Naturally occurring hormones in foods and potential health effects

Hormones and hormone-like substances, for example, phytoestrogens, are food components that can be endogenously produced by a food source or occur secondary to farming practices. The hormone content of foods has been studied for decades, and safety evaluations in the United States and Europe indicate that naturally occurring hormones found in foods are safe for human consumption. More recent studies have focused on the role of certain hormones found in specific foods (e.g. dairy or soy) and their potential health effects. However, limited summaries exist on food content of hormones and hormone-like phytoestrogens in the context of a comprehensive US diet and implications, if any, of their daily consumption for overall health. This review provides an outline of hormone biosynthesis and functions in the body; discusses the more commonly studied, naturally occurring hormones in food and their biological role within food; estimates relative dietary contribution and when available, bioavailability, of naturally occurring food hormones; and summarizes the potential health associations of their intake in food. Based on the review of the scientific literature, the hormone content of typical serving sizes of commonly consumed foods is undetectable or in quantities that fall well within safety guidelines without any evidence for adverse effects on health.