The group of phytoestrogens called isoflavones, rich in soy foods are the causative factors that reduce the risk of breast cancer, however, the context of the estrogen-like effect of isoflavones and their potential interaction with tamoxifen is the area of concern in soy food consumption among breast cancer patients.
The goal of the study was to determine the association of dietary soy intake on women after they were diagnosed with breast cancer with total mortality and cancer recurrence. 5042 female breast cancer survivors between the ages of 20-75 yrs diagnosed with breast cancer were chosen for Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study of in China for three yrs (between March 2002 and April 2006) and followed-up through June 2009.
Participants were asked to provide information six months after their cancer diagnosis, on their treatment, lifestyle exposures and disease progression. Followed by, three month follow-up interviews at 18, 36, and 60 months to update the information. The food given for the study was soy protein or soy isoflavone to a maximum of 11 grams/day of and study showed that it was inversely associated with mortality and recurrence and it was found that soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence. No additional benefits on mortality and recurrence were observed with higher intakes of soy food. This study suggests that moderate soy food intake is safe and potentially beneficial for women with breast cancer as it lowered mortality and recurrence. Again the potential benefits were with reference to soy foods and nothing is known about the risks or benefits of soy-containing dietary supplements."
Rachel Ballard-Barbash, MD, MPH, from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and Marian L. Neuhouser, PhD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, note the differences between China and the United States in the quality, type, and quantity of soy food intake as well as differences in screening rates and other factors in China compared with the United States may also prevent comparisons of stage- and treatment-specific results. However doctors can advise their patients with breast cancer to safely eat soy foods as they may offer some protective benefit for long-term health.
By Vijayalakshmi Iyengar
Dietitian,
NutritionVista.com
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