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Soy Foods and Supplementation: A Review of Commonly Perceived Health Benefits and Risks
Abstract
In recent years, the impact of soy foods and supplements upon human health has become increasingly controversial among the general public. No one has conducted a broad evaluation of the scientific evidence supporting or refuting popular perceptions of the health effects of soy consumption. In this article, the authors have conducted a comprehensive assessment of the literature surrounding the health effects of soy consumption that are of greatest interest. This review has focused on 5 health benefits- relief of menopausal symptoms and prevention of heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis, and 5 health risks-increased risk of breast cancer, male hormonal and fertility problems, hypothyroidism, antinutrient content, and harmful processing by-products. Systematic reviews of human trials, prospective human trials, observational human studies, animal models, in vitro studies, and laboratory analyses of soy components were included for review. This literature review revealed that soy foods and isoflavones may provide relief from menopausal symptoms and protect against breast cancer and heart disease. Soy does not appear to offer protection against osteoporosis. The evidence on male fertility and reproductive hormones was conflicting; some studies demonstrated a deleterious impact caused by soy consumption and others showed no effect. Soy supplementation also appears to affect thyroid function in an inconsistent manner, as studies have shown both increases and decreases in the same parameters of thyroid activity. Soaking, fermentation, and heating may reduce problematic antinutrients contained in soy. The authors found that consuming moderate amounts of traditionally prepared and minimally processed soy foods may offer modest health benefits while minimizing potential for adverse health effects. However, additional studies are necessary to elucidate the variable thyroid response to soy supplementation, and more rigorous studies are required to assess dose-response relationships, the relationship between intestinal-flora composition and the response to soy, potential fertility issues among males, and the unknown long-term health effects of consuming highly processed modern soy foods.
... Studies have also shown comparable effects on muscle strength adaption for whey and soy protein [8,9]. However, perceived risks surrounding the effect of soy on sex hormones and their links to 'feminization' in men may discourage consumption [10]. levels have been shown to depress serum testosterone levels and reduce thigh muscle cross-sectional area, exerting an anti-anabolic effect on muscle even when combined with exogenous testosterone in the context of RET [14]. ...
... There are concerns that soy consumption is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women and "feminization" in males [10]; however, the literature does not support these notions. Indeed, in an umbrella review including 114 meta-analyses and systematic reviews examining multiple health outcomes, Li et al. identified beneficial associations for cancers, cardiovascular disease, and gynecological, metabolic, musculoskeletal, endocrine, neurological, and renal outcomes with soy and isoflavone consumption [44]. ...
Introduction: Resistance exercise training (RET) can increase muscle mass and strength, and this adaptation is optimized when dietary protein is consumed to enhance muscle protein synthesis. Dairy milk has been endorsed for this purpose; however, allergy and lactose intolerance affect two-thirds of the global population making dairy milk unsuitable for many. Plant-based alternatives such as soy milk have gained popularity and exhibit comparable protein content. However, concerns regarding soy phytoestrogens potentially influencing circulating sex hormones and diminishing the anabolic response to RET have been raised. This study therefore aimed to assess the acute effects of dairy and soy milk consumption on circulating sex hormones (total, free testosterone, free testosterone percentage, total estrogen, progesterone, and sex hormone binding globulin) after RET.
Materials and methods: Six male participants were recruited for a double-blinded, randomized crossover study with either dairy or soy milk provided post RET. Venous samples were collected before and after milk consumption across seven timepoints (0-120 minutes) where circulating sex hormones were analyzed. Two-way ANOVA analyses were applied for repeated measures for each hormone. The area under the curve (AUC) was also calculated between dairy and soy milk. Significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: No significant differences were observed in acute circulating serum for free (p=0.95), % free (p=0.56), and total testosterone (p=0.88), progesterone (p=0.67), or estrogen (p=0.21) between milk conditions. Likewise, no significant differences in AUC were observed between any hormones.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that consumption of dairy milk and soy milk have comparable acute effects on circulating sex hormones following RET. Further investigations with expanded sample sizes are needed to strengthen and broaden these initial findings.
... Numerous clinical studies highpoint the health benefits of soybean consumption, including reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure compared to other legumes (Jenkins et al., 2010;Taku et al., 2010). Diets rich in soybean are also associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds like isoflavones, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and fatty acids (Bouchenak & Lamri-Senhadji, 2013;D'Adamo & Sahin, 2014;Yan, Zhang, Li, Jiao, & Dong, 2017). ...
