A systematic review of leukocyte telomere length and age in adults.

Objective: To provide a systematic review of the relationship between age and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in adults.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified by a systematic search of Medline, EMBASE and ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Key data, such as age and LTL, were extracted from the studies along with correlation coefficients and yearly attrition rates where available.

The association between dietary lignans, phytoestrogen-rich foods, and fiber intake and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: a German case-control study.

Phytoestrogens are structurally similar to estrogens and may affect breast cancer risk by mimicking estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties. In Western societies, whole grains and possibly soy foods are rich sources of phytoestrogens. A population-based case-control study in German postmenopausal women was used to evaluate the association of phytoestrogen-rich foods and dietary lignans with breast cancer risk.

Serum enterolactone and prognosis of postmenopausal breast cancer.

Purpose: Lignans--plant-derived compounds with estrogen-dependent and -independent anticarcinogenic properties--have been associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk, but data are limited regarding their effect on survival. Dietary lignans are metabolized to enterolignans, which are subsequently absorbed and become bioavailable.

Patients And Methods: We assessed the prognosis of 1,140 postmenopausal patients with breast cancer age 50 to 74 years who were diagnosed between 2002 and 2005.

Serum enterolactone and postmenopausal breast cancer risk by estrogen, progesterone and herceptin 2 receptor status.

Lignans are a group of estrogenic compounds present in plants. Several epidemiological studies proposed that lignans may protect against breast cancer by exerting anticarcinogenic activity. Levels of enterolactone were determined in serum samples of 1,250 cases and 2,164 controls from a large population-based case-control study.

Physical activity and endogenous sex hormones in postmenopausal women: to what extent are observed associations confounded or modified by BMI?

Objectives: To investigate associations between physical activity and endogenous sex hormones after menopause with a special focus on confounding and effect modification by body mass index (BMI).

Methods: A cross-sectional study among 1,260 postmenopausal women was conducted. Generalized linear models were used to compare levels of total leisure-time physical activity, sports activities, bicycling, and walking with levels of sex hormones and sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG).

Meta-analyses of lignans and enterolignans in relation to breast cancer risk.

Background: Epidemiologic studies that examined whether lignans, the most important class of phytoestrogens in the Western diet, protect against breast cancer have yielded inconsistent results.

Objective: In this study, we conducted meta-analyses on the association between lignans and breast cancer risk.

Design: We performed a systematic MEDLINE search to identify epidemiologic studies published between 1997 and August 2009.