Soy Lowers Risk of Prostate Cancer

Soy Lowers Risk of Prostate Cancer

ST. LOUISConsumption of soyfoods may lower risk of prostate cancer, according to a study published in the InternationalJournal of Cancer (epub ahead of print, July 8, 2005).

Lin Yan, Ph.D., director of cancer research for the Solae Co.,and Edward Spitznagel, Ph.D., professor of mathematics at Washington University,conducted a meta-analysis of eight population studies conducted in the UnitedStates, Canada and Asia that examined the association between foods containingsoy protein and the risk of prostate cancer in men. Using a random-effectsmodel, statistical analysis of the combined studies demonstrated a 30 percentreduction in the risk of prostate cancer in men who regularly consumed foodscontaining soy protein.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause ofcancer-related deaths for American men, exceeded only by lung cancer, Yansaid. A diet that contains soy protein may be able to help prevent them fromever having to deal with this deadly disease.