Soy May Not Increase Bone Mineral Density in Young Women

Soy protein enriched with isoflavones had no effect on bone mineral content or density in young women enrolled in a recent study. As reported in the October 2002 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 28 women in their early 20s were randomized to isoflavone-enriched soy protein supplements or to an isoflavone-deficient soy protein diet along with other foods for 1 year.

?We found no changes in bone mineral densities and contents after 12 months in either the isoflavone-treated group or the isoflavone-deficient group,? said John J.B. Anderson, PhD, FACN. ?Other variables also remained essentially constant over the year, including normal menstrual patterns in both groups.? Previous studies had shown that isoflavones have beneficial effects on the bones of menopausal and postmeno-pausal women.