Table I -.

Research needed to clarify possible roles of phytoestrogens in health.

Identify the specific types of phytoestrogens that provide health benefits. Characterize the sources, dietary or supplemental. Define the effective dose of phytoestrogens that provide protection against a specific symtom. Determine the concentration at which pharmacologic doses become toxicologic problem. Identify new mechanisms by which the phytoestrogens produce protective effects. Identify specific binding proteins. Identify specific metabolites. Determine the effects of phytoestrogens on cells differentiations. Establish the pharmacokinetiks of delivered doses. Identify the proportion of the population likely to respond positively to phytoestrogens. Examine more closely the dietary components relative to the diet as whole.

Modified from Bidlack WR and Wang W. In “Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease”. Eds. Shils ME et al. 1999, 1823-1833.