Men's Health Boosted by Soy

Women’s health benefits have been widely reported but emerging research suggests that men also benefit from soy


ST. LOUIS — In addition to studies illustrating soy may be beneficial to the health of women, new emerging research also points to possible benefits for men, suggesting soy may help reduce exercise-induced muscle damage in athletes, prevent prostate cancer and assist with weight management.  These promising findings stem from research presented at the recent Fifth International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease in Orlando, Florida. 

At the conference, researchers from Pennsylvania State University presented findings from a human study, involving a NCAA Division I football team, comparing effects of a soy carbohydrate beverage to a whey carbohydrate beverage on muscle damage in healthy young male athletes.  All participants participated in total body weight-training sessions and aerobic-based running sessions.  Fluids were taken from all subjects pre-and post-exercise and all markers increased with exercise.  When the athletes consumed soy, the increases in all biological markers were less pronounced suggesting athletes consuming soy beverages have possible advantages in muscle recovery that would in turn result in a lower risk of muscle damage. 

Research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham investigated the effect of a soy component called genistein on prostate cancer, and found that genistein seems to protect spontaneous development of prostate cancer.  The study identified the mechanism by which soy provides this chemopreventive function. 

Additionally, Wayne State University researchers presented research showing that soy may enhance the effectiveness of prostate cancer treatment. They found soy combined with radiation therapy caused a significant (86 percent) inhibition of tumor growth in the prostate compared to 25 percent with genistein treatment alone and 70 percent with radiation alone.   Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.  The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 220,900 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2003.  Approximately 28,900 men will die of this disease.  

Finally, preliminary research from the University of Kentucky suggests a relationship between soy protein intake and weight management. This may have particular relevance in high protein diets, which decrease appetite and promote the feeling of fullness (satiety). Soy may be most effective in reducing abdominal fat and promoting weight loss rapidly among the obese. 

The United Soybean Board (USB) is a farmer-led organization comprising 62 farmer-directors.  USB oversees the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers.  For more information on soy and health, please visit www.talksoy.com.

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Editor’s Note: Key researchers summarize their symposium presentations and put their findings into context for the consumer health media on the United Soybean Board’s Webcast, available for download at www.talksoy.com through December 21.