Organochlorine pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyl- trichloroethane (DDT), are an environmental hazard due to their persistent nature and potential health effects. DDT and 1,1,dichloro-2,2,bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) are lipid- soluble pesticides which accumulate in fatty tissues and are, therefore, more present in fat-containing foods such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and oil than in fruit, vegetables and grain. Sci entists have for some time been concerned about the human exposure to DDT and the potential risk of breast cancer due to its oestrogenic activity.
The introduction of foods containing chemopreventive agents in the diet could inhibit the oestrogenic effects of DDT and the risk of developing cancer. Phytooestrogens are weak oestrogens found in certain plants such as soybean. They com pete with DDT for oestrogen receptors and inhibit the oestro genic effect of DDT on cultured human breast (MCF) cells. Curcumin, a spice widely used in Indian dishes, has and-car cinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also inhibits the oestrogenic effects of DDT and is synergistic with phytooe strogens. Indole-3-carbinol, a compound naturally found in cru ciferous vegetables, stimulates oestrogen metabolism towards 2- hydroxyoestrone which reduces the oestrogenic response in MCF cells and the risk of breast cancer.
Since DDT is lipid soluble and accumulates in adipose tissue it could have a role in lipid metabolism. Would a low fat diet reduce DDT bioaccumulation? A reduction in calories can decrease oestrogen levels and possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A dietary modification with the introduction of soy prod ucts, curcumin, cruciferous vegetables and low fat could be beneficial in reducing the risk of developing cancer and possi bly the effects of DDT.
Aldercreutz H. (1995). Phytoestrogens: epidemiology and a possible role in cancer protection. Environ Health Perspect; 103(S7), 103-112
2.
Ando M. ( 1982). Studies on the effect of dietary protein and fat content upon DDT metabolism in rat liver. J Toxicol Environ Health ; 10(1), 11-22
3.
Bradlow H.L., Devra L.D., Lin G., Sepkovic D. and Tiwari R. (1995). Effects of pesticides on the ratio of 16α/2-hydroxyoestrone: a biologic marker of breast cancer risk. Environ Health Perspect; 103(S7), 147-150
4.
Bradlow H.L., Telang N.T., Sepkovic D.W. and Osborne M.P. (1996). 2-hydroxyoestrone: the 'good' oestrogen. J Endocrinol; 150(S), 259-265
5.
Conney A.H., Loy Y.R., Xie J.G., Osawa T., Newmark H.L., Liu Y., et al (1997). Some perspectives on dietary inhibition of carcinogenesis: studies with curcumin and tea. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med; 216(2), 234-245
6.
Davis D.L. and Bradlow H.L. (1995). Can environmental oestrogens cause breast cancer?Sci Am; 274(4),166-167
7.
Dees C., Foster J.S., Ahamed S. and Wimalasena J. (1997). Dietary oestrogens stimulate human breast cells to enter the cell cycle. Environ Health Perspect; 105(S3), 633-636
8.
Devoto E., Kohlmeier L. and Heeschen W. (1998). Some dietary predictors of plasma organochlorine concentrations in an elderly German population. Arch Environ Health; 53(2), 147-155
9.
Dorgan J.F., Brock J.W., Rothman N., Needham L.L., Miller R., Stephenson H.E. Jr, et al (1999). Serum organochlorine pesticides and PCBs and breast cancer risk: results from prospective analysis . Cancer Causes Control; 10, 1-11
10.
Fischer B.E. (1999). Most unwanted persistent organic pollutants. Environ Health Perspect; 107(8), 18-25
11.
Ganong W.F. (1993). Review of Medical Physiology. 16thEdition, pp. 395-413. East Norwalk, Connecticut: Appleton and Lange
12.
Guyton A.C. (1991). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Eighth Edition, pp. 755-764. Philadelphia : WB Saunders Company
13.
Ingram D., Sanders K., Kolybaba M. and Lopez D. (1997). Case-control study of phytooestrogens and breast cancer. Lancet; 350, 990-994
14.
Jaga K. and Brosius D. (1999). Pesticide exposure : human cancers on the horizon . Rev Environ Health; 14(1), 39-50
15.
Johnson L.R. (1998). Essential Medical Physiology. Philadelphia: Lippincott - Raven
16.
Juhler R.K., Lauridsen M.G., Chris-Tensen M.R. and Hilbert G. (1999). Pesticide residues in selected food commodities: results from the Danish National Pesticide Monitoring Program 1995-1996 . J AOAC Int; 82(2), 337-358
17.
Kannan K., Tanabe S., Geisy J.P. and Tat-Sukawa R. (1997). Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in foodstuffs from Asian and oceanic countries. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol; 152, 1-55
18.
Kaphalia B.S., Takroo R., Mehrotra S., Nigam U. and Seth T.D. (1990). Organochlorine pesticide residues in different Indian cereals, pulses, spices, vegetables, fruits, milk, butter, Deshi ghee and edible oils. J Assoc Off Anal Chem; 73(4), 509-512
19.
Kawamori T., Lubet R., Steele V.E., Kelloff G.J., Kaskey R.B., Rao C.V., et al (1999). Chemopreventive effect of curcumin, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent, during the promotion/progression stages of colon cancer. Ca Res; 59(3), 597-601
20.
Krieger N., Wolff M.S., Hiatt R.A., Rivera M., Vogelman J. and Orentre-Ich N. (1994). Breast cancer and serum organochlorines: a prospective study among white, black, and Asian women. J Natl Cancer Inst; 86(8), 589-599
21.
