Estrogenicity Of Soy Formula

Environmental Health Sciences

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Genistein and daidzein are estrogenic isoflavones found in soybeans. Although they are about 1/10,000 as potent as estradiol, infants fed soy formula have serum concentrations that are up to 4 orders of magnitude higher than estradiol. Anatomic, sonographic, and other biochemical evidence of estrogen exposure has not been looked for in infants fed soy. Whether such widely used products do or do not have clinically detectable estrogenic activity in infants, the group with the highest exposure per kilo, is important clinically; in addition, it may be a crucial test of the ability of laboratory measures of estrogenicity to predict actual endocrine response in humans. We have done the field work for pilot studies to examine the natural history of estrogen responsive physiology in the newborn, and will use the results to develop a longitudinal study of the possible estrogenic effects of soy formula on infants. [unreadable] At the Boston Children?s Hospital, our collaborators in pediatric ultrasound have developed and assessed inter- and intra- rater reliability for examinations of the breast, uterus, ovaries, testes, prostate, adrenals, and thyroid. Using a protocol and eligibility criteria developed at NIEHS, they examined 96 girls, ranging in age from less than 48 hours to one year, and 60 boys, ranging in age from less than 48 hours to 6 months. We find that the methods are reliable, and that uterine and ovarian volume changes over time but that the endometrial stripe does not. Breast tissue and accompanying fat is readily imaged.[unreadable] At the Children?s Hospital in Philadelphia, our collaborators did physical examinations of the breasts and genitalia of 84 children total of both sexes ages from less than 48 hours to 6 months. We find that breast tissue varies over time, and that fat is distinguishable from gland. We also find that vaginal wall cells appear to be estrogen responsive. In urine samples collected over the first year, isoflavone concentrations ar 3-5 orders of magnitude higher in children fed soy formula. Equol is not present. We have also collected samples at this site for analysis of a variety of hormones but are still developing methods.[unreadable] [unreadable] We are analyzing the physical examination, ultrasound, and isoflavone data now, and are beginning to plan the next study.