Soy formula disrupts hormones and leads to early menarche

This study was published in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012 Mar;26(2):163-75

Study title and authors:

Early-life soy exposure and age at menarche.

Adgent MA, Daniels JL, Rogan WJ, Adair L, Edwards LJ, Westreich D, Maisonet M, Marcus M.

Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. adgentma@mail.nih.gov

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22324503

The commencement of menstruation at puberty is termed as menarche. It marks the beginning of reproducive life of a women. Early menarche is linked to increases in conditions such as breast cancer, heart disease, asthma and of course unwanted attention from older males.

The study investigated the effects soy-based infant feeding had on the timing of menarche. The study included 2,920 girls who were followed for 14.5 years.

The study found, compared with girls fed non-soy-based infant formula or milk (early formula), early soy-fed girls were at 25% higher risk of menarche throughout the course of the study.

The author of the study, Dr Margaret Adgent from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, concludes: "Our results suggest that girls fed soy products in early infancy may have an increased risk of menarche specifically in early adolescence. These findings may be the observable manifestation of mild endocrine (hormonal)-disrupting effects of soy isoflavone exposure".

Women who were given soy formula as an infant have longer and more difficult periods and find it harder to conceive

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2001 Aug 15;286(7):807-14.

 

Study title and authors:

Exposure to soy-based formula in infancy and endocrinological and reproductive outcomes in young adulthood.

Strom BL, Schinnar R, Ziegler EE, Barnhart KT, Sammel MD, Macones GA, Stallings VA, Drulis JM, Nelson SE, Hanson SA.

University of Pennsylvania, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 824 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. bstrom@cceb.med.upenn.edu

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11497534

The objective of this study was to examine the association between infant exposure to soy formula and health in young adulthood, with an emphasis on reproductive health. The study included 811 adults aged 20 to 34 years who as infants were fed either soy formula (248) or cow milk formula (563).

The study found:
(a) Women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant had longer duration of  menstrual bleeding compared to the women who had been fed cow milk formula.
(b) Women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant had a 77% increased risk of suffering with discomfort during their period compared to the women who had been fed cow milk formula.
(c) Women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant had a 34% increased risk of suffering with breast tenderness compared to the women who had been fed cow milk formula.
(d) Women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant had a 61% increased risk of been unsuccessful in attempting pregnancy compared to the women who had been fed cow milk formula.
(e) Women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant had a 111% increased risk of having a preterm delivery compared to the women who had been fed cow milk formula.

The data from the study shows that compared to women who were fad cow milk formula, women who had been exposed to soy formula as an infant have longer and more difficult periods and find it harder to conceive. 

Adverse effects of soy on reproductive health

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2008 May;14(2):132-5 and a recipe for scrambled eggs with basil and walnuts.

Study title and authors:
Adverse effects of phytoestrogens on reproductive health: a report of three cases.

Chandrareddy A, Muneyyirci-Delale O, McFarlane SI, Murad OM.

Books:

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18396257

Abnormal uterine bleeding with diseases of the endometrium in three women were found to be related to a high intake of soy products.

The women's symptoms included;  uterine polyps, benign tumors, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and infertility.

All three women improved after withdrawal of soy from their diet.

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Recipe of the day

Scrambled Eggs with Basil and Walnuts

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Eggs

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 c chopped basil
• 1/3 c chopped walnuts
• pepper

Instructions:
Whisk eggs in a bowl then place in a frying pan on medium heat, stirring continuously. When eggs have almost cooked through, add the basil and continue cooking for another minute, or until eggs are cooked through. Pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts before serving.

Scrambled Eggs