Postmenopausal women can lose up to five percent of their bone density each year.
To look at this problem more closely, a study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health which measured the intake of soy foods in more than 24,000 postmenopausal women. The researchers looked at the incidence of bone fractures in these women for an average time of 4.5 years. The women ranged in age from 40 to 70, with an average age of 60. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The most common fractures recorded were of the wrist, arm, vertebrae (back), ankle, rib, and hip.
Overall, women who consumed the most soy food had the lowest incidence of fractures. Younger postmenopausal women with high soy intake had the lowest rate of fractures. Older women with high soy intake were 30 percent less likely to have any fracture than their low-intake peers.
How Much Soy?
Women in the lowest quintile consumed an average of 3.3 grams of soy food each day. Those in the highest quintile consumed an average of 18.5 grams – more than five times as much. Women in the highest quintile also had the highest intake of calcium and vitamin D.
Summary
The authors conclude, "Soy food consumption may reduce the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women, particularly among those in the early years following menopause."
Soy foods include soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured soy protein, soybeans, soy meat substitutes, soy cheese, and soy flour. |
