"Bust enhancing" herbal products

Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jun;101(6):1345-9. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00362-4.

Abstract

"Bust enhancing" herbal products are widely advertised. No clinical trials have been published. These products contain a variety of ingredients, including grains, hops, saw palmetto, dong quai, chaste-tree berry, wild yam, kava, fennel, black cohosh, and fenugreek. Several of these herbs are hormonally active; for example, hops contain 8-prenylnaringenin, a phytoestrogen that is more potent than other dietary phytoestrogens. Many bust-enhancing dietary supplements contain substrates for Fusarium, a fungus that produces zearalenone, a potent estrogen that has been associated with breast enlargement in humans and other species. The use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast / anatomy & histology
  • Breast / drug effects*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fusarium
  • Humans
  • Isoflavones*
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
  • Isoflavones
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Plant Preparations