Ljw. Lu et al., EFFECTS OF SOYA CONSUMPTION FOR ONE MONTH ON STEROID-HORMONES IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN - IMPLICATIONS FOR BREAST-CANCER RISK REDUCTION, Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, 5(1), 1996, pp. 63-70
Soybean consumption is associated with reduced rates of breast, prosta
te, and colon cancer, which is possibly related to the presence of iso
flavones that are weakly estrogenic and anticarcinogenic. We examined
the effects of soya consumption on circulating steroid hormones in six
healthy females 22-29 years of age. Starting within 6 days after the
onset of menses, the subjects ingested a 12-oz portion of soymilk with
each of three meals daily for 1 month on a metabolic unit. Daily isof
lavone intakes were similar to 100 mg of daidzein (mostly as daidzin)
and similar to 100 mg of genistein (mostly as genistin). Serum 17 beta
-estradiol levels on cycle days 5-7, 12-14, and 20-22 decreased by 31%
(P = 0.09), 81% (P = 0.03), and 49% (P = 0.02), respectively, during
soya feeding. Decreases persisted for two to three menstrual cycles af
ter withdrawal from soya feeding. The luteal phase progesterone levels
decreased by 35% during soya feeding (P = 0.002). Dehydroepiandroster
one sulfate levels decreased progressively during soya feeding by 14-3
0% (P = 0.03), Menstrual cycle length was 28.3 +/- 1.9 days before soy
milk feeding, increased to 31.8 +/- 5.1 days during the month of soymi
lk feeding (P = 0.06), remained increased at 32.7 +/- 8.4 days (P = 0.
11) at one cycle after termination of soymilk feeding, and returned to
pre-soya diet levels five to six cycles later. These results suggest
that consumption of soya diets containing phytoestrogens may reduce ci
rculating ovarian steroids and adrenal androgens and increase menstrua
l cycle length. Such effects may account at least in part for the decr
eased risk of breast cancer that has been associated with legume consu
mption.