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soy

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE A SCARY PHENOMENON – (12-04-06)

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Method of Defining Equol-Producer Status and Its Frequency among Vegetarians

This is yet another example of how much we miss the point in mainstream medicine. We are so caught up in the idea of “antibiotic resistance” as it relates to antibiotic overuse that we miss the forest for the trees. While antibiotic resistance is a scary phenomena (we are now finding antibiotic resistant bacteria in infants who have never had antibiotics), the real problem is what happens when we destroy normal, healthy bacterial flora.

As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve spent hundreds of thousands of years developing a symbiotic relationship w/ the bugs in our guts, and in the last 20 yrs or so we wipe them out indiscriminately. Key word here is “symbiotic,” meaning benefit to both parties.

Getting back to this study, we find that, over time, the bacteria in our gut adapt to our diets, with the possibility of producing even more beneficial compounds out of the foods we eat, in this case soy.

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LOW TNF HELPS IN FIGHTING WITH CANCER CELLS – (07-25-05)

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Decreased Circulating Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in Postmenopausal Women during Consumption of Soy-Containing Isoflavones

Remember that the latest and greatest class of medications to hit the market are the  “biological agents,” such as the TNF-alpha blockers like Remicade and Enbral.  But I have serous long term concerns with this approach, as TNF-alpha is one of our body’s ways of dealing with cancer cells.  Well, instead of blocking the action of TNF-alpha, how about the novel concept of less of it in the first place?  We already know that lowering insulin levels can lower TNF-alpha levels, but now we see a whopping 66.7% reduction in circulating TNF-alpha levels after 10 weeks with use of a soy drink.  Lets compare.

TNF-alpha blockers:  probably increase risk of cancer, infections, TB, blah, blah, blah.  About $1K/month.  Soy:  protects against high cholesterol, lowers risk of breast and endometrial cancer, protects bone, some people allergic.  About $35/month.  Look on your rheumatologists face:  priceless.

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TAMOXIFEN PROTECTS AGAINST TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR – (10-02-06)

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Tamoxifen protects against acute tumor necrosis factor α-induced cardiac injury via improving mitochondrial functions

Not that I’m a fan of tamoxifen, but it is interesting to note that it’s cardio protection abilities are mediated by making the mitochondria more efficient. Since soy and flax have similar mechanisms of action as tamoxifen, would they as well support mitochondrial energetics? Regular readers of the Updates know that I consider mitochondrial dysfunction as the route of almost all evil.

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ASSOCIATION WITH ANTIBIOTIC USE AND BREAST CANCER – (01-17-05)

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FLAVONOID GLUCOSIDES ARE HYDROLYZED AND THUS ACTIVATED IN THE ORAL CAVITY

You can add this one to the damaging effects of antibiotics. Always irks me when all the concern about antibiotic overuse focuses on antibiotic resistance, when the real, long term damage comes from destroying normal bacterial flora.

This study finds that the bacterial conversion of certain flavonoids (genistein from soy and quercetin from onions) can occur as early as the oral cavity, thus producing more effective compounds to protect the oral cavity from diseases such as cancer. So, while antibiotics may not cause cancer, they may remove some of the potential protective effects given to us by foods. We have seen an association with antibiotic use and breast cancer recently as well.

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WHY SPEND ON DRUGS WHEN NATURAL COMPOUNDS CAN DO WONDERS? – (02-21-05)

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Phosphatidylinositol increases HDL-C levels in humans You need to know that the next strong push in the research for the pharmaceuticals is a drug that will inhibit lipoprotein lipase in the liver and thereby raise HDL levels. Still amazes me how much money a drug company will spend researching to find a patentable product when natural compounds exist that already work!!  Incidentally, exercise, niacin and soy are also know to increase HDL levels as well… Read entire article here

ELEVATED CRP LEVELS RESULTS IN ELEVATED CHOLESTEROL LEVELS – (05-23-05)

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Lipid Response to a Low-Fat Diet with or without Soy is Modified by C-Reactive Protein

In this study, the authors found that, if a patient has elevated CRP levels, than the AHA-type diet may actually result in elevated cholesterol levels.

This really reminds us that a “one size fits all” approach is not always the best way to go.  It also illustrates the point that many of us make–avoiding one class of macronutrients is not always a good idea.  It is very possible that a high-omega 3 fatty acid diet with high fiber would produce drastically different results.

Interestingly, however, there was a 13.5% increase in apolipoprotein levels which the authors threw into the “negative” category.  This would indicate a much better quality HDL cholesterol with this type of diet.

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SOY INTAKE REDUCES BREAST, ENDOMETRIAL AND PROSTATE CANCER RISK – (07-30-07)

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Epidemiologic evidence suggests that dietary phytoestrogen intake is associated with reduced risk of breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers

It amazes me how many anti-soy sentiments there are out there. Thryoid cancer, breast cancer, growing breasts on little boys, thyroid problems, infertility…the list is quite long. However, I have looked at many of the references the “anti-soy” people use. They just don’t hold up. I remember letter to the editor I wrote in response to an article damning soy. The journal let the author of this article rebut my letter. I checked her references and, out of 7 or so, 5 were in SUPPORT of soy!! She never checked her references!!

The vast majority of research articles on soy and phytoestrogens are positive, this one included. And I find it biased that there is concern over the phytates in soy blocking mineral absorption, but tea containing tannins are ok. Soy containing phytoestrogens are of concern, but eat all the lignans in flax you can grind up. You can’t have it both ways. That being said, I am in support of soy as being a part of a healthy lifestyle, but that does NOT mean processed soy this and processed soy that. Tofu, miso, soy nuts, soy milk, edemame–these are closer to Mother Nature’s intent. Textured vegetable protein and veggie burgers are less in Mother Nature’s plan.

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HOW TO LOWER RISKS OF PROSTATE CANCER? – (01-21-08)

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Soy Product and Isoflavone Consumption in Relation to Prostate Cancer in Japanese Men

There seems to be a never ending parade of people noting that soy is detrimental to our health. Unfortunately, many of the references they use do not hold up to scrutiny. Add to this that there are volumes of research on the beneficial aspects of soy and the isoflavones they contain. Keep in mind, however, that our bacterial flora in our gut plays a large role in how beneficial these isoflavones are. Over time, the bacteria in our gut “learn” to convert the isoflavones to their aglycones, and these aglycones are the compounds that are very protective for hormonal cancers.

This was a large study looking at whether soy protected against prostate cancer. For localized prostate cancer, soy consumption lowered risk almost 50%. However, it did increase the risk for advanced prostate cancer. Rather than deterring from soy consumption, I would suggest that soy should be part of a lifestyle of healthy changes, coupled with other lifestyles to lower risk of prostate cancer (sunlight exposure, no dairy, plant based diet, exercise, etc..).

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