Breast cancer ranks among the leading causes of cancer death in women. This makes it significant to understand apigenin side effects in women, especially when they are taking this supplement. This natural compound shows promising anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but its interactions with estrogen receptors and hormonal pathways need careful study.
This piece explores the potential risks, interactions and safety factors women should know before they start taking apigenin supplements.
Possible side effects of apigenin in women
Apigenin is generally safe for women when taken in moderate doses, but it may cause some side effects depending on individual sensitivity and health status. As a natural flavonoid with mild estrogen like properties, it could influence hormone balance, which may be a concern for women with hormone sensitive conditions like breast cancer.
Some may experience drowsiness or fatigue due to its calming effects, especially when taken during the day or with other sedatives. In rare cases, apigenin can cause digestive discomfort or allergic reactions, particularly in those allergic to chamomile. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking hormonal or blood thinning medications should consult a healthcare provider before using apigenin supplements.
How apigenin works in the female body
Apigenin, a natural flavonoid, exists in many fruits, vegetables and herbs. This compound works with female physiology in several ways that affect both hormonal balance and how cells age.
Interaction with estrogen receptors
Apigenins relationship with estrogen isn’t straightforward, it depends on the dose. Research shows that apigenin acts as a partial agonist at estrogen receptors, which means it can both promote and block estrogens effects based on its concentration. Low concentrations (around 1 μmol/L) help estrogen responsive cells grow, while higher amounts (>10 μmol/L) stop their growth, according to studies.
This happens because apigenin can bind to estrogen receptors and change their signaling pathways. Studies reveal that small doses of apigenin improve receptor transcriptional activity. It does this by helping estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) work better with its coactivator. Higher doses work differently, they block estrogen receptor movement, reduce ERα expression and stop several protein kinases.
Women with hormone sensitive conditions should know about these effects. Apigenin stops estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells from growing in several ways:
- It controls estrogen receptor target genes;
- It blocks FOXM1 (a transcription factor linked to cancer progression);
- It changes how cell cycle genes work.
On top of that, apigenin can fix weight changes caused by unusual estrogen levels and affect vaginal epithelial cells through estrogen receptors. It also changes how progesterone receptors work in the uterus and helps increase nuclear progesterone receptors in uterine cells.
Influence on NAD+ and aging pathways
Apigenin plays a key role in how the body handles nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). It blocks CD38, an enzyme that uses up NAD+. This blockage leads to more NAD+. Mouse studies showed liver NAD+ levels almost doubled with apigenin.
This matters a lot as we age because NAD+ levels naturally drop and this drop links to various age related issues. The benefits include:
- Supporting sirtuins and other NAD+ dependent enzymes that fix cell damage;
- Fighting mitochondrial dysfunction, which drives aging;
- Offering benefits like NAD+ precursors such as NR and NMN.
Apigenin affects aging through other ways too. It reduces oxidative stress by making antioxidant enzymes work better. Older mice given apigenin showed changes in their glial cells genes related to immunity, inflammation and cytokine regulation, according to research. These changes made their gene patterns look more like younger animals.
For women, apigenins antioxidant properties help protect ovarian cells from oxidative stress, which can cause reproductive problems. Research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) found that apigenin helped balance hormones by maintaining estrogen, testosterone and progesterone levels.
Apigenin also affects cell protection mechanisms like programmed cell death pathways, including apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis and necroptosis. This helps prevent cell deterioration that comes with aging.
Hormonal and reproductive effects of apigenin
The way apigenin interacts with female reproductive hormones creates both good and potentially concerning effects that need careful thought. Research has found that apigenin works through several pathways that directly affect reproductive health outcomes.
How it affects menstrual cycle and fertility
Apigenin plays a big role in female reproductive processes by controlling key biological functions. These include oxidative processes, cell growth, cell death and blood flow to the ovaries. All these mechanisms work together to boost fertility in various ways.
Studies show that apigenin stimulates ovarian folliculogenesis and helps ovarian and embryonal cells survive better. This directly affects fertility rates and keeps reproductive hormones balanced. Apigenin also changes how the body releases important reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which often get disrupted in various disorders.
Looking at hormone changes, research shows that apigenin helps bring back regular menstrual cycles in women who have conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or unexplained infertility. Animal studies showed that apigenin shots lowered luteinizing hormone (LH) levels while raising follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in rats with PCOS. This basically brought their hormone levels back to normal. The treatments also increased progesterone concentrations while lowering testosterone and estradiol levels.
