A new laboratory study recently published in Chemical Research in Toxicology suggests that taking hops extract supplements may help prevent breast cancer.
In addition to being used in beer-making, hops have been also used in dietary supplements indicated to help treat postmenopausal symptoms like hot flashes. Postmenopausal symptoms can otherwise be treated with hormone replacement therapy, which unfortunately has been associated with increased risk for breast cancer and heart disease.
In the study, an enriched hops extract and a compound isolated from hops extract were tested to see how they affect estrogen metabolism in breast cells. The results show that the compound called 6-prenylnaringenin, or 6-PN boosted the detoxification pathway in breast cells, which has been associated with reduced risk for breast cancer.
The study was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Other researchers also studied hops for its anticancer properties. One study published in 1999 reveals that hops flavonoids possess an antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells.
Not all compounds in hops may be beneficial. Some studies suggest that 8-preylnaringenin (8-pn), which is similar to 6-pn tested in the current study, was found as a strong phytoestrogen to "stimulate E-cadherin-dependent aggregation and growth of MCF-7/6 cells (a type of human breast cancer) in suspension." The study authors say that 8-pn acts like 17β-estradiol (human estrogen) in terms of its effect on breast cancer cells. At least, more research is needed to determine whether these and other compounds found in hops can indeed protect against breast cancer. (David Liu)
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