Table 3

Association between phytoestrogen biomarkers and breast cancer risk in the European Prospective into Cancer-Norfolk study


Serum (ng/ml)
Urine (μg/mmol creatinine)



Odds ratio
95% confidence interval
P value
Odds ratio
95% confidence interval
P value

Full study
(219 cases/891 controls)
(198 cases/797 controls)
     Total isoflavones
1.03
0.95 to 1.11
0.479
1.08
1.00 to 1.16
0.055
     Total lignans
0.99
0.90 to 1.08
0.728
1.01
0.94 to 1.09
0.758
     Daidzein
1.04
0.98 to 1.10
0.225
1.05
0.99 to 1.10
0.096
     Equol
1.04
0.98 to 1.10
0.167
1.03
0.99 to 1.06
0.131
     o-Desmethylangolensin
1.03
0.97 to 1.09
0.390
1.02
0.98 to 1.06
0.250
     Genistein
1.00
0.94 to 1.05
0.911
1.01
0.97 to 1.05
0.706
     Glycitein
1.03
0.97 to 1.10
0.345
1.03
0.98 to 1.07
0.248
     Enterodiol
1.02
0.96 to 1.09
0.461
1.01
0.96 to 1.05
0.772
     Enterolactone
0.98
0.91 to 1.05
0.564
0.99
0.94 to 1.04
0.718
Oestrogen receptor-positive subgroup
(105 cases/365 controls)
(95 cases/329 controls)
     Total isoflavones
1.01
0.91 to 1.12
0.818
1.09
0.97 to 1.22
0.154
     Total lignans
1.02
0.89 to 1.17
0.774
1.12
0.99 to 1.28
0.083
     Daidzein
1.05
0.97 to 1.13
0.260
1.03
0.96 to 1.10
0.468
     Equol
1.01
0.93 to 1.09
0.887
1.07
1.01 to 1.12
0.013
     o-Desmethylangolensin
1.05
0.96 to 1.14
0.314
1.04
0.98 to 1.10
0.192
     Genistein
0.99
0.92 to 1.06
0.775
1.00
0.94 to 1.05
0.882
     Glycitein
1.03
0.93 to 1.13
0.614
1.04
0.98 to 1.10
0.186
     Enterodiol
1.00
0.92 to 1.09
0.990
1.04
0.98 to 1.11
0.235
     Enterolactone
1.01
0.91 to 1.14
0.806
1.08
0.98 to 1.19
0.115

Values are log2-transformed and adjusted for weight, oral contraceptive use, menopausal hormone treatment, menopausal status, parity, menarche, breastfeeding, family history of breast cancer, daily intake of fat and energy, and batch.

Ward et al. Breast Cancer Research 2008 10:R32   doi:10.1186/bcr1995