Apigenin’s power to control estrogen and progesterone really matters for menstrual health. Studies with animals showed that giving apigenin changed their estrous cycle, which suggests it can affect menstruation timing and ovulation. PCOS rats that got apigenin treatment went back to normal estrous cycles, moving away from their disturbed pattern that had too many diestrus stages.
Risks with hormone sensitive conditions
While apigenin helps reproduction, it comes with some risks that need attention, especially for women with hormone sensitive conditions. The way it interacts with estrogen pathways can be both good and bad depending on the situation.
Research suggests that apigenin can have a “double directional adjusting” effect on estrogen activity, working differently based on the surrounding hormone environment. This means apigenin might sometimes encourage estrogen dependent processes, which could cause problems for women with estrogen sensitive cancers.
The biggest problem comes from how apigenin interacts with hormone replacement therapy. A study found that lab animals eating apigenin while getting progestin therapy had more tumors grow. Scientists found that processed apigenin made things worse and caused “very aggressive growth of mammary tumors”. This led them to warn against pure apigenin supplements for women taking hormone replacement therapy with progestin.
System specific side effects in women
Apigenin brings many benefits, but women should know how it affects different body systems. This flavonoid compound does more than interact with hormones, it affects neural pathways, digestive function and immune responses that can lead to noticeable side effects.
Nervous system: sedation and mood changes
The most documented effect of apigenin on the nervous system is its ability to cause sedation, which changes based on dosage and personal sensitivity. Studies with animal models show that apigenin reduces movement and causes mild sedation through several ways:
Oral administration of 1.5 mg/kg apigenin led to short term sedative effects within 3 hours. Higher doses cause more muscle relaxation and increased sedation. Apigenins calming effects work differently from regular sedatives since flumazenil, a benzodiazepine blocker, doesn’t stop its action.
Apigenin does more than bind to GABA-benzodiazepine receptors, it interacts with the GABAergic system in complex ways. Research shows it lowers GABA-activated chloride currents based on dose levels. This unique mechanism explains why its effects are different from pharmaceutical sedatives.
Women who take apigenin supplements might experience:
- Drowsiness or reduced alertness during the day;
- Mild muscle relaxation;
- Stronger effects when taken with other sedatives.
These effects create important drug interactions women should know about. Apigenin might strengthen the effects of:
- Anti-seizure medications (Dilantin, Depakote);
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium);
- Insomnia medications (Ambien, Lunesta);
- Tricyclic antidepressants;
- Alcoholic beverages.
Surprisingly, apigenin also helps fight depression. Studies show that doses around 50 mg/kg reversed depression like behavior caused by tumor necrosis factor-α without changing movement. This suggests its effects on the nervous system go beyond simple sedation.
Digestive system: nausea and bloating
Women often report digestive discomfort when they start taking apigenin supplements. While apigenin is generally safe, stomach issues can happen, especially when first adding this compound to supplement routines.
Common digestive side effects are:
- Mild stomach discomfort and bloating;
- Nausea, especially at higher doses;
- Diarrhea that usually goes away as the body adapts;
- Gas and upset stomach.
The link between apigenin and digestion has a nerve related component. Good digestion needs a relaxed body state since stress or anxiety can disrupt it. Apigenins calming properties might help some womens digestion, while others react badly when first taking it.
Apigenin works differently from typical digestive irritants, it can both help and upset digestion based on personal sensitivity and dose.
Immune system: allergic responses
Allergic reactions to apigenin are rare but serious side effects that need immediate medical care. Women allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family (including chamomile) have a higher risk.
Allergic reactions can show up as:
- Skin rashes and itching;
- Facial or throat swelling;
- Severe dizziness;
- Difficulty breathing.
Beyond allergies, apigenin strongly affects immune function by changing T-helper cell balance.
This immune system control explains why apigenin might help treat allergies. Research shows it reduces allergy symptoms by blocking transforming growth factor-β1, which stops immune cells from multiplying and moving during inflammatory breathing conditions.
Women with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions should know these immune system changes bring both benefits and risks. Apigenin blocks dendritic cell activities needed for starting immune responses. This might reduce harmful inflammation but could affect normal immune system monitoring.
Apigenin shows a lot of promise for womens health by balancing hormones, supporting NAD+ metabolism and protecting cells. Each womans unique situation needs careful evaluation since research shows complex interactions with estrogen receptors and reproductive systems. A customized approach is vital to supplement safely.
Different formulations affect how well our body absorbs apigenin. High quality products with proven absorption rates will give a better and safer result. Starting with smaller doses helps us watch how our body responds and reduces chances of stomach discomfort or feeling sleepy.
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