Soy supplements do not stave off breast cancer, study shows
Feb 6, 2012
A new study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University found that soy supplements do not protect women against breast cancer.
The researchers studied 98 women, and randomly assigned them soy supplements and a placebo. After six months, the findings suggested no real difference among the two groups.
"This was a small finding, but one that should suggest caution," said lead researchers Dr. Seema Khan. "Simply put, supplements are not food. Although soy-based foods appear to have a protective effect, we are not seeing the same effect with supplementation using isolated components of soy, so the continued testing of soy supplements is likely not worthwhile."
However, there were a lot of uncertainties in the study, which shows that there needs to be more research done before anything concrete is set.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women, following skin cancer. The disease affects one in eight women in the U.S. at some point during her lifetime. Women are advised to schedule annual mammograms to check for breast cancer after they turn 40.