What are exogenous estrogens?

As we all know, estrogen is a type of hormone in the human body. The reason why women have plump breasts, no Adam's apples, and better skin quality is all closely related to the estrogen in women's bodies. And from a medical point of view, estrogen is also divided into several categories, so the question is, what kind of substance is the so-called exogenous estrogen in medicine?

There are three types of exogenous estrogens :

(1) Artificially synthesized estrogens such as ethinyl estradiol.

(2) Estrogen-like compounds in the environment such as DDT. It can exist in the environment for a long time, pollute the environment, and be harmful to humans and animals.

(3) Phytoestrogens can be divided into four categories according to their molecular structure: ① Isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, ormononetin, bichanine and ipriflavone (IP); ② Lignans; ③ Coumarin; ④ Mycoestrogen. Almost all plant foods contain small amounts of different estrogen components. Usually each plant contains more than one phytoestrogen. For example, soybeans and their products are the main dietary sources of isoflavones, and soybean sprouts contain coumestrol, a coumarin compound.

Isoflavones can be metabolized to p-ethylphenol and the more active equol and O-desmethylangoratin (O-DMA), which are structurally similar to estradiol. Oil seeds, especially linseed, are rich in lignans. Lignans are converted into enterodiol and enterolactone by gastrointestinal bacteria in vivo, which are also similar to estradiol in structure. Coumarin compounds in plants, the main dietary sources are clover, alfalfa sprouts and soybean sprouts. The structures of coumarin and fungi also have two phenolic rings and corresponding hydroxyl groups, so they also have phytoestrogen activity. In daily life, isoflavone compounds in soybeans and their products provide people with rich phytoestrogens. For example, the isoflavone content in soybean powder is 2014μg/G, and the isoflavone content in soybean instant beverage is 1918μg/g dry weight. Therefore, people have paid widespread attention to its role in estrogen-related diseases.