Natural Health Products
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Soy
General Information
Soy, a plant in the pea family, has been common in Asian diets for thousands of years. It is found in modern American diets as a food or food additive. Soybeans, the high-protein seeds of the soy plant, contain isoflavones – compounds similar to the female hormone estrogen. The following information highlights what is known about soy when used by adults for health purposes.
Common Name(s)
Scientific Name(s)
How is this product usually used?
Soy is available in dietary supplements, in forms such as tablets and capsules. Soy supplements may contain isoflavones or soy protein or both.
Soybeans can be cooked and eaten or used to make tofu, soy milk, and other foods. Also, soy is sometimes used as an additive in various processed foods, including baked goods, cheese, and pasta.
What is this product used for?
People use soy products as traditional or folk remedies to prevent or treat menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes and/or night sweats), osteoporosis when taken with an adequate dose of calcium and vitamin D, memory problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
Your health care provider may have recommended this product for other conditions. Contact a health care provider if you have questions.
What else should I be aware of?
Research suggests that daily intake of soy protein may slightly lower levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
Some studies suggest that soy isoflavone supplements may reduce hot flashes in women after menopause. However, the results have been inconsistent.
There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether soy supplements are effective for any other health uses.
NCCAM supports studies of soy, including its effects in cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, and on menopause-related symptoms and bone loss.
Soy is considered safe for most people when used as a food or when taken for short periods as a dietary supplement.
Minor stomach and bowel problems such as nausea, bloating, and constipation are possible.
Allergic reactions such as breathing problems and rash can occur in rare cases.
The safety of long-term use of soy isoflavones has not been established. Evidence is mixed on whether using isoflavone supplements over time can increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a thickening of the lining of the uterus that can lead to cancer). Studies show no effect of dietary soy on risk for endometrial hyperplasia.
Soy’s possible role in breast cancer risk is uncertain. Until more is known about soy’s effect on estrogen levels, women who have or who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions (such as ovarian or uterine cancer) should be particularly careful about using soy and should discuss it with their health care providers.
Consult your physician if you are taking blood thinners, hormone replacement therapy, or thyroid hormone medication. In addition, you should also consult your physician if you have a liver disorder or a history of hormonal or gynecological disease (e.g., ovarian cancer, endometriosis).
Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, speak to your physician, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider about any natural health products you may be taking.
Source(s)
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Herbs at a Glance. Soy. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/soy/ataglance.htm Accessed September 12, 2014.
- Health Canada. Natural Health Product Ingredients Database. Monograph: Soybean Extracts and Isolates. Available at: http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=soy_extra_isolate&lang=eng. Accessed 12 September 2014.
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