Phytoestrogens and Amenorrhea in Athletes

Abstract

Plants contain several different families of natural products. Phytoestrogens are one such compound that is found in variety of plant foods. On the basis of the chemical structure, phytoestrogens are classified into four major categories such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, lignans, and stilbenes. Structurally phytoestrogens are very much similar to 17 β-estradiol, so they have a tendency to exhibit estrogen-like activity, which has increased the interest of researchers to use it as a hormone replacement therapy. Nowadays, special attention is given to various isoflavonoids including genistein, diadzens, coumestrol, equol, and several prenylated flavonoids mainly, 8-prenylnaringein and stilbene resveratrol. Menstrual changes and bone density may be favorably influenced by phytoestrogens. These compounds have not only been observed to mimic the role of estrogen in humans but have also shown to exhibit effects and action in both similar and divergent manner as of the hormone. The eventual action of phytoestrogen in specific cells is determined by several factors such as the relative levels of estrogen receptors both α and β and the varied number and types of coactivators and corepressors presently existing in the cell. An increase in the consumption of herbal and natural nutritional supplements with ergogenic goals with particular regard to ecdysteroids, phytosterols, and vegetal sterols has been observed in past among the athletes which call for the need to assess the knowledge of athletes and physically active individuals about the plant-based nutritional supplements as well as its associations with amenorrhea in female athletes, their health profile, and reproductive life.