Miso Soup, Soy Isoflavones Protect Against Breast Cancer

Miso Soup, Soy Isoflavones Protect Against Breast Cancer

TOKYO--Frequent isoflavone consumption is linked to a reducedrisk of breast cancer, according to researchers at Japan's National CancerCenter Research Institute. They published a population-based, prospective cohortstudy of 21,852 Japanese women in the June 18 issue of the Journal of theNational Cancer Institute (95, 12:906-13, 2003) (http://jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org).Their analysis included nearly 10 years of follow-up, during which time 179women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Those consuming miso soup andisoflavones, but not soyfoods, were at a reduced risk of breast cancer, andwomen in the lowest quartile of isoflavone intake were at the highest risk ofbreast cancer.