Soy Milk Lowers Blood Pressure in Mild to Moderate Hypertension
Soy milk is such an easy thing to add into a healthy lifestyle. It’s nice to see a study on the food as opposed to extracts.
Nutrition.org — Abstracts: Rivas et al. 132 (7): 1900
Soy
Importance of Equol—A Clue to Effectiveness of Soy Isoflavones – (12-12-02)
Importance of Equol—A Clue to Effectiveness of Soy Isoflavones
We see a familiar concept here. Soy isolflavones need to be acted on by beneficial bacteria in the gut to produce equol–a nonsteroidal estrogen-like compound that is believed to be one of the most potent antioxidants in this class. This may explain some of the discrepancies in soy benefit studies and is further proof for a holistic approach to health that would include lifestyle changes to support healthy bacterial flora. We see this same concept with soluble fiber and colon cancer–the fiber needs to be acted on by beneficial bacteria to produce butyrate to protect the colonocytes.
Nutrition.org — Abstracts: Setchell et al. 132 (12): 3577
Eat Soy: Prevent Baldness and Prostate Cancer? – (08-30-02)
Eat Soy: Prevent Baldness and Prostate Cancer?
A naturally occurring substance, DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a byproduct of the male hormone testosterone that helps control the development and functioning of the prostate gland; in most men, DHT is relatively harmless. However, some studies have shown that high levels of DHT can damage hair follicles, leading to male pattern baldness, or lead to an enlarged prostate or, in extreme cases, cancer of the prostate gland.
Researchers in the U.S. and China recently discovered that the answer to stopping DHT may be as easy as eating soy. The scientists conducted a pair of experiments in which two sets of rats were injected with “equol,” a molecule abundant in soybeans and other soy-based products. While the equol did not prevent DHT from being made, it “handcuffed” the hormone by binding to and deactivating it.
“Directly binding and inactivating DHT without influencing testosterone gives equol the ability to reduce many of the harmful effects of androgens [male hormones] without affecting the beneficial ones,” said the study’s lead researcher. Another one of the study authors added that the findings “are of immense clinical importance.”
Additional information about the benefits of sound nutrition can be found at http://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition.
Reference: Lund TD, Munson DJ, Haldy ME, et al. Equol is a novel anti-androgen that inhibits prostate growth and hormone feedback. Biology of Reproduction 2004;70:1188-1195.
Soy-Derived Phytoestrogens on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins – (01-17-02)
Soy-Derived Phytoestrogens on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins
This study finds no benefits of soy phytoestrogens on serum lipids. Before we run out and drop soy from a healthy lifestyle, there are a few things to consider here. First, soy foods, not supplements, have consistently been shown to be a part of a healthy lifestyle. I am a firm believer in the wisdom of Mother Nature, and believe that she put multiple factors in every food that work synergistically to achieve health benefits. Also, by adding soy into one’s diet, it will invariably be replacing more harmful animal products.
JCEM — Abstracts: Dewell et al. 87 (1): 118
Benefits of soy isoflavone regimen on menopausal symptoms – (03-25-02)
Benefits of soy isoflavone regimen on menopausal symptoms
While I’m sure none of you fell over in surprise at the finding of this article, the fact that this appears in Obstetrics and Gynecology is a shocker to me. I wouldn’t have expected anything in this journal on this topic for at least 2 more decades… All sarcasm aside, remember that soy is just one tool in the natural approach to menopause. Evaluation and balance of adrenal function is another key approach to managing peri and postmenopausal signs and symptoms.
ScienceDirect – Obstetrics & Gynecology: Benefits of soy isoflavone therapeutic regimen on menopausal symptoms – Guest –
Phytoestrogens Associated with Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile – (02-04-02)
Phytoestrogens Associated with Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile
Remember research a few weeks back that found that high dose phytoestrogen did not affect blood lipids? I had to comment that the study used high dose phytoestrogen extract, not the whole food.
This article addresses phytoestrogen intake as a part of the diet and found favorable outcomes. I firmly believe that soy and other phytoestrogen containing foods are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
nutrition.org — Abstracts: de Kleijn et al. 132 (2): 276
Adrenocortical Effects of Oral Estrogens and Soy Isoflavones – (06-01-04)
Adrenocortical Effects of Oral Estrogens and Soy Isoflavones
Just in case this email gets to an ob/gyn and they think I don’t know what I’m talking about… This article (which is a monkey study) finds that both oral contraceptive and conjugated equine estrogens (i.e. Premarin) mess with the adrenal glands in a negative way, producing too much cortisol and not enough DHEA. And, since this imbalance is well known to contribute to insulin resistance, do I need say any more?
JCEM — Abstracts: Wood et al. 89 (5): 2319 –
Soy’s Protective Cardiovascular Effects – (07-12-01)
Soy Has Both Beneficial & Potentially Adverse Cardiovascular Effects
This is another research article pointing to the beneficial effects of soy. This one does point out some of the potentially adverse effects, noting that Lp (a) increased and a decline in endothelial function in males. First of all, when looking at these adverse effects, we can consider it two steps backward for three forward. Also, this study once again looked at portions of soy, not the whole food. And, in a complete and balanced diet with fruits and vegetables other factors may mediate these adverse effects.
JCEM — Abstracts: Teede et al. 86 (7): 3053