Rosemary vs Estrogen/Breast Cancer

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I had time to work on my book!  I'm finally having some headway potty training my two little ones.  My daughter actually said she had to go earlier and WENT! 

Greenlee, Atkinson, Stanczyk, and Lampe (2007) conducted a study to determine if rosemary, dandelion, milk thistle, artichoke, turmeric or schisandra had any effect on estrogen as a prevention measure of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.  This study had 40 participants from ages 21-45.

Powdered extract was used with a rice powder used as placebo. Diet was also included in this study with cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, dark leafy greens and beets being issued to the participants each week.  Ten were unwilling to do the dietary changes so five were given herbs and five were given the placebo. Of the other 30, ten were in the botanical study, ten were on placebo, and ten were on dietary changes, the first two categories being double-blinded. 

The effects on estrogen were tested using Clearblue ovulation test kits.  Of the 40, 35 did the blood/urine tests at the beginning and end (tests were done once ovulation was detected) and 33 did the blood/urine tests in the middle of the five-month study period.  34 people turned in their tracking documents that were issued at the beginning of the study.
 
There was no statistical difference though the women on the dietary changes lost a small bit of weight.  The authors explained the difficulty in this type of study as women ovulate for different lengths and have different levels of hormones throughout their cycle making it difficult to notice any real change. They explained the sample size likely had an impact on the results but they went through over 900 applicants to get the number they did, after eliminating the people who were taking some form of hormone supplementation.

Another thing they pointed out is some of the herbs they used work in opposite ways so they may have cancelled each other out in the study by combining them.  The study also included an disproportionate number of participants from one demographic.  They continued by saying this was a pilot study to determine the feasibility of this type of study rather than focusing on results.
 
Have A Great Day!

Greenlee, H., Atkinson, C., Stanczyk, F. Z., and Lampe, J. W. (2007). A Pilot and Feasibility Study on the Effects of Naturopathic Botanical and Dietary Interventions on Sex Steroid Hormone Metabolism in Premenopausal Women.