EN
Introduction and objective. Phytoestrogens are one of nutritional factors exhibiting a chemoprotective action, potentially reducing vasomotor symptoms as well as cancerous lesions. The study was ocused on an association between the consumption of phytoestrogens in the diet, blood serum cholesterol concentration and urinary estrogen metabolites levels. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 55 women in the perimenopausal period, who were characterized by an increased risk of hormone-dependent cancer. Energy and nutritive value of food rations, and especially the level of phytoestrogen consumption in the diets in the examined population, were analyzed using the Wikt Pro computer programme. Estrogen metabolites (2OHE, 16α-OHE1) were determined from 24‑urine samples by the ELISA method. The EMR index was calculated. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations was measured. Results and conclusions. The population with a higher consumption of phytoestrogens and dietary fibre in the diet, at the simultaneous slight limitation of energy value of the food ration, is characterized by an improved blood serum cholesterol concentration and an appropriate estrogen metabolism towards a significant increase in the estrogen index for the cancer lesions in the mammary glands.