Soybean (Glycine max) is a key crop rich in bioactive compounds, particularly isoflavones, which play a significant role in plant defense against biotic stress like fungal infections. In this study, nine soybean varieties with varying susceptibility to mildew were evaluated. Isoflavone profiles in seeds and pods were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and metabolomics analysis via orthogonal signal correction partial least squares discriminant analysis (OSC-PLS-DA) identified differences between mildew-affected and unaffected samples. Results showed organ-specific changes, with isoflavone aglycones increasing in seeds, while malonylglucosides (M-type) varied in pods. β-Glucoside (G-type) and M-type isoflavones were identified as differential metabolites. Antifungal assays revealed that genistin, among six isoflavone glycosides and aglycones tested, had the strongest inhibitory effects on Aspergillus flavus. Additionally, the identification of G-type and M-type isoflavone glycosides underscores the necessity for further investigation into the roles these metabolites play in the overall antifungal activity observed.
... In food processing applications, fermented soymilk from vegetable soybeans has proven to be an effective matrix for probiotic bacteria delivery while offering reduced levels of non-digestible oligosaccharides [46]. Notably, second-generation soy products contain minimal bioactive components, while traditional soy preparations maintain moderate levels, resulting in limited health benefits with negligible risk of adverse effects [47]. ...
Vegetative soybean (maodou or edamame) serves as a nutrient-rich food source with significant potential for mitigating global nutritional deficiencies. This study undertook a thorough examination of the nutritional profiles and transcriptomic landscapes of six soybean cultivars, including three common cultivars (Heinong551, Heinong562, and Heinong63) and three fresh maodou cultivars (Heinong527, HeinongXS4, and HeinongXS5). Nutrient analysis of the seeds disclosed notable differences in the levels of protein, fat, soluble sugars, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc across the cultivars. Through comparative transcriptome profiling and RNA sequencing, distinct variations in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between fresh and traditional maodou cultivars. Functional enrichment analyses underscored the involvement of DEGs in critical biological processes, such as nutrient biosynthesis, seed development, and stress responses. Additionally, association studies demonstrated robust correlations between specific DEG expression patterns and seed nutrient compositions across the different cultivars. Sankey diagrams illustrated that DEGs are strongly linked with seed quality traits, revealing potential molecular determinants that govern variations in nutritional content. The identified DEGs and their relationships with nutritional profiles offer valuable insights for breeding programs focused on developing cultivars with improved nutritional quality, tailored to specific dietary needs or industrial applications.
... CGJ also exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities [14,15]. The consumption of fermented soybeans is significantly correlated with a reduction in the occurrence of breast and prostate cancer [16]. Moreover, fermented soybean consumption has been reported to increase aglycone isoflavone content and bioavailability during soybean fermentation [17,18]. ...
8-Prenylgenistein (8PG), a genistein derivative, is present in fermented soybeans (Glycine max), including cheonggukjang (CGJ), and exhibits osteoprotective, osteogenic, and antiadipogenic properties. However, the hepatoprotective effects of 8PG and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified the high binding affinity of 8PG with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which acts as a potent AMPK activator that counteracts hepatic steatosis. Notably, 8PG exhibited better pharmacokinetics with greater absorption and higher plasma binding than the positive controls for the target proteins. Moreover, 8PG exerted non-carcinogenic activity in rats and significantly increased AMPK phosphorylation. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, did not antagonize 8PG-activated AMPK in HepG2 cells. 8PG significantly attenuated palmitate-induced lipid accumulation and enhanced phosphorylated AMPK and its downstream target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Further, 8PG activated nuclear SIRT1 at the protein level, which promoted fatty acid oxidation in palmitate-treated HepG2 cells. Overall, 8PG acts as a potent AMPK activator, further attenuating hepatic steatosis via the SIRT1-mediated pathway and providing new avenues for dietary interventions to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
... For male fertility, the data in human studies are controversial [203]. Whereas in healthy men, semen characteristics remained unchanged after supplementation with 40 mg of isoflavones for 2 months [204], in subfertile men, a negative effect of soy food and isoflavone consumption on the sperm concentration was reported [205]. ...
