Mycoestrogens

Mycoestrogens are estrogens produced by fungi. The most important mycoestrogen is zearalenone, produced by Fusarium species of fungi. Zearalenone is the main phyto-oestrogen consumed in the USA.^[1] It may be one dietary factor that can reduce the prevalence of breast cancer.^[2]

In Food

Mycoestrogens are commonly found in stored grain. They can come from fungi growing on the grain as it grows, or after harvest during storage. Mycoestrogens can be found in silage. ^[3]

References

1. ^ Kuiper-Goodman T (July 1990). "Uncertainties in the risk assessment of three mycotoxins: aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and zearalenone". Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 68 (7): 1017–24. PMID 2143430. 
2. ^ Hilakivi-Clarke L, Onojafe I, Raygada M, Cho E, Skaar T, Russo I, Clarke R (August 1999). "Prepubertal exposure to zearalenone or genistein reduces mammary tumorigenesis". British Journal of Cancer 80 (11): 1682–8. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6690584. PMC 2363126. PMID 10468283. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2363126. 
3. ^ González Pereyra ML, Alonso VA, Sager R, Morlaco MB, Magnoli CE, Astoreca AL, Rosa CA, Chiacchiera SM, Dalcero AM, Cavaglieri LR (April 2008). "Fungi and selected mycotoxins from pre- and postfermented corn silage". Journal of Applied Microbiology 104 (4): 1034–41. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03634.x. PMID 18005347.