THINK TWICE BEFORE ACCEPTING THE BENEVOLENCE OF SOY
Press Release From Lehigh University ; Department of Biochemical
Sciences
Public release date: 17-Oct-2001
Contact: Kurt Pfitzer, kap4@lehigh.edu 610-758-3017, Lehigh
University
THINK TWICE BEFORE ACCEPTING THE BENEVOLENCE OF SOY
Health-conscious Americans have long accepted the benefits of tofu,
infant formula and other food products made from soybeans and soy
extract. But their assumption is now being called into question by Jill
Schneider, associate professor of biological sciences at Lehigh
University in Bethlehem, Pa.
In a study of hamsters completed under Schneider's direction, Jamie
Swanson, a biological sciences major, recently found that a component
of soy beans - isoflavones - significantly accelerated the onset of
puberty in the rodents. These findings, which are similar to the
results reported by labs that have experimented with rats, might be
relevant to humans, Schneider says. She points out that many babies who
are allergic to cow's milk are fed soy-based formulas that contain
isoflavones. Isoflavones, she says, can act like estrogen, a natural
hormone important in the development of both male and female humans.
Besides triggering early puberty in hamsters, Schneider and Swanson
found that early exposure to soy isoflavones also influenced the sexual
behavior of the rodents, long after they had stopped eating the
isoflavones.
"The sexual behavior of the soy isoflavone-treated animals was much
more pronounced," Schneider says. "They showed much more sexual
receptivity and more interest in mating.
"Like estrogens, these isoflavones can work early in development and
change how an animal acts later."
The experiments conducted by Swanson, says Schneider, "provide
evidence that isoflavones might have far-reaching effects on behavior.
People should be concerned about giving these formulas with isoflavones
to infants. They should not necessarily jump on the bandwagon to
consume these products." Scientists do not yet know whether there is a
safe dose of isoflavones for infants, Schneider says. But infants who
are fed soy formula containing isoflavones should be monitored later in
their lives to see if they experience accelerated onset of puberty.
Schneider also advocates examining sex differences in response to
isoflavones, to see if they affect baby boys differently from baby
girls. And she believes it would be prudent to try to measure the
possible long-term benefits of soy formulas, such as lowering the
incidence of obesity and diabetes.
Schneider's concern about the effects of soy products goes further.
While some people believe soy products protect women against heart
disease and other ailments, she says, the products might be linked to a
number of health risks including breast cancer and accelerated aging in
the brain. Estrogen stimulates cell division and growth in some types
of breast cancers.
Isoflavones, which bind to estrogen receptors, can mimic estrogen in
some cases, Schneider says.
Naturally occurring soy products like soy beans or tofu, Schneider
says, do not concern her as much as the isoflavone pills or
concentrated soy powders, which contain larger quantities of isoflavone
than those contained in the the beans or curd.
Schneider, who will present her findings in a paper before the
Society for Neuroscience in November, says investigators have asked the
FDA not to allow soy manufacturers to claim their products are good for
health.
"I would not feed infants soy products. I would breast-feed. If for
some reason a woman can't breast-feed, I would not recommend feeding
infants foods that are high in isoflavones."
WE are aware that other experts in Pediatric Health have expressed
specific concern at the significant numbers of reported fertility
irregularities in women who were fed soy infancy. For instance, Dr
Joseph Mercola in this commentary:
750000 US BABIES AT RISK EACH YEAR.
STORY AT http://www.mercola.com/2001/sep/15/soy_formula.htm
QUOTES FROM THE STORY
"higher rates of reproductive disorders"
"cervical cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, blocked fallopian
tubes, endocrine disruption, still births"
"disrupted sexual development in boys"
"babies get the equivalent of at least five contraceptive pills a
day"
These are eminent United States and international Professors of
Pediatrics expressing their opinions.
And there is more here
http://www.mercola.com/2001/sep/22/soy_protein_formula_policy.htm
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