Post Menopausal Women are at an Increased Risk for Bone Loss:
On the average, bone loss accelerate at a rate of 3 to 5% in the first 7 years after menopause. Previously, hormone therapy was recommended to women by their doctors as the best way to prevent osteoporosis. Now, however, the trend is toward more natural methods of prevention and management, including exercise and nutrition.
Research from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine on Soy and Fractures:
A research study conducted at Vanderbilt University examined the relationship between fractures and the consumption of soy foods in 24,403 postmenopausal women from China. (The Chinese are known for the use of soy foods as a staple.) The women were from the Shanghi Health Study.
Details of the Study:
The women examined had no history of fracture (or cancer) when the study began. Researchers assessed "usual soy food intake" 1 several times using in-person interviews and a questionnaire. The subjects were followed for about 4 1/2 years.
The Relationship between Consumption of Soy Foods and Reduced Risk of Fracture:
The researchers at Vanderbilt conclude, " Soy food consumption may reduce the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women, particularly among those in the early years following menopause." 1 Researchers also found similar indications for intake of isoflavones.
Bibliography:
Xianglan Zhang, MD, MPH; Xiao-Ou Shu, MD, PhD; Honglan Li, MD; Gong Yang, MD, MPH; Qi Li, MS, MD; Yu-Tang Gao, MD; Wei Zheng, MD, PhD. Prospective Cohort Study of Soy Food Consumption and Risk of Bone Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1890-1895. Retreived from: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/165/16/1890 September 15, 2005.
