Advisory Committee on Health Effects of Endocrine Disruptors
The Supplement II to the Intermediary Report
1.3.1

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Phytoestrogens, while having a potential anticancer effect in humans, have been suggested to act as epigenetic cancer promoters at high doses (admittedly far higher than therapeutic doses). It is not yet clear if these contrary effects are inherent to phytoestrogens or dependent on factors on the part of the recipient organism which vary with the time of administration. Information on this issue must be watched.
Discovery of membrane receptors⁵ advanced understanding hormonal actions independent of genes⁶, which was difficult to interpret in terms of receptors in the cell, as pointed out by Orphanides et al. In addition, it was found that estrogen receptors are localized on the endoplasmic reticulum membranes, which are responsible for rapid reactions⁷. These new findings indicate the need for studies taking unknown factors into account in endocrine disruptor studies.

Studies on endocrine disruptors, the basic facts on which are now recognized and some fundamental mechanisms have been revealed, are thus focusing on the effects in the embryonic, fetal, neonatal and adolescent stages as first steps to elucidation of the mechanisms of action. This section reviews recent findings primarily on the (possible) effects on the homeostatic regulatory systems (endocrine, immune, nerve, etc.)⁸.
　

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