Soy Milk Is Safe! That Is What the Formula Industry Says

Critics suggest that soy formula, because it contains a chemical similar to the female hormone, estrogen, might disrupt normal hormone levels and impair development

In a recent study, a team of researchers conducted telephone interviews with 248 men and women aged 20 to 34 years who were fed soy-based formula as infants. Each of the participants answered questions that attempted to assess "health in young adulthood, with an emphasis on reproductive health."

The group that consumed soy formula was then compared with 563 similarly aged men and women who consumed cow milk-based formula during infancy and answered the same questions.

The only difference between the groups was that women who had been fed soy-based formula reported menstrual bleeding that lasted an average of one third of a day per month longer compared with women in the cow milk-based formula group.

The study relied on the memory of study participants, which may bias their answers.

Infants fed soy-based formula have long-term health outcomes similar to those who are fed cow milk-based formula, the researchers say.

JAMA August 15, 2001;286:807-814

Comment:

If you can believe a "telephone interview" study funded by the the baby formula industry, then maybe you will believe this nonsense. I know I sure don't. The study was funded in part by the International Formula Council, a trade group that represents manufacturers of infant formula.