The Whole Soy Story

Dear Kaayla:  If soy isoflavones are so deleterious to our brains, then why do menopausal women always get told to combat their hot flashes with soy isoflavones? Doesn’t this just hasten the overall aging, starting with the brain?  So what should we do instead–maybe red clover?

Dear Wendy:  The soy industry heavily promotes the myth that soy is safe and all-natural HRT and the ticket to a healthy and easy menopause. The truth is the studies on soy and menopause are inconsistent and contradictory at best. Soy might alleviate hot flashes in some women, but there are well proven risks to the thyroid. Red clover contains coumestans, another type of phytoestrogen. In terms of a comfortable passage through menopause, I’d recommend a Nourishing Traditions type diet perhaps with some heavy metal detoxification, adrenal support, thyroid nourishment, liver cleansing and other work as indicated by laboratory assessment and work with an alternative MD or other health care practitioner. Good luck.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) Germany, has undertaken a health assessment of isoflavone supplements. BfR found that there is a lack of evidence to confirm the safety of such supplements, yet there is some evidence to suggest that there may be health risks. Long term studies of these extracts are needed to evaluate the health implications.

Isoflavones are phyto-estrogens that may have a hormone like (estrogen) effect on the body. Isoflavones are found predominantly in soya beans (Glycine hispida max) and Red Clover (Trifloium pratense). Daidzein, genistein and glycitein are the main isofavones found in soya. Red clover is a mix of many isoflavone compounds; formononetin and biochanin A are thought to be the main ones. Isoflavones may be ingested naturally from food or as an isolated, fortified form in food supplements.
One of the main groups who are targeted by isoflavone marketing is post menopausal women. It is often claimed that such supplements can ease the symptoms of the menopause, offering an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Other claimed advantages of the supplements are heart, bone and breast health.

After reports of adverse events relating the taking of soya / red clover supplements, BfR carried out a health assessment. This included evaluating the scientific studies published to date. The reported adverse events included itching, eczema, nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, skin rash and sweating. Conflicting reports and a lack of long term studies make isoflavones a difficult subject to evaluate. Indeed one study found that isoflavones stimulated breast cancer cells in mice, while another found that women with a high soy diet generally have lower rates of breast cancer.

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