Beer and its possible effects on the male characteristic

The endocrine activities of 8-prenylnaringenin and related hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavonoids - PubMed

The endocrine activities of 8-prenylnaringenin and related hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavonoids.
Milligan SR, Kalita JC, Pocock V, Van De Kauter V, Stevens JF, Deinzer ML, Rong H, De Keukeleire D.
Source
Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, King’s College, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom.
Abstract
The female flowers of the hop plant have long been used as a preservative and a flavoring agent in beer, but they are now being included in some herbal preparations for women for "breast enhancement." This study investigated the relative estrogenic, androgenic and progestogenic activities of the known phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin, and structurally related hop flavonoids. 6-Prenylnaringenin, 6,8-diprenylnaringenin and 8-geranylnaringenin exhibited some estrogenicity, but their potency was less than 1% of that of 8-prenylnaringenin. 8-Prenylnaringenin alone competed strongly with 17ss-estradiol for binding to both the alpha- and ss-estrogen receptors. None of the compounds (xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol, 8-prenyl-naringenin, 6-prenylnaringenin, 3’-geranylchalconaringenin, 6-geranylnaringenin, 8-geranylnaringenin, 4’-O:-methyl-3’-prenylchalconaringenin and 6,8-diprenylnaringenin) nor polyphenolic hop extracts showed progestogenic or androgenic bioactivity. These results indicate that the endocrine properties of hops and hop products are due to the very high estrogenic activity of 8-prenylnaringenin and concern must be expressed about the unrestricted use of hops in herbal preparations for women.

The pharmacognosy of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) with an emphasis on estrogenic properties - PMC

Hops, the resinous inflorescences of the twining vine Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), are used today primarily for their bitter and aromatic properties in the manufacture of beer. In addition, hop preparations are sold in health-food stores in the U.S. for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, and are sold in pharmacies in Europe (Anon., 2002), and formerly in pharmacies in the U.S. (Anon., 1946), for these purposes. Hops have been shown to contain one of the most potent in vitro estrogenic substance known from the plant kingdom

http://www.med. … ?ChunkIID=21755

In addition, hops has fairly strong estrogen-like properties, making it a phytoestrogen. 5-8 The basis for this activity is a constituent called 8-prenyl naringenin. Like soy (another phytoestrogen), hops has been proposed as a treatment for menopausal symptoms . It is also marketed as a breast enhancement product.

Thanks. So, though unusual, if hops aren’t used - this would not be relevant. I searched your resources for indications that estrogenic constituents would survive the mashing process and found references to the sludge in your second reference but no indicators that they make it to the beer itself. It seems safe to assume that if it’s in the sludge it’s in the beer but maybe it’s only trace amounts. Anecdotally, at least, we know that beer drinking can lead to man boobs but is this just due to the high sugar content and general weight gain or estrogen?

There are no definitive studies on beer itself and feminising, and yes you are correct no hops means no estrogenic constituents. But since they are considering the hops as a hormone replacement therapy for woman, and strong phytoestrogens are known to suppress the Leydig cells production of testosterone then its a safe call that they are feminising the male anatomy “in my opinion “, (and perhaps I should have stated that). The fact is the phytoestrogen taking up the receptor sights for luteinizing hormone seems to be some of the culprit, not really feminising but more not allowing us to be fully masculine.

High sugar content is irrelevant when enough yeast is present, as it get’s turned to metabolic byproduct (shit, I mean alcohol). Empty calories as we would be had to believe, but they still get burned for fuel. Ever notice though that you can tell the beer drinker from the spirit drinker even with the added sugar of the mixers?

I found a positive effect from switching off the beer, which was difficult for me being a beer drinker all my life, never the less I won’t be going back to it. I’ll stick with wine for now

There was some hypothesis at some stage to whit that the grazed plants started producing these phytoestrogens to limit the reproduction behavior in the grazing heard, perhaps brewers droop lends some credence to this, or it could be just interpretation by an onlooker.

That’s a rather compelling response :)

Makes sense to me Tom, and practical experience backs it up, but I don’t want to hijack the researchers thread.

>Ever notice though that you can tell the beer drinker from the spirit drinker even with the added sugar of the mixers?<

Very much. Never having been a beer drinker, I note that the men of my age around me who do drink beer tend to have more chins. I’m not sure I know any spirit drinkers who do just use them as an interlude between beers.

It’s interesting stuff, certainly. It would be nice to see a study on beer to confirm your postulation. Your thought process seems eminently sensible but there are many such examples where what would seem sensible isn’t borne out by later study. It would be nice if a doctor could prescribe a menopausal woman a crate of beer.

Yes, apologies for the hijack.

Why not? After messing with this crowd, he’ll probably be looking for a new subject…beer and estrogen sounds like a good one.

We have a new thread,

So that should give a bit of room to discuss the subject. It’s my opinion, and probably not just mine, but it is mine that we are overshot with estradoil type substances in our modern diet, I’m not really that concerned with the good professors opinions and predisposed attitudes, hell I can pick a fight anywhere (it just not my thing).

But I am very much into boosting the testosterone in my system, and lowering the aromatase activity, it’s a fine balance we need a little bit of DHT and a little estradoil, but only a little.

Beer is definitely a no-no for me, and since I introduced a few man specific herbs I am, well, let me say sporting a fuller head of hair and more muscle. But this is not just take a few of this and abstain from that. And I am not trying to sell a proprietary blend of anything. It’s a long learning process, but I can’t even teach any one what to do, I’m happy to share what I know though.

Here was a funny thing, I came back from the (organic) Markets and I had to stuff the celery in the vegetable draw as usual it’s too long, so I trim the ends (I buy a lot of celery) so I stuff all the ends into the blender (a big commercial one) and turn it into puree, tasted terrible but shit I drank it anyway, so in a couple of hours my girlfriend tells me I smell like celery ( mind you I had had a cup of green tea with celery seeds as well) about fifteen minutes later she can’t keep her hands off me (and it was a bad day for her too so, it gets me thinking).

We are what we eat, some things do us good some things do us bad, I aim for the good stuff and shun the bad.