Infertility affects 15% of the population in developed countries, and its prevalence is increasing. Fertility can be influenced by different factors. Although key factors like maternal age cannot be changed, there is growing evidence that other modifiable factors, such as diet, can have an impact on fertility. Diet has become increasingly important in recent years for a number of reasons: the new trend toward a healthy lifestyle, the higher prevalence of certain digestive disorders, a lack of time that leads people to consume more prepared and processed food, and personal choice to not eat meat, among others. To meet these needs, several diets have recently become popular, such as the Mediterranean diet, known as the gold standard of health; the DASH diet, known for preventing hypertension; the Western diet, characterized by processed food; the ketogenic diet, characterized by low carbohydrate intake; and the vegetarian diet, which is the choice for people who do not eat meat or animal by-products. Diets present a unique composition characterized by the presence or absence of specific nutrients, which have also been associated with male and female fertility individually. This review assesses the impact of these diets and of macro- and micronutrients on both female and male fertility.
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an economic crop mainly found in tropical countries. Coconut fruit consists of kernel, water and shell. There are many food products currently available in the markets which are made from coconut kernel or coconut milk. Coconut milk is the aqueous extract of coconut kernel. The focus in this chapter is to discuss biochemical properties, physicochemical properties and poorly explored health benefits of the coconut kernel and the derived products of coconut kernel. Coconut kernel products are also used in many industries such as cosmetic industry, detergent industry and culinary industry. There are many benefits of using coconut kernel products for humans due to its medium chain fatty acid composition. Due to the unique fatty acid composition with rich composition of medium chain fatty acids and phenolic antioxidants, the consumption of coconut kernel and coconut milk may lead to many health benefits. However, detailed studies on the health benefits of coconut kernel and coconut milk are limited. Further studies in this area are vital for the popularization of coconut kernel-based foods and for the processing of such foods to enhance or preserve nutritional quality. Nutrient composition, health effects and potential of developing more food items based on coconut kernel are highlighted in this chapter.
In Russia, a large number of different legumes are grown, such as soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, beans, which are a valuable source of protein. In the context of the global climate agenda and sustainable development goals, the world community has taken the vector of transforming the population’s diet towards reducing animal products and increasing the share of products based on plant materials. This paper presents the results of experiments on the fermentation of 8 types of legume raw materials, including soybeans, chickpeas, mung beans, black lentils, green lentils, red lentils, peas, to obtain a food product. An assessment was made of the swelling properties of raw materials, their appearance after swelling, and after fermentation for 24 and 48 hours. An analysis of amine nitrogen indicators before and after fermentation was also carried out. Practical recommendations for the use of the considered raw materials for the food industry are offered.
Numerous studies have indicated that low levels of serum adiponectin are linked with the development of various chronic diseases. While some recent research has suggested that soy has a positive impact on serum adiponectin levels, the results are inconsistent. Therefore, we aim to conduct a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effects of soy on serum adiponectin levels in adults. The search was conducted until March 2024 on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify RCTs that studied the effects of soy supplementation on serum adiponectin levels. A random-effects model was used to pool the weighted mean differences (WMDs). Ten and nine RCTs were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. After analyzing data from 9 eligible RCTs, it was found that soy supplementation did not significantly impact the concentrations of adiponectin (WMD = -0.24 μg/mL; 95% confidence interval, -1.56 to 1.09; p = 0.72). However, there was significant heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 89.8%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed that overall estimates were not affected by the elimination of any study. We did not observe any evidence regarding publication bias. In conclusion, soy supplementation did not have a significant effect on adiponectin levels in adults. However, further RCTs are needed with longer intervention duration, higher doses, and studies conducted in different countries.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of heart and blood vessel disorder. It is a persistent global health challenge, being the number one cause of death worldwide. These diseases exert a substantial burden on healthcare systems and economies, with their impact shaped by socioeconomic disparities and access to medical care. Natural resources are increasingly recognized as valuable assets in cardiovascular treatment, and it is important to examine the promising potential of natural resources in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases by reviewing the potential benefits of bioactive compounds present in plants, herbs, and dietary components on cardiovascular health. The prominent bioactive agents include hawthorn, garlic, ginkgo, danshen, turmeric, and dietary interventions like the Mediterranean diet, omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, and fiber-rich foods. These natural sources act through diverse mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, vasodilation, lipid modulation, and cardio protection. This chapter will provide a thorough understanding of the role of natural resources in cardiovascular therapy, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, medical professionals, and individuals interested in promoting cardiovascular health and managing cardiovascular diseases using natural approaches.
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