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Assessment of the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Potential Effects of Nutritional Phytoestrogenic Plant Consumption on Women’s Health in Saudi Arabia

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posted on 2024-02-27, 09:56 authored by Halima Elagib, Shaden S Alshammari, Wefaq K Alsadoon, Aqeela Zahra

Background and objective: Phytoestrogens are plant-derived endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as estrogen-like compounds with health and preventive benefits. This study aimed to assess Saudi Arabian women's beliefs and attitudes toward phytoestrogen-rich plant consumption and its association with hormone-sensitive tumors and diseases.


Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2022 and May 2023 in Saudi Arabia using an online self-administered questionnaire created via Google Forms (Appendix). The collected data were extracted, coded, and analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.


Results: The study included 702 females aged 18 years and older. 61.6% (n=432) of the participants consumed Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), whereas 45.7% (n=321) consumed soy products and flaxseeds. In addition, 44.7% (n=191) were diagnosed with breast tumors and other breast diseases. The association between the occurrence of breast conditions and the consumption of all the different types of phytoestrogen-rich plants in this study was significant, with a p-value of <0.001. (41.7%, n=187) diagnosed with uterine and ovarian-related conditions, the association with the consumption of fenugreek and fennel was significant with a p-value of <0.001, but for soy products and flaxseed consumption, the association was not significant with a p-value of 0.368. Regarding the consumer's attitudes and duration of consumption, most of them (41.0%, n=288) consume phytoestrogen-rich herbs and plants about every month during menstruation, and 55% (n=386) consumed phytoestrogen-rich plants a long time ago (for many years). About the purpose of consumption, 62.1% (n=436) answered to reduce pain and symptoms associated with menstruation. The majority of the participants (36.3%, n=255) have poor knowledge and don’t know about the high estrogen levels' impact on their health.


Conclusion: The study showed that there is a possible association between the consumption of some types of phytoestrogen-rich plants and the occurrence of several hormone-related tumors and diseases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible effects in consideration of the co-founding factors.

History

Author affiliation

College of Life Sciences/Medicine

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Published in

Cureus

Volume

15

Issue

6

Pagination

e40918

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

issn

2168-8184

eissn

2168-8184

Copyright date

2023

Available date

2024-02-27

Spatial coverage

United States

Language

eng

Deposited by

Dr Aqeela Zahra

Deposit date

2024-02-12

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