Soy Nutrition Information for Health Professionals

Continuing Professional Education Credit

SOY CONNECTION Newsletter Vol. 34, No.4

Early Life Nutrition: Science, Safety, & Clinical Guidance awards 1.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.

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1. The Beginnings Study and the Beginnings Follow Up Study examined long-term health effects of human feeding practices. The studies involved adolescents who were healthy full-term infants and fed:

Rice cereal, human milk or soy protein-based formula

Soy protein-based formula, cow's milk-based formula, or human milk

Rice protein-based formula, goat’s milk-based formula or human milk

Peptide based formula, goat’s milk-based formula or human milk

2. Merideth is expecting her first child in a month and is unable to breastfeed her infant. The physician has suggested a soy-based formula, but Merideth has concerns since her family has a history of early puberty and estrogen dependent cancers. Based on the Beginnings Study, what reassurances can you provide to Merideth that soy-based formulas are a safe alternative to breast feeding?

Explain that Merideth is correct in being highly concerned about soy-based formulas causing reproductive issues, so soy formulas should be diluted before feeding the infant.

Reinforce that breastfeeding is the recommended feeding method and advise her to get a second opinion from another doctor to evaluate her inability to breastfeed.

Explain that long-term prospective research found no differences between infants fed soy infant formula and those fed dairy-based infant formula in growth, reproductive development, or pubertal timing.

Emphasize that infants fed cow’s milk formula demonstrate accelerated growth trajectories for bone and body composition superior to those fed soy formula.

3. Merideth is concerned that she is unable to breastfeed her infant because she has heard it may be better for the baby in terms of fat mass; she is worried because obesity runs in her family. Based on the evidence, what can you share with Merideth to reassure her that soy-based formulas are a good option for breastfeeding?

Although breastfeeding confers some long-term advantages and is associated with lower fat mass, soy formula does not appear to increase obesity risk or adversely impact body composition compared with standard cow’s milk formulas.

Breastfeeding confers many long-term advantages and therefore, Merideth should be advised to try to breastfeed and supplement with cow’s milk based formulas to support infant growth and development.

Soy-based formulas are associated with greater risk of adult obesity, more so than cow’s milk formulas, and therefore, Merideth should avoid feeding her baby soy-based formulas.

Although breastfeeding confers some long-term advantages and is associated with lower fat mass, soy formula has been definitively shown to substantially increase obesity risk compared with standard cow’s milk formulas and therefore, cow’s milk formulas should be recommended.

4. Concerns have been raised that __________ exposure during infancy could affect reproductive organ development, alter pubertal timing, or influence future reproductive health; however, the Beginnings Study provides strong reassurance that soy formula during infancy is not associated with adverse effects on reproductive development.

Methionine

Lysine

Glutamine

Isoflavone

5. Relative to formula feeding, ______________ was associated with some early neurodevelopmental advantages, but these differences did not result in differences in overall cognitive performance later in childhood.

Early introduction of rice cereal

Early introduction of solid food

Breastfeeding

Fortified whole milk

6. Scientific discovery in the 2000’s led to the addition of ______, which is naturally present in breast milk and important for cognitive and visual development in infants.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Fermented carbohydrates

Lactase

Leucine

7. Ryan is considering feeding options for her infant due in two months. She has read online about contaminants found in infant formulas made in the United States. What guidance would you provide Ryan using information from the results released in May 2026 from Operation Stork Speed?

The vast majority of infant formula samples had undetectable or very low levels of contaminants, with all samples having levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium lower than EPA requirements for drinking water.

Of the more than 300 infant formula samples available in the U.S. market most tested positive for high amounts of lead and mercury, but not arsenic or pesticides.

Only the human milk samples from a state milk bank contained either undetectable or very low levels of these contaminants like lead, but all the formulas tested were high in at least one heavy metal.

Of the 300 infant formula samples available in the U.S. market, 75% of the soy -based formulas showed contamination with high levels of lead and should be avoided.

8. Ryan checked the prices of infant formulas and is concerned about cost. She read online that parents should consider diluting the formula with tap water to make it last longer and cut expenses. What concerns would you share with her about following this practice?

Preventing bacterial contamination requires careful manufacturing and handling of formula throughout the entire supply chain, including parents and caregivers. Dilution can increase risk of contamination.

Safe infant feeding depends on proper preparation and storage.

Infant formula should always be prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions or healthcare provider’s recommendations, and neither formula nor breast milk should be diluted.

All of the above.

9. In 2025, a survey of 50 pediatric healthcare providers (HCPs) and 150 parents explored perceptions of soy and its role in child nutrition and development. Although the survey did not specifically assess attitudes toward soy infant formula, it did examine foods containing added soy protein. __________ concerns remain the most common questions about soy.

Availability

Stability

Accessibility

Hormonal

10. The same survey found that both healthcare providers (HCPs) and parents agree that these two items are priorities when making nutritional decisions.

Taste and presentation

Cost and packaging

Cost and child preference

Taste and protein content

11. According to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2025 Food and Health Survey, registered dietitians and health professionals are among the most trusted sources of nutrition information. Parents choosing an infant formula often seek reassurance from such professionals to identify formulas that support their child’s ____________.

Optimal growth and development

Body mass index

Flavor preferences

Texture preferences

12. Although The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long recognized that soy formulas support normal growth and development, the concerns healthcare providers (HCPs) most frequently hear from parents regarding soy involve perceived hormonal effects, including:

Feminization in males

Early puberty in females

Masculinization of females

A and B