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Soy Unproven Substitute for Estrogen

Wed, 11/29/2000 - 1:00am — Karen Stevenson
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A report published by Mayo Clinic physicians in the November edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings states there is insufficient data to conclude that soy isoflavones are an acceptable alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement in postmenopausal women.

The Mayo physicians studied available literature in response to recent interest in the use of natural products like soy proteins for their potential estrogen-like effects. Soybeans are a staple in the diet of East Asian countries. In areas with soy-enriched diets, there appear to be lower incidences of hormone-dependent diseases such as breast and ovarian cancer and coronary artery disease. The theory is that soy phytoestrogens, specifically isoflavones, are partly responsible for this protection, so there has been intense interest in the isoflavones as substitutes for estrogen for postmenopausal women.

The authors of the Mayo Clinic report looked at various studies about isoflavones and the effects they have on coronary artery disease, breast cancer prevention, bone loss, the central nervous system, the endometrium, hormonal effects, attenuation of hot flashes and the skin. They determined that it is premature to draw definitive conclusions regarding the use of isoflavones as an alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement in postmenopausal women. Appropriate dosage studies with the widely available isolated isoflavones have not been done and long-term benefits of isoflavones with regard to fracture prevention, prevention of hormone-dependent cancers, attenuation of memory loss, and prevention of cardiovascular disease are currently unknown. Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are necessary to address these important issues.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings is a peer-reviewed and indexed general/internal medicine journal, published for 75 years by Mayo Foundation, with a circulation of 120,000 nationally and internationally.

A report published by Mayo Clinic physicians in the November edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings states there is insufficient data to conclude that soy isoflavones are an acceptable alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement in postmenopausal women.

The Mayo physicians studied available literature in response to recent interest in the use of natural products like soy proteins for their potential estrogen-like effects. Soybeans are a staple in the diet of East Asian countries. In areas with soy-enriched diets, there appear to be lower incidences of hormone-dependent diseases such as breast and ovarian cancer and coronary artery disease. The theory is that soy phytoestrogens, specifically isoflavones, are partly responsible for this protection, so there has been intense interest in the isoflavones as substitutes for estrogen for postmenopausal women.

The authors of the Mayo Clinic report looked at various studies about isoflavones and the effects they have on coronary artery disease, breast cancer prevention, bone loss, the central nervous system, the endometrium, hormonal effects, attenuation of hot flashes and the skin. They determined that it is premature to draw definitive conclusions regarding the use of isoflavones as an alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement in postmenopausal women. Appropriate dosage studies with the widely available isolated isoflavones have not been done and long-term benefits of isoflavones with regard to fracture prevention, prevention of hormone-dependent cancers, attenuation of memory loss, and prevention of cardiovascular disease are currently unknown. Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are necessary to address these important issues.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings is a peer-reviewed and indexed general/internal medicine journal, published for 75 years by Mayo Foundation, with a circulation of 120,000 nationally and internationally.