Estrogenicity Of Soy Formula

National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences

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Abstract

Genistein and daidzein are estrogenic isoflavones found in soybeans. Although they are much less potent than estradiol, infants fed soy formula have serum concentrations that are up to 4 orders of magnitude higher than estradiol. We have been in the field with a longitudinal study of infants up to 9 months old, looking in detail at the growth and development of their estrogen-responsive tissue as well as sex hormones and gonadotropins. We completed follow-up in May, 2014, and have begun data analysis. In addition, we reported this year the validation of a cytological method for asessing estrogen exposure in infants.