New study confirms that regular intake of
soya reduces risk of breast cancer
The regular intake of tofu and other soya products provides protection against breast cancer according to a recent Korean study. Women who consumed 6g to 8g of soya protein in soya products daily had more than 40% less chance of developing breast cancer.
Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, the risk of women in North America developing breast cancer is five times as great as the risk of women in Asia. Many researchers are investigating environmental factors, such as diet patterns, in trying to identify the cause for the discrepancy. Soya products, including tofu, are part of the daily diet in the traditional Asian kitchen.
In the Korean study, the researchers looked mainly at the amounts of soya proteins and the quantities of tofu in the diet.
The eating patterns of 362 Korean women with breast cancer between the ages of 46 and 55 years old were analysed extensively and compared with the eating patterns of a control group of women without breast cancer.
Women who had daily intake of approximately 6g to 8g of soya protein had a 42% lower chance of developing breast cancer than women who consumed less than 4g of soya protein per day. For comparison: a 200ml glass of soya drink contains approximately 6g of soya protein.
Women whose daily intake was approximately 10g had an even lower risk…55% lower. An identical connection was found with the consumption of tofu. Women who consumed small quantities of tofu (80g or less per week) had a 43% lower chance of developing breast cancer than women who ate no tofu. When 40g of tofu per day or more was consumed, the risk-reduction was even greater, at 65%.
The researchers concluded that regular intake of soya can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Those results have been reinforced by several different studies on this subject that have been published over the past year.
Source: Kim M.K., et al. "Dietary intake of soy protein and tofu in association with breast cancer risk based on a case-control study." Nutr Cancer. 60.5 (8 A.D.): 568-76.
| Return to Research Page | Return to Top |
