Published online Mar 15, 2015. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.271
Peer-review started: September 22, 2014
First decision: October 16, 2014
Revised: November 4, 2014
Accepted: December 16, 2014
Article in press: December 17, 2014
Published online: March 15, 2015
Processing time: 179 Days and 2 Hours
Core tip: Phytoestrogens are a group of polyphenols that are structurally similar to endogenous estrogen. Animal experiments and pre-clinical models have provided strong evidence that phytoestrogens may have anti-diabetic function via both estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent pathways. A number of epidemiological studies and clinical trials have thus been conducted in different populations linking two major types of phytoestrogens, isoflavones and lignans, to the prevention and management of diabetes. Although the current evidence is complex and inconsistent, habitual consumption of phytoestrogens, particularly their intact food sources, could be considered as a component of overall healthy dietary pattern for prevention and management of diabetes.