Soy products do not contain enough plant estrogens, called isoflavones, to increase the risk of developing breast cancer, according to a specialist.
- Soy is the plant food richest in protein (40%). The rest is made up of slow sugars (38%), a little fat (18%) and mineral salts (4%).
- “Soy products do not contain enough estrogen to increase the risk of breast cancer,” says Dr. Mussallem based on recent studies.
- Soy could even act as a “tumor suppressor”, according to the specialist.
Is there a link between soy consumption and breast cancer? The question sparks lively debates in the medical world. And for good reason, soy contains a significant quantity of isoflavones, plant estrogens (or phytoestrogens) which, according to various studies, can be endocrine disruptors and which, if present in high doses in the body, could increase the chances of developing certain cancers. Including breast cancer, the first cancer in women with more than 61,000 new cases in 2023.
Soy does not contain enough estrogen to promote breast cancer
Except… it’s not so sure, according to the Dr Dawn Mussallemspecialist in the impact of lifestyle on health at the Mayo Clinic, a famous American medical research center. “I have been trying for years to debunk the myth surrounding the supposed link between soy and breast cancer. But it seems that the message is poorly received because, almost every day, I have patients who worry about their soy consumptionnotes the doctor in a communicated. On the basis of new studies, which she does not specify, she now affirms that “Soy products actually do not contain enough estrogen to increase the risk of breast cancer”.
Soy “beneficial” after breast cancer diagnosis
Consumes “with moderation”, soy can even be “beneficial”, according to the researcher. While the plant has a similar chemical structure to human estrogen, it actually binds differently to estrogen receptors in breast tissue, potentially acting as a tumor suppressor. “Eating soy after a breast cancer diagnosis is not only a great way to ingest plant-based protein, but it also helps improve outcomes.” in terms of remission or even cure. As already stated in a 2017 study published in the journal Cancer, “Isoflavones are able to slow the growth of cancer cells in the laboratory”.
However, because studies on soy are sometimes contradictory, the National Agency for Health Safety, Food, Environment and Labor (ANSES) recommends avoiding soy consumption for pregnant women and children. children under three years old. Others can consume it, but sparingly: no more than one soy-based product per day, so as not to exceed the critical threshold of 1 mg of daily isoflavones per kilo of body weight.
