>>Non metto i semi di zucca nel k-max perché adesso li trovo anche all'Ipercoop
Ma infatti... la letteratura cmq sui fitosteroli e gli effetti sull'equilibrio ormonale sono scarsucci e non sull'uomo: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/sterols/
Alterations in Testosterone Metabolism
Limited evidence from animal studies suggests that VERY HIGH phytosterol INTAKES can alter testosterone metabolism by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, a membrane-bound enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a more potent metabolite (24, 25). It is not known whether phytosterol consumption alters testosterone metabolism in humans. No significant changes in free or total serum testosterone concentrations were observed in men who consumed 1.6 g/d of plant sterol esters for one year (26).
24. Awad AB, Hartati MS, Fink CS. Phytosterol feeding induces alteration in testosterone metabolism in rat tissues. J Nutr Biochem. 1998;9(12):712-717.
25. Cabeza M, Bratoeff E, Heuze I, Ramirez E, Sanchez M, Flores E. Effect of beta-sitosterol as inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase in hamster prostate. Proc West Pharmacol Soc. 2003;46:153-155
da notare che si dice VERY HIG INTAKES e la fonte è attendibilissima trattandosi del Linus Pauling Institute. L'effetto curativo sulla prostata potrebbe dipendere dalla capacità di queste sostanze di influenzare la transduzione del segnale della morte cellulare programmata e dell'infiammazione, lungi dall'avere un reale effetto mediato da un'azione spiccatamente anti-androgena.
Induction of Apoptosis in Cancer Cells - Unlike normal cells, cancerous cells lose their ability to respond to death signals that initiate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Sitosterol has been found to induce apoptosis when added to cultured human prostate (27), breast (28), and colon cancer cells (29).
Anti-inflammatory Effects - Limited data from cell culture and animal studies suggest that phytosterols may attenuate the inflammatory activity of immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils (30, 31).