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Diet

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What are the Dangers of Soy for Men?

By CPW
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 38,481
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The dangers of soy for men are a result of the high levels of the female hormone estrogen that soy and soy-based products contain. Primarily, soy affects the quality and concentration of a male’s sperm, especially if taken in large quantities or if the subject was exposed to high levels in the womb. A recent study at Harvard University showed that there was a definite correlation between men with low sperm counts and a high intake of soy foods. The study revealed that the average sperm concentration of 80 to 120 million per millimeter of an adult male was more than halved when soy formed part of the diet. The case is more compelling in the study of obese males whose sperm levels are even lower owing to the estrogen making properties of fat tissue.

Scientists believe that the isoflavones (daidzein, genistein and glycitein) found in soy is to blame for poor sperm concentrations. These isoflavones act like estrogen does and they therefore inhibit the production of sperm. Moreover, Professor Lynn Fraser of King's College London has also issued warnings about the isolflavone genistein which is believed can contribute to the failure of the sperm to fertilize the egg. However, these findings were founded on test-tube based experiments and soy industry bodies have countered that the genistein found in soy-based products reacts differently to the pure form of the isoflavones that was used to conduct the research.

Soy is found most abundantly in foods such as soya beans, tofu, tempeh, tofu or soy sausages, bacon, burgers, soy milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and nuts. However, soy and soy derivatives are to be found in approximately 70% of all foods and therefore reducing intake can be difficult. For example, pork pies, breakfast cereals, mayonnaise and margarines, sausages, lasagna, beef burgers and chicken nuggets are some of the foods that rely on soy as a source of cheap protein. The soy derivative lecithin is also pervasive in the bakery and confectionary industries because of its effectiveness as an emulsifier.

It should be noted that soy is very much a mainstay of Asian diets and no significant side-effects have been found in these countries. However, it is salutary to bear in mind that the Asian soy diet is based largely on fermented soy products, such as miso soup and tofu; the fermentation process is thought to destroy the chemicals that are considered harmful in the above experiments.

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Discussion Comments
By anon265876 — On May 03, 2012

All these various reports sound like nothing more than a propaganda war between the beef/dairy industry and the soy industry battling for market share. It would be nice to get a neutral and unbiased report.

By anon79353 — On Apr 22, 2010

In asian cultures they consume large amounts of sea foods. This high amount of iodine negates the effects of high soy consumption.

By anon65917 — On Feb 16, 2010

I agree with previous comment of conducting serious study in Asia. The problem may not lie in the lecithin, soymilk and such... may be just the fact that it's GMO soy vs. non-GMO soy, or simply the study may be drawing the wrong conclusion as it fails to be properly set up.

I do not see asian population shrinking because they consume soy products... actually it would look it's quite the opposite.

By anon60985 — On Jan 17, 2010

i am from the Philippines, and being part of asia, soy have been part of our diet, in any form, be it in tofu, milk, etc. Asian families are huge in terms of members, some have even 12 children. and most of them consume soy products almost every day.

i guess the university who did this study should also consider these facts. i would like to see another research study in which the respondents are mostly asians to validate the results.

By anon41592 — On Aug 16, 2009

Question for anon39074: What new studies?

By anon39074 — On Jul 30, 2009

new studies just out on this, soy is OK now.

as of july 2009

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