels of daidzein were observed in prostatic fluid from Hong Kong at 70ng/ml, compared to 4.6 and 11.3ng/ml in samples from Portugal and Britain respectively. Mean levels of daidzein were higher in the plasma samples from Hong Kong (31.3ng/ml) compared to those from Portugal (1.3ng/ml) and Britain (8.2ng/ml). In general, the mean plasma concentrations of enterolactone from the three centres were similar, at 6.2, 3.9 and 3.9ng/ml in samples from Hong Kong, Portugal and Britain respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher concentrations of the isoflavanoid phyto-oestrogens, daidzein and equol, were found in the plasma and prostatic fluid of men from Hong Kong, compared to those from Britain and Portugal. However, the levels of the lignan, enterolactone, were very much higher in prostatic fluid of Portuguese men. Isoflavanoids and lignans have many interesting properties and may, in part, be responsible for lower incidences of prostate cancer in men from Asia and also some Mediterranean countries.

The isoflavanoids from soya, which are present in high concentrations in the prostatic fluid of Asian men, may be protective against prostate disease. Prostate 32:122–128, 1997. ©1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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