Potential tissue selectivity of dietary phytoestrogens and estrogens

The recent discovery of a second estrogen receptor subtype, estrogen recept or-beta, may significantly advance our understanding of tissue specific eff ects of estrogenic compounds, both natural and synthetic. Although specific effects mediated by estrogen receptor beta in vivo remain to be elucidated , hypothetically the existence of two estrogen receptor subtypes (differing in both tissue distribution and biological activity) may help to explain t he curious pharmacological behaviour of many estrogenic and antiestrogenic compounds, including the naturally occurring dietary phytoestrogens. Curr O pin Lipidol 10:47-52. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.