Soybeans help prolong the life of breast cancer patients

Soy foods are not only safe for women diagnosed with breast cancer, but can also help prolong life in some groups of patients.

This is the conclusion made by American scientists in the study published March 6.

To draw this conclusion, scientists from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy Science analyzed the relationship between isoflavone tolerance, the anti-aging compound found in soybeans, and mortality from all causes of more than 6,200 American and Canadian women with breast cancer.

Results after a 9-year follow-up period showed that the risk of death in patients who consumed a lot of isoflavones was 21% lower than patients who consumed less of this compound.

High isoflavone consumption is not related to higher mortality rates in women treated with hormones.

However, according to scientists, isoflavones only work to reduce the mortality rate in patients who do not treat hormonal disorders with drugs such as Tamoxifen - which reduces the effects of estrogen.

Previously published studies have shown that high isoflavone consumption is not related to higher mortality rates in women treated with hormones.

There has long been controversy about whether breast cancer patients should eat a lot of soy foods, especially those treated with hormone therapies.

Scientists are concerned that the estrogen-like properties of isoflavones can cause cancer cells to grow and spread, reducing the effectiveness of hormone therapies.

However, the lead researcher, Fang Fang Zhang, confirmed that soy isoflavones slowed the growth of breast cancer cells, and epidemiological analyzes in cancer-stricken East Asian women. Breasts show that high consumption of isoflavones may help reduce the risk of death.

Women should eat plenty of soy because this is a healthy food.

Scientists also note that the scope of the study is limited to naturally occurring isoflavones, not supplements.

Expert Omer Kucuk from Emory University's Cancer Institute said they also have evidence that soy-based foods not only help prevent breast cancer, but also bring many benefits. other.

Therefore, scientists recommend that women eat a lot of soy because this is a healthy food.