DANED

This project focuses on health effects of plant components with hormone-like activity in the human diet. The aim is to elucidate beneficial and/or adverse effects of mixtures of isoflavones and lignans on human health. Focus is on breast cancer and reproductive health that will be investigated in cell cultures and animal models. Mixtures of isoflavones, of lignans and of both isoflavones and lignans will be screened for estrogen, androgen and dioxin receptor activation as well as their effects on aromatase activity, sex hormone synthesis, and thyroid receptor-mediated proliferation. The results from these studies will form the basis for the design of later in vivo rat studies, in which mixtures will be given during gestation and lactation and effects will be investigated on newborn and adult offspring. Part of the project includes investigations for the presence of endocrine disrupters in waste water and in human and cow milk.