Eating soy foods such as tofu, soy milk, and tempeh, has been shown to benefit bone health and increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Soy contains bone strengthening minerals such as calcium, magnesium and boron, as well as isoflavones that can inhibit the breakdown of bones. Now research reports that eating soy foods helps lower the risk of bone fractures.
The study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, investigated the association of soy intake and bone fractures in postmenopausal women. Researchers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee analyzed the data of 24,403 postmenopausal women who had no history of fracture or cancer, as part of the Shanghai Women's Health Study between March 1, 1997 and May 23, 2000. Food frequency questionnaires were obtained from the participants. During a four and a half year follow-up, 1,770 fractures were identified.
The researchers found that high dietary soy intake was associated with the lowest risk of bone fractures among women in early menopause. Furthermore, participants with the highest soy intake (13 grams of soy protein daily) reduced the risk of bone fractures by 35 percent, compared to those with the lowest intake (5 grams of soy protein).
"Soy food consumption may reduce the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women, particularly among those in the early years following menopause," the study authors conclude.
REFERENCES:
1. Zhang X et al. Prospective cohort study of soy food consumption and risk of bone fracture among postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med 2005 Sep 12;165(16):1890-5.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on October 10, 2006 02:46 PM
