Abstract
Several substances with oestrogenic activity occur in many different species of plants. More assays of oestrogenic activity of food products should be carried out so that the oestrogen intake of different populations can be assessed.
Some women with mammary cancer benefit from the operations of oophorectomy and adrenalectomy. The benefit is probably due to the removal of small amounts of oestrogens that are sufficient for the growth of hormone-dependent tumours. The data indicate that microgram (μg) quantities of oestrogen may facilitate the growth of cancer of the breast. These amounts of oestrogens may therefore present a hazard to post menopausal women.
The administration of oestrogens to cattle, sheep or poultry increases the rate of growth and efficiency of food utilisation. If the hormone is added to food and withdrawn a week before slaughter no oestrogen appears to be present in the meat. The meat and liver of chickens in which oestrogen pellets have been implanted, however, contain amounts of oestrogen that could also facilitate the growth of otherwise dormant hormone dependent tumours.
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