FDA weighs soy benefits versus concerns

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FDA weighs soy benefits versus concerns

 

August 15, 2000

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US health regulators weighed concerns that soy products

might be harmful but decided soy's positive effects justified touting its

benefits to consumers, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official said on

Monday.

 

The agency comment came in response to published remarks from two FDA scientists

that eating soy might cause health problems, particularly if given daily to

infants in soy milk formulas.

 

Drs. Daniel Doerge and Daniel Sheehan, the FDA scientists, have spoken to media

organizations to warn that infants given soy formula might grow up to develop

fertility problems.

 

They also worry that eating soy regularly might increase the risk of breast

cancer in women and brain damage in men. Their most recent comments were

published in Britain's Observer newspaper on Sunday.

 

FDA officials considered the scientists' views and those of other critics before

announcing last October that they would permit manufacturers to advertise that

eating soy could help adults cut their risk of heart disease.

 

" We are well aware of the concerns, but we did balance those concerns with the

other positive effects, " an FDA official said in an interview on Monday.

 

The FDA reviewed scientific studies on soy before concluding that adults who

consume 25 grams of soy protein per day could see a " significant " lowering of

cholesterol, which would lower their risk of heart disease. High cholesterol is

a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading killer of Americans.

 

Critics told the FDA soy could cause harm because it contains a chemical similar

to the female hormone, estrogen, that might disrupt normal hormone levels and

impair development. Some warned about the possibility of cancer, impaired

fertility or thyroid problems.

 

The FDA said the concerns were not supported by conclusive scientific research.

While chemicals in soy do exert hormonal effects, the impact is " very limited "

and much lower than that of natural or synthetic estrogens, the FDA said when it

announced it would permit the soy health claim.

 

Concerns that soy infant formula could be harmful were " speculative " pending the

outcome of definitive research, the agency said.

 

Critics who worry about the effects of soy infant formula recommend that it be

used only when no alternatives exist.

 

A farmer-supported group said on Monday concerns about soy's health effects were

not new but were not widely held.

 

" The overwhelming body of published peer-reviewed scientific evidence shows soy

has numerous health benefits, " said Michael Orso, a spokesman for the United

Soybean Board.

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/News/NewsFullText.cfm?ID=39739 & storytype=ReutersNew\

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