Cancer Letters

Cancer Letters

Volume 7, Issue 5, September 1979, Pages 273-282
Cancer Letters

Effect of a vegetarian diet and dexamethasone on plasma prolactin, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in men and women*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3835(79)80054-3Get rights and content

Abstract

This study reports the effect of a vegetarian diet and dexamethasone administration on the hormone status of healthy Caucasian men and premenopausal women. A lower nocturnal release of prolactin and testosterone occurred in men fed a vegetarian diet, while in women, dexamethasone administration decreased the nocturnal release of prolactin and caused a greater decrease of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These results show that diet modification can induce hormonal changes. If similar changes occur in patients with breast and/or prostatic cancer, diet modification may be of benefit in these patients with tumors known to be hormonally dependent.

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    *

    Supported by National Cancer Institute Grant No. 12376.

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