Assessment potential mechanism similarity in epigenetic action and functional status between estradiol and phytoestrogenic supplements

Increasing estrogen level beyond the normal limited can be an indicator for a serious health problem which can be the cause of fibrosis or tumor development in the breast tissue. In the current study, we seek to understand the mechanism of estrogen and whether the exposure of estradiol and phytoestrogens together increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Here, we used 32 healthy-adult-female rats. They were randomly divided into four groups. The first group (the control group) and the remaining groups were dosed orally with estradiol (30 micrograms/kg) for twelve weeks and flaxseed oil (0.5 ml) for six weeks. Our study showed a significant increase in the progesterone, estrogen, and their receptors levels within the treated groups. Further, the histological examinations indicate an increase in the number of lobes filled with large numbers of alveoli. On the other hand, the results showed a significant decrease in the DNA methylation pathways of the estrogen receptor alpha gene compared to the control group.Taken together, our data suggested that phytoestrogens have a mechanism of action that mimics the body's internal (endogenous) estrogens, especially in the growth and development of mammary gland tissue. Therefore, adopting a diet rich in plant estrogens for a long period can cause an increase in the level of internal estrogens and disrupt their function.