Soy milk has been the subject of much debate and scientific study, particularly as it affects children and women of all ages. Conflicting studies have examined whether the phytoestrogens and other isoflavones in soy can cause early onset of puberty in girls. But several studies of Asian and Asian-American women, among whom soy is a dietary staple, have found that it may have properties beneficial in warding off breast cancer.
Calcium
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service has recommended that mothers feed their young daughters milk or some other calcium-rich beverage, such as calcium-fortified soy milk, to ensure bone health. This recommendation was based on a study conducted by the USDA's Children's Nutrition Research Center and reported in 2004 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." The study found that girls ages 5 to 10 with adequate calcium had consumed nearly twice as much milk as their calcium-deficient counterparts.
Iron
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that iron deficiency can impede motor and mental functioning in infants. Further, it warns that infants and children, as well as adolescent girls, are among those at highest risk of iron deficiency. In light of this, the CDC recommends breastfeeding babies who are younger than a year or giving them iron-formulated formula. It also advises an iron-rich diet for girls ages 9 to 13. Girls in that age group should get 8 mg of iron daily, according to the CDC. Adolescent girls ages 14 to 18 should get 15 mg. Soy milk only has about 1.56 mg per cup, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database.
Early Puberty
Despite containing estrogen-boosting hormones, soy milk does not appear to promote early onset of menstruation or breast development in girls. This according to numerous studies, including one published in 2001 in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." The study looked at 811 people ages 20 to 34. It found those who had been fed soy formula experienced no statistically significant difference in reproductive outcome than those who had been given cow's milk formula. This was validated by a 2004 study in the "Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism," which found no hormonal effects, including any premature signs of puberty in girls who had been given soy formula for at least six months.
Breast Cancer
In Asia, where soy isoflavone intake is 25 to 50 mg per day, the incidence of breast cancer is lower than in countries in the West, where soy isoflavone intake is below 2 mg per day. Numerous studies, including one published in September 2002 in "Carcinogenesis," have supported the idea that exposure to soy products early in a girl's life can offer protection against breast cancer later in life. Findings presented in 2010 at a American Association for Cancer Research conference confirmed these results, finding a reduced risk of certain kinds of breast cancer and large tumors in women who included soy in their diets.
References
- USDA Agricultural Research Service; "Mothers' Beverage Choices Vital to Girls' Bone Health"; Alfredo Flores; May 2011
- "American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition"; Meeting Calcium Recommendations During Middle Childhood...; Jennifer O. Fisher, et al.; Apr 2004
- "Journal Of The American Medical Association"; Exposure To Soy-Based Formula In Infancy And Endocrinology And Reproductive Outcomes...; Brian L. Strom; 2001
- "Journal Of Pediatric Endocrinology And Metabolism"; Soy Protein Formulas In Children: No Hormonal Effects In Long-Term Feeding; P.G. Giampietro, et al.; Feb 2004
- "Carcinogens"; Adolescent And Adult Soy Intake And Risk Of Breast Cancer In Asian-Americans; A.H. Wu; Sep 2002
- American Association For Cancer Research; "Soy Isoflavones May Modify Risk Of Breast Cancer"; Nov 2010
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