Resveratrol Protects Breast Health

This article is especially interesting since the anti-soy proponents especially keep claiming that soy is dangerous and can cause cancer due to its containing phytoestrogens.  Resveratrol, which happens to be a phytoestrogen though, is anti-cancer.  Actually all phytoestrogens are since they antagonize real estrogens including xenoestrogens.  A lot of people though don't realize though that phytoestrogens are found in about every plant we eat, and that resveratrol that is being promoted for all sorts of health benefits is also a phytoestrogen.

 http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2010/08/resveratrol-protects-breas...

Resveratrol Protects Breast Health

The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) contributes to the etiology of various types of cancers. In a recent study at the University of Arizona, researchers investigated estrogen receptor-alpha (ER alpha)-positive and BRCA-1 wild-type MCF-7 breast cancer cells’ influence of AhR activation with the agonist 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorobenzo(p)dioxin (TCDD) on epigenetic regulation of the BRCA-1 gene, a tumor suppressor involved in repair of DNA damage, and the preventative effects of resveratrol (J Nutr. 2010;140(9):1607-14). Activation and recruitment of the AhR to the BRCA-1 promoter hampers 17 beta -estradiol (E2)—dependent stimulation of BRCA-1 transcription and protein levels. These inhibitory effects are paralleled by reduced occupancy of ER alpha, acetylated histone (AcH)-4 and AcH3K9. Conversely, the treatment with TCDD increased the association of mono-methylated-H3K9, DNA-methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) and methyl-binding domain protein-2 with the BRCA-1 promoter and stimulated the accumulation of DNA strand breaks. The AhR-dependent repression of BRCA-1 expression was reversed by small interference for the AhR and DNMT1 or pretreatment with Res, which reduced TCDD-induced DNA strand breaks. Researchers concluded epigenetic silencing of the BRCA-1 gene by the AhR is preventable with resveratrol and provide the molecular basis for the development of dietary strategies based on natural AhR antagonists.