While soy food products have become a part of the diet in many Western countries, the effects of soy milk on estrogen is often overlooked. The companies which manufacture or sell soy products are understandably keen to stress their health benefits but the effects of soy milk on estrogen are still being debated by scientists. Although isoflavones, the estrogens in soy products, are generally seen as beneficial there are some concerns among researchers that they may lead to health problems including breast cancer in women.
The isoflavones estrogens in soy milk include daidzein, genistain, glycitein and equol. As they are all plant-based, they are known to scientists as phytoestrogens. The ongoing debate as to the effects of soy milk on estrogen is understandably of concern to those who eat soy food products regularly. The issues surrounding the effects of soy milk on estrogen vary according to the particular chemical the soy food product contains.
The isoflavone genistein for example has been identified by some researchers as a possible trigger for breast cancer in women because estrogen receptor cells in the tissues around the breast are activated by it. In scientific studies into the effects of soy milk on estrogen carried out on female rats, it has been shown that genistein can lead to cancers in adult animals. The extent to which these results can be applied to pre and post menopausal women is debatable however.
Whatever the effects of soy milk on estrogen, most healthcare professionals are now of the opinion that soy food products can form part of a healthy diet. If soy milk is consumed whole, the problems associated with individual proteins or extracts can easily be avoided. Because estrogen produced by the body has a completely different effect than that found in soy milk, it is now seen as a healthy drink.
The long-term effects of soy milk on estrogen have not been established and the available evidence neither points to harmful or beneficial effects. It is probably best therefore to discuss with your doctor the appropriate amount of soy food products you should include in your diet.