tailieunhanh - Soy connection fact Sheet by the united Soybean board

Anaemia is one of the most common nutritional problems affecting women in developing countries, where iron deficiency usually combines with other micronutrient deficiencies such as folate and vitamin B. In addition, the diet of the poorest populations is often monotonous and mainly based on staple foods, which are low in iron and contain absorption inhibitors. Other important factors involved in the occurrence of anaemia include malaria and hookworm infestations, chronic infections such as HIV, and congenital conditions like sickle cell disease, among others. Available data indicate that in developing countries the prevalence rates of anaemia among women of . | r A O M c M SOY CONNECTIONYACT SHEET S O Y w V V V OM I E In by the UNITED soybean board Soyfoods offer health benefits for all consumers but studies show that postmenopausal women may reap particular benefits. This fact sheet discusses recent research into the benefits and safety of soy for women from heart disease to hot flashes. Traditional soyfoods such as tofu and miso have been widely used in many East Asian countries for centuries and have been consumed by health-conscious individuals in Western countries for several decades. In recent years because of the purported health benefits increased numbers of Westerners have decided to incorporate soy into their diets. Soyfoods hold particular appeal for postmenopausal women because they are such uniquely rich sources of isoflavones one type of phytoestrogen. Isoflavones exhibit estrogen-like effects under certain experimental conditions and are posited to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease 1 osteoporosis 2 certain forms of cancer3 and may alleviate menopause-related hot Consequently many women view soyfoods as natural alternatives to conventional hormone therapy. Women who use alternative therapies express a desire to have control over their symptoms and the way in which their menopause is Not surprisingly interest in alternative therapies increased following the publication of results of the Women s Health Initiative WHI trial in 2002 which showed that the risk of long-term use of combined hormone therapy estrogen plus progestin outweighed the In 2010 11-year follow up data from the WHI trial found not only that combined hormone therapy increases breast cancer risk but also breast cancer However isoflavones themselves are not without controversy. Their estrogen-like effects have raised concern that these soybean constituents possess some of the same undesirable properties as hormone therapy. In particular there is controversy over whether soyfoods are .