Endocrine-Mediated Effects of Genistein on Pups Born to Dams Fed a Phytoestrogen-Enriched Diet

Dietary phytoestrogens are well known to have potential hormonal effects owing to their interaction with estrogen receptors [1]. Abnormalities in reproductive health due to a high intake of phytoestrogens have been reported in several women [2,3]. Interestingly, genistein–a type of phytoestrogen–is known to have estrogenic properties, and various hormonal effects of this compound have been reported in women [4-8]. In toxicity studies, endocrine-mediated effects have been reported in rat pups of dams treated with genistein during the gestational and/or lactational periods [9-13], but these studies used soy-free or low-phytoestrogen diets. Women ingest dietary phytoestrogens since their infancy, and some of them take genistein as a supplement in their adulthood. Therefore, this study was performed to examine whether endocrine-mediated effects by genistein appeared in pups born to dams maintained on a diet containing phytoestrogens from early stages of their life.