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Soy isoflavones are powerful plant substances chemically similar to the female hormone estrogen. Their presence in soy foods may help to explain why people in countries where soy is a big part of the diet suffer from relatively few menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. It may also explain why rates of certain hormone-related cancers are much lower in Asia than they are in many parts of the West, including the United States.

While soy isoflavones are now available in supplement form, it remains to be determined whether these pills can provide the same health benefits as soy isoflavones consumed as part of the diet. In fact, most research has been done on people who eat soy products rather than take soy supplements. It's possible that isoflavones are just one of several therapeutic compounds in soy. Still, while it's ideal to get soy isoflavones from one or two daily servings of soy foods, supplements are now an option for soy-leery eaters.

Health Benefits

Two particularly important isoflavones in soy--genistein and daidzein--appear to protect against hormone-related disorders such as breast cancer and endometriosis. They do this by competing for the same place on cells (receptor sites) that the body's own estrogen does. Some of the risks of excess estrogen, including breast and uterine cancer, can apparently be lowered in this way.

Similarly, when the body's natural levels of estrogen drop, as they do with menopause, soy isoflavones can compensate by binding to some of the cell receptor sites that estrogen once did. Menopausal symptoms may improve as a result.

Research findings suggest that soy isoflavones may also inhibit cancer-causing enzymes, provide antioxidant protection, and enhance the immune system.

Specifically, soy isoflavones may help to:

Control symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. When regularly ingested, soy may reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other menopausal difficulties. In one study, women who added 45 grams of Soy Flour to their daily diet experienced a 40% reduction in hot flashes. The isoflavones in soy are believed to be responsible for these effects.

Guard against osteoporosis. Soy isoflavones may aid women (and men) in maintaining bone mineral density.

Counteract the effects of endometriosis. The phytoestrogens in soy products may help to offset the action of the body's natural estrogen, which is often responsible for instigating the monthly pain, heavy bleeding, and other symptoms of endometriosis.

Protect against prostate problems. Eating soy products may protect against enlargement of the male prostate gland.

Prevent various cancers. Preliminary studies show that regular consumption of soy foods or supplements may protect against hormone-related cancers of the breast, prostate, and endometrium. Integrating soy products may be especially important for women who have never been pregnant. One analysis found that women in this category who consumed little, if any, soy--less than a quarter ounce in a given day, on average--were at four times the risk for developing endometrial cancer. In animal studies, adding Soy protein to the diet significantly reduced tumor formation and the likelihood that cancer, once developed, would spread.
Reduce heart disease risk. Heart-healthy actions have been attributed to isoflavone-rich soy. In 1999 the Food and Drug Administration declared that soy foods can be billed as products that reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering harmful cholesterol. Specifically, soy products have been shown to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and significantly increase HDL ("good") cholesterol.
In one study, people who drank a "milk shake" containing 25 g of soy protein for nine weeks experienced, on average, a 5% reduction in LDL cholesterol. And people with the highest LDL levels experienced an 11% drop. (For each 10% to 15% drop in the LDL level, the risk of a heart attack decreases 20% to 25%.)