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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Soy Isoflavones
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Soy Isoflavones
by maryfran, Apr 07, 2001 12:00AM
I am interested in learning about the effects of increasing soy in one's diet. I have read that genistein in soy isoflavones might prevent estrogen from reaching breast cancer cells by blocking access to estrogen recptors. I'm not quite sure what this means?? If this is so, wouldn't it reduce the risk of taking conjugated estrogens? In other words, couldn't a post-menopausal woman take the lowest dose of Premarin and also supplement with soy isoflavones, thus getting the benefits of estrogen therapy without worrying as much about breast cancer?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Apr 11, 2001 12:00AM
Dear MaryFran: The debate continues as to whether hormone replacement therapy does increase one’s risk for breast cancer and if that increased risk outweighs the possible benefits in regards to cardiac and osteoporosis risk reduction. A person’s own risk profile for any of these factors should be taken into account when making the decision to use hormone replacement therapy in the postmenopausal years.
Soy is currently being studied for it’s estrogen-like properties – seen as an agonist (a substance that triggers a response by binding to a specific receptor as if it were the bodily substance that normally binds there). Some of the questions being looked at are: Is there a benefit of increasing dietary soy as a preventive agent? Some information suggests the possible protective benefits of dietary soy may occur early in life. What effects does dietary soy have on blood levels as predictors of heart disease such as cholesterol, triglycerides etc.? What is the role of soy in the prevention of osteoporosis? Because of the estrogen - like properties of soy, should it be contraindicated in women with a history of breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive?
Overall, the current data are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions regarding the use of soy as an alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
Soy is currently being studied for it’s estrogen-like properties – seen as an agonist (a substance that triggers a response by binding to a specific receptor as if it were the bodily substance that normally binds there). Some of the questions being looked at are: Is there a benefit of increasing dietary soy as a preventive agent? Some information suggests the possible protective benefits of dietary soy may occur early in life. What effects does dietary soy have on blood levels as predictors of heart disease such as cholesterol, triglycerides etc.? What is the role of soy in the prevention of osteoporosis? Because of the estrogen - like properties of soy, should it be contraindicated in women with a history of breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive?
Overall, the current data are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions regarding the use of soy as an alternative to estrogen for hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
Do you know whether taking a soy isoflavone supplement would interfere with or cancel out the benefits while also taking Premarin?
Thank you.