Kuiper G G J, Lemmen J., Carlsson B.O., Corton J.C., Safe S.H., Van Der Saag P.T., et al (1998). Interaction of oestrogen chemicals and phytooestrogens with oestrogen receptor β. Endocrinol; 139(10), 4252-4263
22.
Laden F., Neas L.M., Spiegelman D., Han-Kinson S.E., Willet W.C., Ireland K., et al (1999). Predictors of plasma concentrations of DDE and PCBs in a group of US women. Environ Health Perspect; 107(1), 75-81
23.
McDougal A. and Safe S. (1998). Induction of 16α-/2-Hydroxyoestrone metabolite ratios in MCF-7 cells by pesticides, carcinogens, and antioestrogens does not predict mammary carcinogens. Environ Health Perspect ; 106(4), 203-206
24.
McMichael-Phillips D.F., Harding C., Morton M., Roberts S.A., Howell A., Potter C.S., et al (1998). Effects of soy-protein supplementation on epithelial proliferation in the histologically normal human breast. Am J Clin Nutr; 68(S), 1431-1436
25.
Potter S.M., Baum J.A., Teng H., Still-Man R.J., Shay N.F. and Erdman J.W. Jr (1998). Soy protein and isoflavones: their effects on blood lipids and bone density in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr; 68(S), 1375-1379
26.
Rao M.S., Bhagsari A.S. and Mohamed A.I. (1998). Yield, protein, and oil quality of soybean genotypes selected for tofu production. Plants Foods Hum Nutr; 52(3), 241-251
27.
Rivero-Rodriguez L., Borja-Aburto V.H., Santos-Burgoa C., Waliszewsky S., Rio C., Cruz V., et a l (1997). Exposure assessment for workers applying DDT to control malaria in Veracruz, Mexico. Environ Health Perspect; 105(1), 98-101
28.
Rock C.L. (1998). Diet Therapy In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, pp. 465-472. (Edited by A S Fauci, E Braunwald, K J Isselbacher, et al). New York: McGraw-Hill
29.
Smith A.G. (1991). Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology. Volume 1, pp. 245-274. New York: Academic Press
30.
Stancel G.M., Boettger-Tong H.L., Chiappetta C., Hyder S.M., Kirkland J.L., Murthy L., et al (1995). Toxicity of endogenous and environmental oestrogens: what is the role of elemental oestrogens?Environ Health Perspect; 103(S7), 29-32
31.
Tiwari R.K., Guo L., Bradlow H.L., Telang N.T. and Osborne M.D. (1994). Selective responsiveness of human breast cancer cells to indole-3-carbinol, a chemopreventive agent. J Natl Cancer Inst; 86(2), 126-131
32.
Verma S.P. and Goldin B.R. (1998). Effect of soy-derived isoflavanoids on the induced growth of MCF-7 cells by oestrogenic environmental chemicals. Nutr Cancer; 30(3), 232-239
33.
Verma S.P., Salamone E. and Goldin B. (1997). Curcumin and genistein, plant natural products, show synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells induced by oestrogenic pesticides. Biochem Biophys Res Commun; 233(3), 692-696
34.
Waliszewski S.M., Aguirre A., Infanzon R.M., Infanzon R. and Rivera J. (1998). Time trend of organochlorine pesticide residues in human adipose tissue Veracruz, Mexico: 1988-1997-survey. Sci Total Environ; 2-3, 201-204
35.
Waliszewski S.M., Pardio V.T., Wasliszewski K.N., Chantri J.N., Aquirre A., Infanzon R.M., et al (1997). Organochlorine pesticide residues in cow's milk and butter in Mexico. Sci Total Environ ; 208(1-2),127-132
36.
Who (World Health Organization) (1979). Environmental Health Criteria No. 9. DDT and its Derivatives. Geneva: UNEP and WHO
37.
Who (World Health Organization) and International Agency For Research On Cancer (1991). DDT and Associated Compounds. IARC MONGR EVAL CARCINOG RISKS HUM; 53,179-249
38.
Wolff M.S., Toniolo P.G., Lee E.W., Rivera M. and Dubin N. (1993). Blood levels of organochlorine residues and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst; 85(8), 648-652
39.
Wong G Y C, Bradlow L., Sepkovic D., Mehl S., Mailman J. and Osborne M.P. (1997). Dose-ranging study of indole-3-carbinol for breast cancer prevention. J Cell Biochem Suppl; 28-29, 111-116
40.
Wong W.W., O'Brien E., Stuff J.E., Hal-Hey D.L., Heird W.C. and Pownell H.J. (1998). Cholesterol-lowering effect of soy protein in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic men. Am J Clin Nutr; 68(S), 1385-1389
41.
Wu A.H., Pike M.C. and Stram D.O. (1999). Meta-analysis: dietary fat intake, serum oestrogen levels, and the risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst; 91(4),529-534
42.
Wu A.H., Ziegler R.G., Nomura A M Y, West D.W., Kolonel L.N., Ham-Ross P.L., et al (1998). Soy intake and the risk of breast cancer in Asians and Asian Americans. Am J Clin Nutr; 68(S), 1437-1443
43.
Zava D.T., Blen M. and Duww G. ( 1997). Oestrogenic activity of natural and synthetic oestrogens in human breast cancer cells in culture. Environ Health Perspect; 105(S3), 637-645
